Al Ain, the winner of the Grade 1 Japanese 2000 Guineas in April, will be favored to win Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese St. Leger at 1 7/8 miles on turf at Kyoto Racecourse against 17 rivals.
Ribchester was beaten a half-length by the excellent filly Minding a year ago in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, but on Saturday he is the one to beat in the last major mile race of the European season.
Saturday at Ascot Racecourse in England, Cracksman will be favored to win his first Group 1 race in the $1.71 million Champion Stakes.
Hong Kong selections and analysis: Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017
Trainer Aidan O’Brien will start Johannes Vermeer in the $2,353,200 Caulfield Cup in Australia in an attempt to match the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel’s 2003 mark of 25 Grade 1 or Group 1 wins in a season.
Hong Kong selections for Wednesday, October 18 at Happy Valley.
Best Step, the 4-year-old gelding, has become a different horse the last six months in Hong Kong.
Andrew Hawkins' Hong Kong selections, analysis: Oct. 18
Aidan O’Brien got his 24th Group 1 win of the season as U S Navy Flag led an O’Brien-trained sweep of the top four places in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes on Saturday at Newmarket.
Redzel’s tactical advantage over Vega Magic proved the difference Saturday at Royal Randwick in the world’s richest turf race.
