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Francis Lui accelerated a blistering start to the season with a Sha Tin treble crowned by Stoltz’s courageous victory in the HK$4.2 million G3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) to extend his lead at the top of the Hong Kong trainers’ championship on Sunday (1 October).
The 4-year-old filly Mama Cocha won for the second time in her last three starts, and in her debut in a Grade 1, in Sunday’s $2.2 million Sprinters Stakes at six furlongs at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan.
Blue Rose Cen rebounded from two losses Sunday at Longchamp to win the Prix de l’Opera by a neck over Jackie Oh, the 3-year-old filly’s fourth Group 1 success and third this year.
The 4-year-old filly Deep Shimmer had a bad day at Goulburn Racecourse in Australia last month. As the 2-1 favorite in a five-furlong handicap, Deep Shimmer never traveled well, jockey Alysha Collett later told stewards. Deep Shimmer finished last of nine.
Ace Impact answered all questions and punctuated his response with an exclamation point by storming to a 1 3/4-length victory Sunday at Longchamp in the $5.29 million Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Just Fine confirmed his status as a leading contender for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse in Australia on Nov. 7 with a vital win in the Group 1 Metropolitan Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Saturday.
Vandeek ran his record to four wins from four starts and was the most visually impressive 2-year-old stakes winner Saturday at Newmarket Racecourse in England, but the filly Porta Fortuna clocked a faster six-furlong time than Vandeek, and for the purposes of American racing holds more interest this fall.
Carla’s Way ran off to a 2 1/4-length victory over favored Shuwari in the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes on Friday at Newmarket and might well have run herself into a start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
An 8-year-old who has not won since April, Ruban Bleu can end a five-race losing streak in the Cootamundra Cup at a mile at tiny Cootamundra Racecourse in Australia on Saturday evening.
An inside post may pose a tactical challenge for the four-time stakes winner Namura Clair in the Grade 1 Sprinters Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse in Japan on Sunday.
