Sun Goddess lands a fifth straight win at Newmarket & Jimmysstar dazzles in the Manikato
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is this Sunday ๐ซ๐ท๐
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.
We've got your weekly racing fix covered after another a huge week across the globe with plenty more to look forward to.
- Sun Goddess extended her unbeaten run to five with a dominant display in the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket
- Jimmysstar produced one of the performances of the Australian spring with a last-to-first charge in the Manikato Stakes at Caulfield – blinkers on for the first time, the seven-year-old demolished a quality field and The Everest is now firmly back on the agenda
- Puro Magic became a G1 winner for the first time, producing a frontrunning display to take the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama – the five-year-old giving trainer Shogo Yasuda his first top-level success
- Goliath collected a third career G1 in Germany's Preis Von Europa, with the Japan Cup potentially on the horizon for one of Europe's most travelled performers
- Daryz heads to Paris on Sunday as favourite to become the first horse since Enable to win back-to-back Arcs – but Kalpana arrives on the back of the best season of her career, and three-year-old Maltese Cross is hoping to upset the older horses in Europe's greatest race
Continue reading for a full round-up across Australia, Germany, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, the UK and the USA — and a look ahead to Arc weekend.
What’s Happened
Australia
Charismatic trainer Bjorn Baker enjoyed a superb afternoon at Rosehill on Saturday, saddling Warwoven to success in the G1 Golden Rose. The Sword Of State colt is now five from eight career after travelling strongly under Rachel King and powering clear in the straight to beat Sir Gotthard by three and a quarter lengths. The Caulfield Guineas is now next on the agenda for the exciting colt.
Baker also took both the card’s G3s, his So You Are winning the Stephen Quality under King, before Blue Door justified favouritism in the Heritage Stakes under Nash Rawiller.
Chris Waller’s G1 winner Lazzura got back to winning ways, taking the G2 Golden Pendant in comfortable fashion under James McDonald, while the favourite Skyhook won the G2 Shannon Stakes, coming home by three lengths under Kerrin McEvoy, for trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou.
There was a rare Sunday G1 at Caulfield, temporary home of the Manikato Stakes. Jimmysstar returned to his brilliant best with a last-to-first charge under Ethan Brown. The Ciaron Maher-trained seven-year-old, wearing blinkers for the first time, beat Extragalactic by three-quarters of a length, with defending champion Charm Stone a further quarter-length back in third. Favourite Beiwacht could only manage ninth.
Jimmystar could now return to The Everest, in which he finished third last year, at Randwick on October 17th.
Popular mare Pride Of Jenni made a winning start to her campaign in the G2 Feehan Stakes, beating Treasurethe Moment by a length and a half, for Declan Bates and Maher. Australian racing’s other juggernaut wasn’t to be outdone, Waller and McDonald combining to win the G2 Stutt Stakes with Diameter.
The day’s other G2, the Stocks Stakes for fillies and mares, went to smaller trainer Lucy Yeomans with Changing Colours, who beat favourite Sass Appeal by a length.
Germany
Goliath collected a third career G1 in the Preis Von Europa at Cologne on Sunday, comfortably beating fellow international star Dubai Honour, in the hands of Christophe Soumillion. Part-owner John Stewart indicated afterwards that the gelding may travel again to the Japan Cup, in which he finished sixth in 2024.
Ireland
It was Beresford Stakes win number 23 for Aidan O’Brien at The Curragh on Saturday, his Noble Exhibit winning well under Wayne Lordan. Interestingly, none of his previous 22 winners went on to win the Derby, for which this is ostensibly a prep.
Japan
Globetrotter Puro Magic won her first G1 with a frontrunning performance in the Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama on Sunday. Ridden by Mirai Iwata for trainer Shogo Yasuda, the five-year-old held off World’s End and Sound Moryana by a neck and a nose.
New Zealand
Waitak won his fourth G1 and second Howden Insurance Mille at Hastings on Saturday – but only just. A short head and the same again separated the seven-year-old, trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, from favourite Tuxedo and third home She’s A Dealer.
UK
Sun Goddess landed her third G1 and fifth success in a row, taking the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday, beating a strong field which included G2 winner Libertango and G1 winner Senorita Bonita. Aidan O’Brien’s filly could yet head to the Breeders’ Cup, which is also in the plans for runner-up Libertango.
A slight disappointment in the G1 Prix Morny in France, Clive Cox’s Orthodox bounced back with a battling display in the G1 Middle Park. Ridden by Rossa Ryan, he beat Force Noir by a neck. Owner Jason Goddard may consider a trip to the Breeders’ Cup, his colt having entry already thanks to his G2 Norfolk Stakes win.
Another bound for the US is O’Brien’s Haffner, who landed the G2 Royal Lodge in the hands of Ryan Moore.
Friday’s action was highlighted by the G2 Rockfel Stakes which was a close-run affair; Marco Botti’s Pensando A Te getting up late to beat favourite Light Of Dawn and announce herself as a 1000 Guineas contender for next May.
Talk Of New York has always had a lofty reputation and he gained a first G2 win in the Joel Stakes, charging home by four and three-quarter lengths, for Charlie Appleby and William Buick.
There was a great finish to the G3 Princess Royal Stakes with four across the track approaching the line. It was Coedana who prevailed under Connor Beasley, for up-and-coming trainer Ed Bethell.
The four-day meeting got underway on Thursday when the Tom Clover-trained Fuel The Jet took his career record to three from five in the G3 Sommerville Tattersalls Stakes.
USA
Edwin Gonzalez celebrated his first G1 win and Saffie Joseph Jnr a 1-2 when Forged Steel beat Caldera in the G1 Goodwood at Santa Anita. It was an enterprising cross-country ship by New York-based Joseph whose colt is now two from two at the California track, having also taken the G2 Hollywood Gold Cup there.
Forged Steel will now head to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, for which this was a Win and You’re In. Also bound for Keeneland is Cabo Spriit, who took the G2 City of Hope Mile for George Papaprodromou – giving entry to the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
The certainty of the weekend was at Belmont Park on Friday when Nitrogren blew away her rivals in the G2 Beldame at odds of 1/20. Mark Casse’s filly is now Breeders’ Cup bound, but connections are yet to decide whether she goes to the Distaff or takes on the colts in the Classic.
Saturday and Sunday’s cards at Belmont were cancelled due to forecast poor weather, with the Graded Stakes – including G1 Joe Hirsch – transferred to Thursday.
What’s Happening
Australia
The G1 Turnbull Stakes, which dates right back to 1865 when it was known as the VRC Royal Park Stakes, takes centre stage at Flemington on Saturday. Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours faces a strong line-up, including Birdman and Sir Delius.
The support card includes the G2 Danehill Stakes, the G2 Edward Manifold Stakes, the G2 Gilgai Stakes and the G3 The Bart Cummings. The latter carries a golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup.
In Sydney, Randwick hosts the G1 Flight Stakes and G1 Aus$1.5million Epsom Handicap, both over a mile.
Canada
The G1 Canadian International takes place at Woodbine on Saturday, with Arabian Crown likely to be among the runners for trainer Charlie Appleby, a dual winner of this race. The G2 Dance Smartly Stakes and G3 Algonquin is the supporting fare.
France
It’s one of the best weekends of the year in Europe with the G1 Prix de l’Arc De Triomphe lighting up Paris on Sunday. British star Kalpana is expected to take her chance, along with defending champion Daryz and three-year-old Maltese Cross.
The Arc is the feature of a host of G1s at ParisLongchamp, including the Prix de l’Opera, Prix Foret, Prix du Cadran and Prix de l’Abbaye. The G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and Prix Marcel Boussac are the two juvenile contests.
Japan
The G2 Kyoto Daishoten, a trial race for the autumn Tenno Sho, is staged at Kyoto on Sunday. The G2 Mainichi Okan, another Tenno Sho trial, takes place at Tokyo.
UK
The G1 Sun Chariot Stakes is the highlight at Newmarket on Saturday. Andrew Balding’s Blue Bolt is favourite to extend her winning run to six in the mile event.
Ascot hosts two G3s, the Bengough Stakes and Cumberland Lodge.
USA
There are 12 Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In races in the US alone this weekend.
Keeneland leads the charge with the G1 Darley Alcibiades the first of their G1s on Friday, following up with the G1 Breeders’ Futurity and Turf Mile on Saturday and Spinster Stakes on Sunday.
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Belmont stages the G1 Champagne and G1 Frizette Stakes, both for two-year-olds, while Santa Anita’s feature is the G1 American Pharoah Stakes, giving entry to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
