Arctic Cosmos scored a surprise in the $770,000 St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster on Saturday as Rewilding, banged down to even-money favoritism, trudged home a well beaten seventh, 6 1/2 lengths behind the 12-1 winner.
Midday and Sariska renew their heated rivalry at Longchamp on Sunday when they clash in the Group 1, $444,000 Prix Vermeille, but the British raiders could have their hands full in the 1 1/2-mile filly and mare contest with the undefeated Sarafina.
White Moonstone added another feather to the cap of both Godolphin and her sire, Dynaformer, at Doncaster on Friday as she cruised to a five-length victory in the Group 2, $123,000 Champagne Stakes.
Godolphin’s undefeated Janood runs into a phalanx of four Coolmore rivals in the Group 1, $254,000 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday.
Rewilding looks difficult to beat in the 234th running of the $775,000 St. Leger Stakes, at 1 3/4 miles, 132 yards, the world’s longest and oldest classic, at Doncaster on Saturday.
A pair of Group 2 contests for 2-year-olds highlights the third day of Doncaster’s St. Leger Meeting on Friday with Zebedee and Meow vying for favoritism in the $122,000, five-furlong Flying Childers Stakes, while White Moonstone is the odds-on choice in the one-mile May Hill Stakes for juvenile fillies.
Kane Hekili, perhaps the best dirt horse in the history of Japanese racing, has been retired after suffering yet another debilitating injury.
Doncaster’s stamina-laden St. Leger meeting presents its first group race on Thursday when English Oaks runner-up Meeznah should start a lukewarm favorite in the Group 2, $153,000 Park Hill Stakes.
Dar Re Mi, the 5-year-old mare who beat males in the $5 million Dubai Sheema Classic in March, has been retired from racing because of an accumulation of unspecified minor ailments.
Fuisse upset more fancied opponents in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp, as hot favorite Paco Boy was a listless fourth of six.
