Ka Ying Rising & Romantic Warrior share honours in Hong Kong, Comanche Brave lands the July Cup & Fozzy Stack lands a first G1

Laura King • July 13, 2026

Two of Hong Kong's finest share honours at end of season awards, an Irish trainer claims his first G1 success with victory in France and Comanche Brave lands top honours in Newmarket,

This week's WHR Weekly has the full story and previews a big weekend of racing ahead.

Read it here ๐Ÿ‘‡

What’s Happened


๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ Australia ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ


Winnasedge picked up the most important win of his career, landing the G3 Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday. Ridden by Luke Currie for trainer Nick Ryan, Winnasedge scored by a long neck from Bellatrix Star with Sir Now another short head away in third.


๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท France ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท


Irish trainer Fozzy Stack won his first European G1 on Sunday, saddling Thesecretadversary for an all the way win in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville. Ridden by Christophe Soumillon, the colt was following up his G3 Jersey Stakes success at Royal Ascot and next has the G1 City Of York Stakes on his agenda.


๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ฐ Hong Kong ๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡ฐ


For the first time, there were joint winners of the prestigious Horse of the Year title in Hong Kong, when Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior shared the award at a glittering ceremony on Friday night.


Romantic Warrior, who won five G1s this season, was also named Champion Middle-Distance Horse for the fifth year in a row, as well as Champion Stayer. He is also this year’s Champion Miler based on his brilliant winning performance in the G1 Stewards’ Cup.


Zac Purton picked up a ninth Champion Jockey title and Caspar Fownes picked up the Champion Trainer award.


๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช Ireland ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช


There was a minor upset in the G3 Brownstown Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday when Duckadilly, trained by Danny McLoughlin, beat favourite Phenomenal Filly.


๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง UK ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง


Comanche Brave has raced in five different countries so far in 2026 but finally landed his G1 in the UK when running on well to beat Venetian Sun in the July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday. Ridden by Billy Loughnane for trainer Donnacha O’Brien, he came home a length the best and could next take up his entry in the G1 City of York at York.


There was a thrilling finish to the G2 Superlative Stakes when Al Hudaiba just got up on the line to deny favourite Abraham Lincoln by a short head. The son of Dark Angel completed a good week for Charlie Appleby and William Buick who on Thursday combined with nine-time G1 winner Rebel’s Romance for just his second start on his home track. He won the G2 Princess of Wales’s Stakes, but only just, needing to dig deep to see off pacemaker Arabian Crown by half a length.


Buick and Appleby also took the G2 July Stakes with the unbeaten Inner City Blues, while there was a Royal winner of the opening G3 Bahrain Trophy; Point Of Law coming home best in the colours of the King and Queen.


There was a minor upset in the G1 Falmouth Stakes on Friday when Blue Bolt beat four-time G1 winner Precise. Andrew Balding’s filly, ridden by Colin Keane, followed up her Royal Ascot G2 win in some style here, travelling well throughout and beating Precise by two lengths on the line. A trip to France for the G1 Prix Rothschild could be next for the Juddmonte-owned filly.


Senorita Bonita could only manage second in the G2 Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot but got her G2 win here in the Duchess of Cambridge Stakes. Ridden by Oisin Murphy, she beat G3 Albany Stakes winner Libertango by three-quarters of a length.

On Saturday, Zeus Olympios won his second G2, taking the Summer Cup at Ascot for Karl Burke and Sam James. The four-year-old holds an entry for the G1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood, as well as for the G1 Irish Champion Stakes in September.


๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ


There was a great finish to the G2 Bowling Green at Saratoga on Saturday, favourite Ole Crazy Bone holding off British raider Fort George by a nose, for trainer Michael Maker and jockey Flavien Prat.


There was a more decisive winner of the G2 Caress Stakes which went to Movin’ On Up, the least-fancied of two Saffie Joseph Jnr-trained runners, in the hands of Tyler Gaffalione.


At Indiana Grand on Saturday, the G3 Indiana Derby went to Wathnan’s Leading Change, trained by Brad Cox, while Kenny McPeek’s Maximum Offer took the G3 Oaks.


What’s Happening


๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ Canada ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ


Woodbine stages two G2s on Sunday, the Nassau Stakes and the Connaught Cup.


๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท France ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท


It’s Bastille Day in France on Tuesday, which means the G1 Grand Prix de Paris rolls into Longchamp. The 2400metre three-year-old contest was won last year by the Jean-Claude Rouget-trained Leffard. Royal Ascot winner Causeway and Derby runner-up Maltese Cross head the market for this year’s running.


๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช Ireland ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช


Thundering On, winner of the Oaks at Epsom, will bid to complete the double when lining up in the G1 Irish Oaks at The Curragh on Saturday. The G2 Railway Stakes and G2 Sapphire Stakes back up the feature.


๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต Japan ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต


The G3 Hakodate Nisai Stakes and the G3 Kokura Kinen are the two JRA features this weekend.


๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง UK ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง


It’s a quiet weekend in the UK, with Newbury hosting the G3 Hackwood Stakes and Listed action at Newmarket.


๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ


Preakness winner Napoleon Solo is among the likely runners for the G1 Haskell on Saturday, the biggest race of the year at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner Splendora heads to the G2 Molly Pitcher on the same card, which also stages the G3 Monmouth Cup and G2 United Nations Stakes.

๏ปฟ

At Saratoga, the G1 Diana Stakes, for three-year-old fillies, is the first G1 of the meet proper, while Del Mar in California opens with the G2 San Diego and G2 San Clemente.


MOST POPULAR
SOCIAL POSTS
By Laura King • November 2, 2026
Sovereignty goes out on top. After missing last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic through illness, he made amends by winning the $7 million race on Saturday, and was retired the next morning. We also look back at a huge weekend for Aidan O’Brien, Derby Day at Flemington and a look ahead to the Melbourne Cup. This week’s WHR Weekly has the full story. Read it here ๐Ÿ‘‡
By Laura King • October 26, 2026
Andrea Leek became only the second woman to train a Cox Plate winner on Saturday as Cosmic Crusader delivered a stunning late run at Flemington to claim one of Australia’s most prestigious prizes. Attention now turns to the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, which starts on Friday ๐Ÿ† Defending champion Forever Young goes against 2025 Horse of the Year Sovereignty in a Classic for the ages. This week’s WHR Weekly has the full round-up and your Breeders’ Cup guide. ๏ปฟ Read it here ๐Ÿ‘‡
By Laura King • October 19, 2026
One of sport’s great winning streaks came to an end this weekend. Here are the stories you need to know: KAY YING RISING’s remarkable run of 22 consecutive victories was ended by TEMPTED in The Everest at Randwick – the world’s best racehorse faced softer ground than he’s used to, and Ciaron Maher’s Godolphin filly, who had finished second 12 months earlier, made the most of her opportunity in a remarkable redemption story OMBUDSMAN produced the performance of Champions Day at Ascot, delivering a stunning late burst under William Buick to beat CALANDAGAN in the Champion Stakes AUTUMN GLOW was imperious in the King Charles III Stakes in Sydney, putting away the dual winner of the race with ease for a fifth G1 success MONROE WALK remained unbeaten in five starts with a narrow victory in the G1 Shuka Sho in Japan The Breeders’ Cup and start of the Melbourne Cup Carnival are now just two weeks away Continue reading for a full round-up across Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, the UK and the USA – and a look ahead to the Cox Plate at Flemington this weekend.
By Laura King • October 12, 2026
Darkness Falls made it back-to-back G1 wins with a thrilling victory over Desert Castle in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket – Aidan O’Brien’s colt is now favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas, with an intriguing Triple Crown attempt mooted by the Irish trainer Musical Times remains unbeaten in four starts after landing the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket for Charlie Appleby – one to watch for the 1000 Guineas in May Warwoven completed the Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas double, cementing his status as Australia’s most exciting three-year-old ahead of the spring carnival Ka Ying Rising – currently ranked the world’s best racehorse and winner of 22 consecutive races – heads to Randwick on Saturday to defend his Everest title against Australian rivals Joliestar and Jimmysstar Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday promises one of the races of the season, with Ombudsman and Calandagan – two of Europe’s finest – set to clash in the Champion Stakes ๏ปฟ Continue reading for a full round-up across Australia, France, New Zealand, Mauritius, the UK and the USA – and a look ahead to The Everest and Champions Day.
By Laura King • October 5, 2026
It was an incredible weekend of racing action across the globe, here are the headlines in case you missed anything: ๏ปฟ Daryz became the first colt in almost 50 years to win back-to-back Prix de l'Arc de Triomphes – emulating the legendary Alleged with a commanding display at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, giving trainer Francis-Henri Graffard and the Aga Khan team a record ninth Arc victory. Blue Bolt made it six wins in a row with a smooth display in the G1 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket. Australia's spring carnival is building nicely as Cosmic Crusader announced himself as a Cox Plate contender with the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington, while God's Window gave apprentice jockey Siena Grima a fairytale first G1 at the first attempt in the Epsom Handicap at Randwick John Grabowski , a trainer with just nine horses at his Finger Lakes base in upstate New York, sent out Dotsy to win the G1 Frizette Stakes at Belmont. The Breeders' Cup picture is coming into sharp focus – a huge weekend of Win and You're In races across Keeneland, Belmont and Santa Anita has set up a compelling October 31st showdown at Keeneland Continue reading for a full round-up across Australia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Japan, the UK and the USA – and a look ahead to the weekend's action.
By Laura King • September 28, 2026
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is this Sunday ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ† Defending champion Daryz bids to join Enable in the pantheon of back-to-back Arc winners. But Kalpana is on the form of her life, while three-year-old Maltese Cross will look to upset the odds against his older rivals. Before that – globetrotter Puro Magic claimed her first G1 in the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama, Sun Goddess made it five wins in a row at Newmarket and Jimmysstar turned in one of the performances of the Australian spring at Caulfield. This week's WHR Weekly has the full round-up and your Arc preview.
By Laura King • September 21, 2026
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
By Laura King • September 14, 2026
79-year-old trainer Jessica Harrington saddled a 50-1 shock winner in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes and, at 24-years-old, Saffie Osborne becomes the first female jockey to win a British Classic. It was an eventful weekend across the globe, read it all here๐Ÿ‘‡ ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท
By Laura King • September 7, 2026
The 2026/27 Hong Kong racing season got underway with a bang on Sunday, and there was plenty more to savour across the globe. Here are the stories you need to know this week: Ka Ying Rising extended his winning streak to 21 consecutive victories at Sha Tin Erdenali announced himself as a Breeders' Cup Mile contender with a record-breaking win in the G1 Prix du Moulin at Longchamp, beating odds-on favourite Gstaad Daryz served notice of his Arc credentials with a smooth success in the G2 Prix Foy Almeraq produced a four and a quarter-length demolition job in the G1 Sprint Cup at Haydock Bob Baffert claimed a 20th Del Mar Futurity victory with Hughes , adding his name to a roll of honour that includes American Pharoah and Silver Charm Continue reading for the full round-up and a look ahead to Irish Champions Weekend and the St Leger๐Ÿ‘‡
September 1, 2026
From an extraordinary five G1 winners on Travers Day at Saratoga to a remarkable Tiz The Law treble in Chile, the latest edition of World Horse Racing Weekly looks back at another action-packed week of racing around the world. ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿ‡ We also look ahead to a huge weekend, with Arc Trials Day at Longchamp, the Korea Cup and Korea Sprint, the Sprint Cup at Haydock, the Maiden Cup in Mauritius and major three-year-old races across South America. Plus, Australia’s Memsie Stakes delivered another statement performance, while Al Aasy finally landed his first Group 2 at Deauville and Zavateri returned to winning ways at Goodwood. Read the latest World Horse Racing Weekly for the biggest stories from racing across the globe — and what to watch out for this weekend. โฌ‡๏ธ

FOLLOW WORLD HORSE RACING

Follow us for the latest interviews, features and news from our crack content team as they cover the world’s most famous festivals.