Two qualify for Breeders' Cup berths in Australia

The Kentucky-bred It’s Somewhat and the veteran turf sprinter Chautauqua won Group 1 races at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Australia on Saturday with automatic berths to Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar in November.

It’s Somewhat won the $2.29 million Doncaster Mile, which is billed as the world’s richest mile handicap. It’s Somewhat earned a berth in the BC Mile on Nov. 4.

Chautauqua won the $1.91 million T.J. Smith Stakes at six furlongs for the third consecutive year, earning a berth for the BC Turf Sprint on Nov. 4.

It was not immediately clear whether It’s Somewhat or Chautauqua would be sent to California. Chautauqua is expected to start in the newly created The Everest Stakes, a $7.6 million race at six furlongs on turf at Randwick in October. The Everest Stakes, which was announced earlier this year, is structured in a similar way as the $12 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park, with owners buying berths for the race.

In other Group 1 races at Randwick on Saturday, Jon Snow won the $1.52 million Australian Derby. Invader won the $764,700 Inglis’ Sires Stakes for 2-year-olds at seven furlongs. The four races were the highlights of the first of two Saturday programs at Randwick known as the Championships.

It’s Somewhat, a 6-year-old by Dynaformer, was 30-1 in the Doncaster Mile. Ridden by Zac Purton, It’s Somewhat led throughout to finish a half-length in front of 6-1 Happy Clapper in a field of 20. It’s Somewhat is trained by John O’Shea for Godolphin Racing.

Chautauqua, a 6-year-old Australian-bred gelding by Encosta De Lago, has won 13 of 28 starts. Ridden by Tommy Berry, Chautauqua (9-2) won the T.J. Smith Stakes by a head over 11-1 English in a field of 15. Chautauqua is trained by the family of brothers Michael and Wayne Hawkes and their father, John.

Jon Snow, a New Zealand-bred colt by Iffraaj, won his first Group 1 in the Australian Derby at 1 1/2 miles on turf, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of 25-1 Harper’s Choice. Gingernuts, who had won his four previous starts, finished fifth as the 8-5 favorite.

Jon Snow (6-1) is trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, and was ridden by Damian Lane.

Invader, ridden by Hugh Bowman, scored a 7-1 upset in the Inglis’ Sires Stakes, his second win in six starts and first stakes win. Invader, by Snitzel, finished three-quarters of a length in front of 15-1 Summer Passage in a field of 16. Frolic, the 14-5 favorite who was second in the Group 1 Golden Slipper at Rosehill Gardens on March 18, finished seventh.

Invader is trained by Peter and Paul Snowden. The colt missed the Golden Slipper because of a minor foot injury.