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Were the Yorkshire Oaks run at Ascot, the outcome would be all but a foregone conclusion, but the Ascot-loving mare Kalpana makes her first start at York Racecourse on Thursday as the heavy favorite to win the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks.
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To win his second straight Judmmonte International, Ombudsman faces the same obstacle as a year ago – an Aidan O'Brien-trained 3-year-old. Ombudsman last August easily disposed of the O'Brien-trained sophomore Delacroix, but now Constitution River stands between Ombudsman and more International glory on Wednesday at York Racecourse.
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The 3-year-old filly Precise in her last two starts has not been able to handle the 4-year-old filly Blue Bolt, but Blue Bolt won't line up against her Sunday at Deauville in the Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois, among Europe's premier one-mile races open to older horses.
In the last two years, the New Zealand-bred gelding Cosmic Crusader has won 7 of 10 starts at distances ranging from six furlongs to 1 1/8 miles. That record has made Cosmic Crusader the favorite in Saturday’s P.B. Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield.
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Bow Echo, the star 3-year-old miler based in England, has been retired from racing with an unspecified injury.
Sun Goddess gave Aidan O’Brien a staggering 18th career win in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes for 2-year-olds at the Curragh on Sunday, but the legendary trainer’s first with a filly.
The lightly-raced 3-year-old colt How Are You may pose a danger to more experienced rivals in Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest for sprinters at Deauville Racecourse in northern France.
For an accomplished sprinter, the 4-year-old Australian-bred Ninja has never won at six furlongs, a statistical oddity that may change in Saturday’s Group 2 Missile Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.
On Sunday, Blue Bolt ($3) won the Group 1 Prix Rothschild at Deauville Racecourse in France, finishing a half-length in front of 2-1 Precise. They were first and second in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse at a mile in Britain on July 10.
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An unbeaten record in Britain this year will make the 4-year-old filly Blue Bolt a heavy favorite in her first trip abroad in Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Rothschild for fillies and mares at a mile at Deauville Racecourse in France.
