Ka Ying Rising breaking records again, Arc winner Daryz makes perfect start to season
Ka Ying Rising Makes It 20 In A Row, Romantic Warrior Reigns Again & Daryz Dominates: Global G1 Highlights
What’s Happened
🇦🇺 Australia 🇦🇺
James McDonald started his weekend the right way with a G1 win at Morphettville on Saturday, courtesy of Panova in the Australasian Oaks. The Chris Waller trainee beat Mating Call by a length to claim her first top-level success.
There was a brilliant finish to the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes when three noses separated the first three home. Mark Walker’s Geegees Mistrust stuck his out best in the hands of Jordan Childs, beating Bridal Waltz and Charm Stone.
Childs also took the G2 Queen of the South Stakes, riding Cilacap for trainer Grahame Begg, while McDonald won the G2 Tobin Bronze Stakes on Team Hayes’ Tycoon Star.
🇫🇷 France 🇫🇷
Trainer Francis Graffard warned later targets were bigger aims ahead of Daryz’s return, but that didn’t stop the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner from taking the G1 Prix Ganay in style on Sunday. Ridden as usual by Mickael Barzalona, the four-year-old beat Bright Picture by four and a half lengths and now heads to the G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Barzalona and Graffard also took the day’s main supporting race, the G3 Prix de Barbeville, with Asmarani, who has now won three in a row.
🇭🇰 Hong Kong 🇭🇰
It’s hard to think of any more superlatives for Ka Ying Rising who extended his winning sequence to 20 in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize – one of many highlights on Sha Tin’s brilliant FWD Champions Day.
David Hayes’ five-year-old was imperious once again under Zac Purton, beating Satono Reve by four and a half lengths and breaking his own track record, coming home in 1m7.10s.
Romantic Warrior faced a strong bunch in the G1 QEII but won it for a record fourth time, beating fellow G1 winners Masquerade Ball, Sosie and Royal Champion. Danny Shum’s remarkable eight-year-old now has the final leg of the Hong Kong Triple Crown, the Champions & Chater Cup, on his radar next month.
New to the G1 club is My Wish, who caused a minor upset in the G1 FWD Champions Mile. Trained by Mark Newnham, for whom it was a first win at this level in Hong Kong, the five-year-old beat Cap Ferrat by a head in the hands of Hugh Bowman, with UK raider Docklands third.
🇯🇵 Japan 🇯🇵
Going To Sky beat Tidal Lock and favourite Black Olympia in the G2 TV Tokyo Hai Aoba Sho at Tokyo on Saturday. Trained by Yuki Uehara, the three-year-old won by three-quarters of a length under veteran Yutaka Take.
🇵🇪 Peru 🇵🇪
Chilean Derby winner Teao ran out the winner of the G1 Gran Premio Latinoamericano this time held on turf at Monterrico, Peru. Ridden by Luis Torres, the Julio Orellana-trained grey beat the Uruguayan runner Galikovic and Argentinian The Gladiator's Hat.
Se Va Colando won the G1 Gran Premio Pamplona, earning herself a spot in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland in October.
🇬🇧 UK 🇬🇧
Sandown hosted arguably the best race of the season so far when four G1 winners clashed in the G2 bet365 Mile. It went to the Charle Appleby-trained Opera Ballo, who dominated from the front under William Buick, seeing off St James’s Palace Stakes winner Field Of Gold by three lengths. Next up for Opera Ballo is the G1 Prix Aga Khan, formerly Prix d’Ispahan, at Longchamp on May 21st.
As a full brother to Baaeed and a half to Hukim, Raaheeb has big shoes to fill. He’s started well and is now two from two after victory in the G3 Classic Trial for trainer Owen Burrows. Ridden by Rossa Ryan, he beat Al Zanati by three and a quarter lengths and has the Derby, at Epsom on June 6th, on his radar.
Roger Varian collected his first Group race of the campaign when Saddadd took the G3 Gordon Richards Stakes in the hands of Ray Dawson. The progressive four-year-old may next return to Sandown for the G3 Brigadier Gerard on May 28th.
🇺🇸 USA 🇺🇸
Pre-Kentucky Derby week is a quiet one in the US, but trainer Will Walden picked up the latest Graded Stakes win of his fast-rising career when Speed Shopper took the G3 Bewitch Stakes at Keeneland on Friday.
Ridden by John Velazquez, the five-year-old beat Golden Sunshine by a length and a quarter.
What’s Happening
🇦🇷 Argentina 🇦🇷
It’s a huge weekend at Palermo where five G1s take place, including the Gran Premio Republica Argentina and the Gran Premio de Las Americas.
🇦🇺 Australia 🇦🇺
The action returns to Morphettville, this time for the G1 South Australian Derby. Engine Of War will be among the leading contenders after an eye-catching fourth in the Chairman’s Stakes on Saturday.
🇧🇷 Brazil 🇧🇷
Cidade Jardim in Sao Paulo stages three G1s, the G1 Grande Premio Joao Cecilio Ferraz, the Grande Premio Juliano Martins and the G1 Grande Premio São Paulo.
🇨🇱 Chile 🇨🇱
The G1 Gran Premio Hipódromo Chile is the feature at the track of the same name on Saturday. The 2200metre dirt contest is nicknamed ‘the classic of classics’ and dates back to 1909.
🇯🇵 Japan 🇯🇵
The G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) takes centre stage at Kyoto on Sunday. The 3200metre contest was won last year by Redentor.
On Saturday, Kyoto hosts the G3 Unicorn Stakes, while Tokyo has the G3 Keio Hai Spring Cup.
🇭🇰 Hong Kong 🇭🇰
The G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup, won last year by the John Size-trained Bundle Award, is the feature at Sha Tin on Sunday.
🇬🇧 UK 🇬🇧
The first Classics of the year take place in Newmarket, where George Boughey’s Bow Echo is tentative favourite for the G1 2000 Guineas on Saturday, ahead of Charlie Appleby’s Distant Storm.
Aidan O’Brien’s dual G1 winner Precise is favourite for the 1000 Guineas, which takes place on Sunday.
The Group-race action begins on Friday when G1 winners Bay City Roller and Sunway are among the entries for the G2 Jockey Club Gold Cup.
🇺🇸 USA 🇺🇸
The Kentucky Derby dominates next weekend, with the G1 action getting underway on Friday. Zany heads the market for the Kentucky Oaks, while G1 winners East Avenue and Maxfield are set to clash in a fascinating edition of the G2 Alysheba Stakes.
The Derby is the headline act on Saturday, with Renegade, Commandment and Further Ado among the favourites, while G2 UAE Derby winner Wonder Dean and Danon Bourbon represent Japan.
Test Score is among the principals in the G1 Turf Classic, while Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner Splendora heads the G1 Derby City Distaff.
