Japan, third in the English Derby in June, won the biggest race of his career in Wednesday’s Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York Racecourse in England, earning a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.
Sometimes a race intended mainly as a bridge to another more important race can turn trickier than expected. But for the great Enable, even a potential trap like the Yorkshire Oaks in England might not prove especially tricky.
Enable and Crystal Ocean finished a neck apart in the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes on July 27 at Ascot. This week, they will race on consecutive days at York Racecourse in northern England. Crystal Ocean will be a strong favorite in Wednesday's Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes, while Enable will be an odds-on favorite in Thursday's Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks for fillies and mares.
Earthlight remained unbeaten in four starts, and earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 1, with a neck victory in Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Morny for 2-year-olds at six furlongs on turf at Deauville, France.
Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Morny for 2-year-olds at six furlongs on turf at Deauville, France, will be the first-ever meeting between the colts A’Ali and Earthlight who approach the race in outstanding form after major stakes wins on the same course in the last month.
Romanised won his first Group 1 in nearly 15 months in Sunday’s $1.12 million Prix Jacques le Marois at a mile at Deauville, France, a victory that may lead to a start in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 2.
Watch Me, the 20-1 surprise winner of the Group 1 Coronation Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Royal Ascot in June, will face older males for the first time in Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois at a mile at Deauville, France.
Siskin repelled a sustained challenge from Monarch of Egypt to win Friday’s Group 1 Phoenix Stakes for 2-year-olds at the Curragh in Ireland and remain undefeated after four starts.
Saudi Arabia will host a $20 million race in February next year on the dirt course at King Abdul Aziz racetrack in Riyadh, the country’s racing authority and members of the ruling family announced on Wednesday, instantly making the country a player on the international racing stage with the promise of the richest purse in the world.
Siskin, who has won all three of his starts by at least two lengths, will be favored against four rivals in Friday’s Group 1 Phoenix Stakes for 2-year-old colts and fillies at the Curragh Racecourse in Ireland.
