Ka Ying Rising returns in style & Erdenali eyes Breeders' Cup glory after shining in the Prix du Moulin

What’s Happened

🇦🇺 Australia 🇦🇺

My Gladiola delivered the biggest performance of her career at Sandown on Saturday, arriving with a late surge to claim victory in the Group 1 Moir Stakes. The mare was ridden by Jamie Mott and trained by John McArdle, for whom it was a first G1 win in 21 years.

McArdle was a relieved man afterwards, having considered scratching My Gladiola due to the softening ground. The mare could now head to the G1 Manikato Stakes at Caulfield on 27 September.

Second in last year’s Everest, Tempting is eyeing a return to those heights after winning the G2 Concorde Stakes, the feature at Randwick on Saturday. The Godolphin-owned mare, trained by Ciaran Maher, unleashed a powerful kick at the 300metre point under Chad Schofield and raced to a long neck success over the unlucky Headwall.

Earlier, the G2 Furious Stakes went to Bangkok Hottie, for Kerrin McEvoy and trainer David Payne, while Headley Grange took the G2 Tramway Stakes for jockey Adam Hyeronimus and trainer Joseph Pride. Saturdays rarely go by without a Stakes win for Chris Waller and the training maestro combined with Nash Rawiller and favourite Lindermann to win the G2 Chelmsford Stakes.

🇫🇷 France 🇫🇷

Friendly Soul claimed her second French G1 when taking the Prix Vermeille at Longchamp on Sunday. It’s been a long road back to the top for John and Thady Gosden’s mare, who had a season off after winning the 2024 G1 Prix de l’Opera, but she won well from the front here under James Doyle, beating Pink Panthera by three-quarters of a length.

Erdenali will take aim at the Breeders’ Cup Mile after breaking the course record in the G1 Prix du Moulin, for Aga Khan Studs, jockey Mickael Barzalona and trainer Francis Graffard. The three-year-old beat Queen Anne winner Ten Bob Tony and favourite Gstaad in convincing fashion and could have a prep run in the G1 Turf Mile at Keeneland before the big one on October 31st.

On a great day for the Graffard and Barzalona team, defending champion Daryz proved he may still be the one to beat in the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in a month’s time with a smooth victory over fellow G1 winner Bay City Roller in the G2 Prix Foy. The team in green could also run Varandir, after his win in the G3 Prix Niel.

There was British success elsewhere on the card when Rogue Passion won the G2 Prix d’Aumale for trainer Ed Bethell and Rossa Ryan, while Christopher Head’s well-regarded Avec Toi took the G3 Prix la Rochette and is bound for the G1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere.

Earlier in the week, Graffard’s Drazinda picked up her second Pattern race success in the G3 Prix d’Arenburg at ParisLongchamp on Thursday. She could now take on Libertango and the best of the British juvenile fillies in the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.

Victoire Magique made it three wins from his last four starts when taking the Prix Gerald de Geoffre, Thursday’s other G3, for Amy Murphy and Cristian Demuro.

🇭🇰 Hong Kong 🇭🇰

The 2026/27 Hong Kong racing season got underway at Sha Tin on Sunday, and Ka Ying Rising wasted no time in reminding people why he is the world's top-rated sprinter.

He extended his winning streak to 21 consecutive victories in the G3 HKSAR Chief Executive's Cup – breaking his own Sha Tin 1200m track record for the fifth time in the process, clocking a blistering 1:06.11, almost a full second faster than his previous mark.

Ridden by Zac Purton and trained by David Hayes, he won by seven and three-quarter lengths in what his trainer described as one of his finest performances. Next stop is a defence of his G1 Everest title in Sydney on October 17th.

🇭🇺 Hungary 🇭🇺

There was a British one-two in the local G1 Kincsem Cup on Sunday when Asgard’s Captain arrived late under Marco Ghiani to deny defending champion Claymore. It was an eleventh career win for the Dylan Cunha-trained six-year-old, who will return to Dubai during the winter for the Carnival.

🇰🇷 Korea 🇰🇷

Japan underlined its dominance by sweeping both the G2 Korea Cup and G3 Korea Sprint at LetsRun Park in Seoul on Sunday.

Diktaean successfully defended his title in the newly-upgraded Korea Cup with a last-to-first victory in the hands of Takayuki Yano – earning a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

There was a Japanese one-two in the Sprint courtesy of Dragon Welds, who beat American Stage under jockey Keita Tosaki. He now has a guaranteed spot in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, at Keeneland on October 31st.

🇲🇺 Mauritius 🇲🇺

Rapidash ran out the winner of the G1 The Phoenix Maiden Cup, the most prestigious race on the calendar at Champ De Mars. The six-year-old, ridden by Pierre Corne Orffer, beat Good Council and Future Swing.

🇳🇿 New Zealand 🇳🇿

Well Written won the Proisir Plate – the first G1 of the season in New Zealand - at Ellerslie on Saturday. Ridden by Matt Cartwright for trainer Stephen Marsh, she kept her unbeaten, seven from seven, record intact with a one and three-quarter length win over Alabama Lass.

🇹🇷 Turkey 🇹🇷

It was the big day of the year at Veliefendi on Saturday with two Group races taking centre stage. Poetry In Motion, trained by Ibrahim Bekirogullari, took the G3 Anatolio Trophy under jockey Selim Kaya, while veteran rider Halis Karatas guided Truely home in the G3 Istanbul Trophy.

On Sunday, jockey Sadettin Boyraz combined with trainer Enver Mutlu to take the featured G3 Topkapi Trophy with Whizbang, who beat favourite Charabanc by a neck. Later, Kaya secured his second big win of the weekend, partnering Gaglioglu to a two-length success in the G3 Bosphorus Cup.

🇬🇧 UK 🇬🇧

Almeraq announced himself as the UK Champion Sprinter elect after a devasting performance in the G1 Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday. The William Haggas trainee, ridden by Tom Marquand, stormed to a four and a quarter-length success over Paborus to collect his second G1 after the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee at Ascot.

Earlier, the G3 Superior Mile went to Richard Hannon’s reliable Persica, who beat The Lost King by a nose in the hands of James Doyle.

At Kempton, all eyes were on former champion hurdler Constitution Hill, who was aiming to take his flat record to three from three in the G3 September Stakes. He finished fourth, beating one home, as the classy Pride Of Arras won by a length for Rossa Ryan and Ralph Beckett. A return to handicaps beckons for Constitution Hill, while the winner heads to the G1 Canadian International at Woodbine.

On the same card, Oisin Murphy and Andrew Balding combined to win the G3 Sirenia Stakes with Moonrise, who is now three from four career.

🇺🇸 USA 🇺🇸

Sir Mark Prescott’s Tiffany survived trouble in running under Luke Morris to land the G2 Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs on Saturday. Well-positioned throughout, the mare beat reigning Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Ethical Diamond by a length and three-quarters to book her spot in that same race at Keeneland in October.

Earlier, Joe Sharp’s Possiblemente booked his spot in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint with a win in the G2 Kentucky Turf Sprint under in-form Jose Ortiz.

Caroline St. Beat arrived late to collar G1 winner Glacius in the G2 Nashville Derby, for trainer Miguel Clemente and jockey Tyler Gaffalione, while the G2 Ladies Turf Stakes went to Bless The Brothers, for Florent Geroux and Brad Cox.

At Saratoga, Summer Starlet booked her Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies spot with an impressive win in the G1 Spinaway under Ricardo Santana Jr for trainer Steve Asmussen. Now two from two, Summer Starlet could head to the GI Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland on October 3rd prior to the Breeders’ Cup.

On Sunday, The Good Life gave his sire Life Is Good a first G1 win in the Hopeful Stakes. The Brad Cox-trained colt, ridden by Manny Franco, beat Mystrix by four lengths and could next be seen in the G1 Champagne at Belmont Park on October 3rd.

At Del Mar, trainer Bob Baffert claimed a 20th victory in the G1 Del Mar Futurity thanks to Hughes. Ridden by Juan Hernandez, he won by four and three-quarter lengths to add his name to a roll of honour which includes American Pharoah and Silver Charm.

The fillies’ equivalent, the G1 Del Mar Debutante, also went to Baffert and Hernandez whose Miss Monica won by six and a quarter lengths from Crazy Hot Mess, underlining her Breeders’ Cup credentials.

What’s Happening

🇦🇺 Australia 🇦🇺

Named after the three-time Melbourne Cup winner, the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes takes centre stage at Flemington on Saturday. The 1600metre contest was won last year by superstar Mr Brightside.

🇨🇦 Canada 🇨🇦

Woodbine hosts a superb card on Saturday, when the G1 Woodbine Mile, G1 E.P. Taylor, for fillies, the G1 Summer Stakes and G1 Natalma Stakes share top billing. Six-time G1 winner Notable Speech is a likely runner in the former for trainer Charlie Appleby.

🇮🇪 Ireland 🇮🇪

It’s the biggest weekend of the season in Ireland, when the Irish Champions Festival graces Leopardstown on Saturday and The Curragh on Sunday. A brilliant two days is headlined by the G1 Irish Champion Stakes, which is likely to see a clash between Coral-Eclipse winner Constitution River and Juddmonte International winner Item.

A packed weekend will also see Scandinavia start as hot favourite in the G1 Irish St Leger, Sun Goddess in the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and Fallen Angel defend the G1 Matron Stakes.

🇵🇪 Peru 🇵🇪

The G1 Polla de Potrancas, or 1000 Guineas, is the feature at Montericco on Sunday.

🇬🇧 UK 🇬🇧

It’s the final Classic of the season, the St Leger, at Doncaster on Saturday. Aidan O’Brien’s Derby winner Christmas Day is the favourite. The St Leger Festival gets underway on Thursday with the G2 Champagne Stakes, for two-year-olds, and the G2 Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes, while the G2 Park Stakes is the main supporting race on Saturday.

🇺🇸 USA 🇺🇸

Two more Graded Stakes take place at Kentucky Downs on Monday, Labor Day in the US. Irish trainer Johnny Murtagh sends Take Charge Star to contest the G2 Franklin-Simpson Stakes for three-year-olds, while G1 winner Facteur Cheval heads to the G3 Mint Millions.



Next weekend sees Colonial Downs round out its meet with the G3 Old Dominion Derby, while Del Mar stages the G2 John C Mabee and Kentucky Downs the G2 Franklin-Simpson and G3 Mint Millions.