Sheza Stuns in Australia, win 19 for Ka Ying Rising and counting...
Sheza stuns at Randwick, win 19 for Ka Ying Rising and much more!
What’s Happened
🇦🇺 Australia 🇦🇺
Sheza Alibi delivered one of the performances of the year so far in the Doncaster Mile, one of four G1s at Randwick on Saturday. Last and widest turning from home, she charged past the whole field in the straight and won by four and a quarter lengths under jockey Jamie Melham, for trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. It was the fourth win in a row for Sheza Alibi, who became the first three-year-old filly to win this race since Sunline 27 years ago.
Rachel King became the first female rider to win the AJC Derby, taking the prize on Green Spaces for trainer Bjorn Baker. They won by three and three-quarter lengths from rank outsider Dezignation.
Joliestar underlined her case for being one of the best sprinters in Australia when taking the G1 T J Smith Stakes, Royal Ascot is now on the agenda for the five-year-old mare, who was ridden by James McDonald for trainer Chris Waller.
That was the second leg of a G1 double for Waller and McDonald, initiated when Campione D’Italia took the Sire’s Produce Stakes, beating Miss Chanel by three-quarters of a length.
🇧🇭 Bahrain 🇧🇭
Phantom Flight gave British trainer George Scott and jockey Benoit De La Sayette victory in the G3 King’s Cup - the most prestigious race in the Bahrain calendar – on Friday.
It was a fourth Bahrain win for the seven-year-old, who beat defending champion Sovereign Spirit and G1 winner Calif.
🇫🇷 France 🇫🇷
The French season proper got underway at Longchamp with victory for Bright Picture in the G2 Prix d’Harcourt. Owners Wertheimer et Frere and trainer Andre Fabre are responsible for the gelding who now heads to the G1 Prix Ganay on 26th April.
Earlier, Concorde Agreement staked her claim for the Prix de Diane with an all the way victory in the G3 Prix Vantaux. The victory was a first at Group level for trainer Pierre Groualle, who has just 25 horses in training.
🇮🇪 Ireland 🇮🇪
Joseph O’Brien had a rare long-priced winner at The Curragh on Friday when Celestial Orbit took the G3 Park Express Stakes in the hands of Joey Sheriden. The four-year-old filly was making her debut for the stable, having previously been trained in the UK by Ollie Sangster.
🇯🇵 Japan 🇯🇵
Croix Du Nord bounced back from Japan Cup defeat with victory in the G1 Osaka Hai at Hanshin on Sunday. Ridden by Yuichi Kitamura, the four-year-old beat Meisho Tabaru by three-quarters of a length.
At Nakayama on Saturday, Suzu Khalom landed the G3 Lord Derby Challenge Trophy for trainer Kazuya Makita and jockey Takashi Fujikake, while at Hanshin the G3 Churchill Downs Cup went to Ask Ikigomi, ridden by Ryusei Sakai.
🇭🇰 Hong Kong 🇭🇰
It was win 19 in a row for Ka Ying Rising at Sha Tin, when he strolled to another track record success in the G2 Sprint Cup on Monday. The four and quarter-length win over Helios Blizzard should set him up nicely for the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize on 26 April.
A strong renewal of the G2 Chairman’s Trophy saw G1 winner Lucky Sweynesse get back to winning ways, holding off favourite My Wish by a head, with Triple Crown winner Voyage Bubble back in third.
🇿🇦 South Africa 🇿🇦
It was a great day for trainer Justin Snaith and jockey Craig Zackey at Turffontein on Saturday when they celebrated a G1 double. Double Grand Slam took the Empress Club Stakes by an impressive five and a half lengths, while See It Again justified favouritism in the Premier’s Champions Challenge.
In between, Buffalo Storm Cody won his second G1 in the Computaform Sprint, for trainer Tony Peter and jockey Richard Fourie.
🇺🇸 USA 🇺🇸
Keeneland’s Spring meet got underway on Friday with a popular win for Percy’s Bar in the G1 Ashland Stakes. Managed by Keeneland’s Vice President of Racing Gatewood Bell, the Ben Colebrook-trained filly strolled to a two and a quarter length success in the hands of Luan Machado.
On the same card, A Fine Chardonnay turned vintage in the G2 Beaumont Stakes, closing from last to secure the victory under Brian Hernandez Jr, for trainer Ian Wilkes.
Brad Cox had an excellent day at Keeneland on Saturday with a G1 double, initiated when Eclatant took the G1 Madison Stakes, before Further Ado romped home in the G1 Blue Grass Stakes by 11 lengths, under jockey Irad Ortiz.
In California, So Happy made his connections just that with victory in the G1 Santa Anita Derby. Ridden by Mike Smith for trainer Mark Glatt, he beat Potente by two and three-quarter lengths to earn 100 Kentucky Derby points.
The final G2 Wood Memorial to take place at Aqueduct went to rising star trainer Riley Mott with Albus who beat Right To Party by a length and a quarter in the hands of Jaime Torres.
There was a shock in the G2 Carter Stakes when Point Dunne downed Champion Sprinter Book’em Danno by a neck, for trainer Timothy Kreiser and Edwin Gonzalez.
What’s Happening
🇦🇺 Australia 🇦🇺
Randwick hosts four more G1s on Saturday; the Queen of the Turf, ATC Oaks, Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Sydney Cup. Ciaron Maher’s Mr Monaco is favourite for the latter.
🇧🇷 Brazil 🇧🇷
Gavea stages two G1s on Sunday, the Cruzeiro do Sul and the Zelia Gonzaga Peixoto de Castro.
🇯🇵 Japan 🇯🇵
The G1 Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas) is the feature race at Hanshin on Sunday, while the G2 New Zealand Trophy, an NHK Mile Cup Trial, takes place at Nakayama on Saturday, while Hanshin stages the G2 Sankeisports Hai Hanshin Himba Stakes.
🇺🇸 USA 🇺🇸
Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Notable Speech makes his return to action in the G1 Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland on Friday, a day before the G1 Jenny Wiley takes centre stage.
The G1 Apple Blossom, won twice by the great Zenyatta, is the feature at Oaklawn.
