Joseph O'Brien's Irish Oaks triumph, Caspar Fownes crowned Hong Kong Champion Trainer, Haskell history & all the latest from the world of horse racing

What’s Happened

🇫🇷 France 🇫🇷

There was a brilliant finish to the G1 Grand Prix de Paris on Tuesday – Bastille Day in France – when Maltese Cross squeezed through a gap close home to steal the prize from Ancient Egypt and Alam by a head and a neck. It was a fine ride by Tom Marquand, for trainer William Haggas, and a first G1 for Maltese Cross, who was previously second in the Derby.

Behrayna took her career record to four wins from four starts with victory in the G2 Prix de Malleret. Francis Graffard’s filly and Mickael Barzalona had to work to overhaul Pink Panthera, however, winning by a neck.

Joseph O’Brien took the day’s other Group contest when globetrotter Sons And Lovers landed the G2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil under Dylan Browne McMonagle. A trip to the G1 Melbourne Cup could be on the agenda for the five-year-old.

Only three ran in Sunday’s G2 Prix Robert Papin at Deauville, but it was still a memorable day for British expat trainer Amy Murphy who won it with Tokaido. Tony Piccone was onboard the colt, who won by two lengths from Joseph O’Brien’s King Of Coughlan.

There was another British success in the G3 Prix Chloe, which went to the Charlie Johston-trained Jennifer Jane, while the G3 Prix Messidor was won by Silius, racking up his eighth win but first at Group level.

🇭🇰 Hong Kong 🇭🇰

Caspar Fownes was crowned Champion Trainer for the fifth time as the Hong Kong season ended at Happy Valley on Wednesday. Fownes, 58, previously won the Hong Kong trainers’ championship in 2006/07, 2008/09, 2013/14 and 2020/21 and has a career record of 1,235 Hong Kong wins.

🇮🇪 Ireland 🇮🇪

Joseph O’Brien had to go without his G1 Epsom Oaks winner Thundering On – a late scratch – in the G1 Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Saturday but won the race anyway. His Johanna Walsh had just been touched off in the G2 Ribblesdale at Ascot but reversed that form here with Earth Shot, who only finished sixth. Ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle, Johanna Walsh went into the lead with 400metres remaining and stormed home by four lengths from Inis Mor.

There was British success on the undercard when Cover Up, trained in Newmarket by Simon and Ed Crisford, won the G2 Sapphire Stakes. Ridden by James Doyle, he beat Partisan Hero by three-quarters of a length. There was an impressive winner of the day’s other G2, the Railway Stakes, which went to Michael O’Callaghan’s Celeron, ridden by Oisin Murphy.

Joseph O’Brien’s winning spree continued on Sunday when Trustyourinstinct won the G2 Curragh Cup, while there was big-race success for trainer Robson De Aguiar thanks to Power Blue who took the G2 Minstrel Stakes.

🇬🇧 UK 🇬🇧

At Newbury, Symbol Of Honour collected his second course win and second at Group level when taking Saturday’s G3 Hackwood Stakes for Charlie Appleby and William Buick.

🇺🇸 USA 🇺🇸

History was made in the G1 Haskell at Monmouth Park on Saturday, when Lindsay Schultz became the first female winning trainer of the race. Her Baby Vino sprang something of a surprise, coming off best after a tussle with Preakness winner Napoleon Solo and winning by half a length under Jorge Vargas Jnr.

The winner, the outsider of the field bar one, now has guaranteed entry for the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland in October.

Trainer Chad Brown enjoyed a Graded race double, his Program Trading justifying favouritism in the G2 United Nations Stakes, while Grayosh took the G3 Matchmaker Stakes for fillies and mares.

Bob Baffert’s trip across the country paid off, his Breeders’ Cup winner Splendora winning the G2 Molly Picher Stakes as a favourite should, by five and a half lengths. Earlier, Bill Mott’s Knightsbridge got back to winning ways. He beat a stellar field, including G1 winner Skippylongstocking, third, in the G3 Monmouth Cup.

The state of New Jersey called Friday ‘Book’em Danno Day’ after the New Jersey-bred Champion Sprinter. Derek Ryan’s charge didn’t disappoint, landing the $200,000 Mr Prospector Stakes st Monmouth Park with ease. A return to G1s and the Breeders’ Cup is next up.

Brown also enjoyed a good day at his home track of Saratoga, his Kathynmarissa leading home a stable 1-2-3 in the G1 Diana Stakes. Jose Ortiz was onboard the filly, who gave her trainer an amazing fifth consecutive win in the Diana.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf winner CY Fair got back on track after an aborted trip to Royal Ascot when winning the G3 Coronation Cup Stakes under John Velazquez.

Al Del Mar, 2025 G1 Preakness and Haskell winner Journalism won the G2 San Diego the hard way, missing the break and having to pass the whole field under Umberto Rispoli.

There was a surprise in the G2 San Clemente Stakes for fillies, John Sadler’s Somerset West winning by half a length in the hands of Armando Ayuso.

What’s Happening

🇨🇦 Canada 🇨🇦

Woodbine stages three G3s on Saturday, the Hendrie Stakes, Ontario Colleen and Trillium Stakes.

🇯🇵 Japan 🇯🇵

The G3 Sekiya Kinen takes place at Niigata on Sunday, while the G3 Tokai Stakes is the feature at Chukyo.

🇬🇧 UK 🇬🇧

There’s a fascinating G1 King George in store at Ascot on Saturday. Defending champion Calandagan takes on Japanese star Masquerade Ball, as well as Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini.

York stages the G2 York Stakes, the main course prep for August’s G1 Juddmonte International.

🇺🇸 USA 🇺🇸



The G1 Bing Crosby is the first top level Stakes of the Del Mar summer season, while at Saratoga the G1 Coaching Club American Oaks takes centre stage. The G2 Shuvee is the feature on Friday at Saratoga, with the G2 Honorable Miss headlining Sunday’s action.