Forever Young stars at Belmont and Waller & Melham mop up the G1s in Australia ๐บ๐ธ๐ฆ๐บ
Forever Young stole the show at the opening day of the new Belmont Park, powering to a three-and-a-half-length victory in the G1 Woodward Stakes under Ryusei Sakai. The Yoshito Yahagi-trained star now turns his attention to Keeneland, where he will bid to defend his Breeders’ Cup Classic crown.
There was plenty of G1 action in Australia too, with Angel Capital finally landing his first top-level success in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, while Birdman bounced back in style to take the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield.
Read all about it in the latest edition of the World Horse Racing weekly newsletter โฌ๏ธ
What’s Happened
Australia
Caulfield enjoyed a huge Saturday with two G1s including the Sir Rupert Clark Stakes in which Angel Capital finally got a G1 win – at the ninth attempt. It was a narrow enough victory by Chris Waller’s five-year-old, who beat Sepal by three-quarters of a length in the hands of Ben Melham.
Melham and Waller also took the day’s other G1, the Underwood Stakes, with Birdman. The G1 Doomben Cup winner put an uninspiring reappearance run behind him with a length and three-quarter win over favourite Cosmic Crusader.
Earlier, Maher combined with jockey Ethan Brown to win the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude with Icelady, who beat Saintly Dancer by three quarters of a length.
At Randwick, there was a minor upset in the G3 Bill Ritchie Handicap, when favourite Headley Grange could only manage third behind General Salute, ridden by Timothy Clark for trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou.
There were four G2s on the card and multiple G1 winner Autumn Glow made it two from two this season in the G2 Seven Sunrise Stakes. She scored by a length and a quarter under James McDonald for trainer Chris Waller, with Aeliana finishing second.
Mazu took out the G2 Yarraman Park Shorts, ridden by Rachel King for trainer Joseph Pride, beating Joliestar , having her first start since Royal Ascot, by a neck.
Bangkok Hottie landed the G2 Tea Rose Stakes, combining with jockey Kerrin McEvoy for trainer David Payne, and beating Striking Alibi by three-quarters of a length.
Favourite Soul Of Spain could only manage third in the G2 Kingston Town Stakes behind The Euphrates, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and ridden by Timothy Clark.
France
Three G3 races took place at Chantilly on Sunday, two of them won by Francis Graffard and Mickael Barzalona. Primetime Emmy took her career record to two from three in the Fonds Europeen de l’Evevage, after Zakkan won the colts’ version.
Andre and Lavinia Fabre won the final G3, their Anakova taking the Prix Bertrand de Tarragon under Maxime Guyon.
Germany
Lordano made it four wins on the spin, taking the G3 Deutsches St Leger at Dortmund on Sunday. Ridden by Sibylle Vogt, the seven-year-old strode to a four and a half-length success over Wintertraum.
Ireland
Syzygy gave Ireland’s youngest trainer Daniel McLoughlin another Group success in the G3 Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies & Mares Stakes at Gowran Park on Sunday.
Sweden
The biggest day on the Swedish calendar took place at Bro Park on Sunday, with three Pattern races. UK-based Jane Chapple-Hyam loves an international raid and she struck in the Listed Tattersalls Nickes Minneslopning with Crown Board, ridden by David Egan.
Lamborghini BF has been a busy traveller too this season, but Fredrik Reuterskiold’s gelding is the best back home and he successfully defended the Listed Bro Park Sprint Championship, under Elione Chavez.
The day’s featured G3 Stockholm Cup went to Norway, trainer Jan-Erik Neuroth saddling the Danish-bred Schamyl for victory under Nicolaj Stott.
UK
Nabati continued Charlie Appleby’s recent good run of form, taking the G2 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury under William Buick, beating Jolivette by a short head. Earlier, the tiny Miss Yechance picked up her first Group success, taking the G3 Dubai Duty Free World Trophy, for Karl Burke and Jack Nicholls.
Scotland’s only Group race took place on Saturday, the G3 Firth of Clyde falling to Silent Beauty, for Kevin Phillippart du Foy and David Egan.
USA
Forever Young was the weekend’s star turn and the main attraction on opening day at ‘new’ Belmont Park. He didn’t disappoint, charging home by three and half lengths over Stars And Stripes and Baeza under usual rider Ryusei Sakai. The win was visually impressive, but trainer Yoshito Yahagi said he was only “50 per cent satisfied. We will try to improve for the next race."
That next race will be the defence of the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic, at Keeneland, on October 31st.
At Presque Isle Downs on Friday, the G2 Presque Isle Downs Masters went to the favourite Reagan's Flame, for trainer Saffie Joseph and jockey Edgard Zagas.
Saturday’s action was headlined by Parx’s big day in the sun. The featured G1 Pennsylvania Derby went to the popular The Puma, trained by Gustavo Delgado, who got his career back on track with a half-length victory over Further Ado. It was a second career win for the colt, ridden by Javier Castellano, who is now a possible for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
There was a minor upset in the G1 Cotillion when Bodacious Bay beat Kentucky Oaks winner Always A runner by three and a quarter lengths. The Joseph trainee, running for a new ownership group, was ridden by Micah Husbands, recording his fourth G1 this season for Joseph.
Stradale showed his surface versatility with a fourth career win – but first on dirt – in the G2 Gallant Bob. The three-year-old is trained by Steve Asmussen and was ridden by Jose Ortiz.
What’s Happening
Australia
The G1 Golden Rose is Saturday’s feature at Rosehill in Sydney. Golden Slipper winner Guest House is among the likely contenders after his warm-up win in the G3 San Domenico Stakes.
On Sunday, the G1 Manikato Stakes will be run at Caulfield Racecourse instead of its traditional Moonee Valley home due to track renovations.
Japan
G1 action returns to Japan on Sunday when the Sprinters Stakes takes place at Nakayama. Lugal and Win Carnelian, the last two winners, are expected to line up again.
New Zealand
The G1 Horlicks Plate takes centre stage at Hastings. The 1600metre event was won last year by Waitak.
UK
A great weekend at Newmarket gets underway on Friday, when the G2 Rockfel Stakes, G2 Joel Stakes and G3 Dubai Stakes are the features. On Saturday, the action moves up a level with the G1 Cheveley Park looking a fascinating showdown between Sun Goddess, Senorita Bonita and Libertango. The juvenile colts line up in the G1 Middle Park and G2 Royal Lodge.
USA
The G1 Goodwood, a Breeders’ Cup Classic Win and You’re In, is the feature at Santa Anita on Saturday, with Bob Baffert’s Nevada Beach among the likely runners. The G2 City of Hope Mile, G2 Eddie D and G3 John C. Harris are on the undercard.
In New York, the G1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic is the feature at Belmont, while the G2 Flower Bowl and the G3 Vosburgh both offer Breeders’ Cup spots.
๏ปฟ
There are two more chances to grab Breeders’ Cup qualification on Sunday, when Santa Anita hosts the G2 Sprint Championship and the G2 Zenyatta Stakes.
