When he finishes his races, Valac is unbeatable in steeplechases in Australia this year. Despite a sketchy record, Valac will be favored in Sunday’s $103,650 Crisp Steeplechase at 2 5/8 miles at Sandown Racecourse in Melbourne.
In the last 18 months, Forbidden Love has won three Group 1 races for sprinters in Australia. Another such assignment is likely in coming weeks if Forbidden Love performs to expectations in Saturday’s Group 2 Missile Stakes at six furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.
Saffron Beach traveled to Deauville Racecourse in France and won her third important European race in a row, making all the running and turning back a challenge from the Grade 1-winning filly Tenebrism to win the Prix Rothschild by 2 1/2 lengths.
It was not a complete surprise that The Mitchell Snail won his debut in a five-furlong maiden race at Gunnison Racecourse in Australia on July 12. Sent off as the 5-1 fourth choice in a field of 10, The Mitchell Snail closed from fourth to lead in the final strides.
The Irish-bred gelding Hosier has won 5 of 7 starts since arriving in Australia in the winter of 2020-21, with the victories in a maiden race and four minor handicaps. Race conditions are about to change for Hosier. On Thursday at Coffs Harbour Racecourse, Hosier will start favored in the richest race of his career, the $104,100 Coffs Harbour Cup at a mile.
Saffron Beach, whose connections intend to start their horse in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf this November at Keeneland, heads a field of seven fillies and mares in the Group 1 Prix Rothschild on Tuesday at Deauville Racecourse.
With seven starts, Mystic Mermaid is relatively inexperienced compared to some of her competition in a handicap for fillies and mares at about a mile at Canterbury Park in Sydney on Wednesday.
Casirina closed from eighth to win for the fourth time in her 23-race career in a handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Scone Racecourse in Australia on July 15. Zippy Power closed from third to win for the second time in her seven-race career in a handicap at about 1 1/4 miles at Gunnison Racecourse on July 12. The two meet for the first time in a handicap at 1 5/16 miles at Tamworth Racecourse in the New South Wales countryside on Monday.
The lightly raced 4-year-old filly Abuela returns from a layoff of more than five months in a five-furlong handicap at Port Macquarie Racecourse in Australia on Monday.
The 4-year-old filly One Aye could start in a seven-figure race in November, pending the results of Sunday’s Forbes Cup at a mile at Forbes Racecourse in the New South Wales countryside. The Forbes Cup is a qualifying race for the newly created The Big Dance Stakes at a mile at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Nov. 1.
