Sammiballerina won for the second time in her career in a handicap at about 6 1/2 furlongs at Muswellbrook Racecourse in Australia on April 10, showing her customary late run.
After comprehensive losses in two high-profile handicaps at Rosehill Gardens and Scone in late April and mid-May, Sammiballerina is back at her home course of Muswellbrook for a handicap at 7 1/4 furlongs on Saturday evening.
On March 31, the New Zealand-bred filly Affaire A Suivre won the fourth start of her career in a maiden race at Cranbourne Racecourse in Australia.
Three months later, Affaire A Suivre may be on the cusp of becoming a multiple Group 1 winner.
The four trainers who have accounted for 10 of the last 12 Epsom Derby winners have the four shortest prices for the 2023 renewal of the Derby on Saturday at Epsom Downs.
Aidan O’Brien, who has won six of the last dozen Derbies, starts favored Auguste Rodin, whose chief challengers look like Military Order, trained by Charlie Appleby, the Derby winner in 2021 (Adayar) and 2018 (Masar); Arrest, trained by John and Thady Gosden (Golden Horn, 2015); and Passenger, trained by Michael Stoute, whose 2022 win with Desert Crown marked his sixth Derby win.
With wins in two of his last three starts, the Australian gelding Rylan’s Pick is nearing a hike in handicap level to avoid carrying too much weight.
When Rylan’s Pick starts as an expected favorite in a six-furlong handicap at Dubbo Racecourse on Thursday evening, he will be stuck with the role of topweight, but will not have as severe of an assignment as possible.
Rylan’s Pick was assigned 140 pounds, but the presence of apprentice Ronald Simpson reduces the weight to 135.5 pounds, still a hefty assignment.
The veteran Australian filly Star Impact will have her third race following a three-month layoff in a handicap for fillies and mares at 6 3/4 furlongs at Wyong Racecourse on Wednesday evening. It is a distance that should be in the 4-year-old’s favor.
Star Impact has won 3 of 17 starts, with two of the wins at seven furlongs.
Star Impact finished 11th of 12, beaten 7 1/4 lengths, in a handicap at 5 1/2 furlongs at Wyong on May 11 in her first start since February, but was a brighter second in a handicap at 6 1/4 furlongs at Newcastle on May 20.
Russian Emperor caught odds-on favorite Romantic Warrior in the last two strides to win the $1.53 million Champions and Chater Cup, the final Group 1 of the Hong Kong racing season, for the second year in a row.
Romantic Warrior just failed to last 1 1/2 miles in his first try beyond 1 1/4 miles, leading from just after the start under his new rider, Zac Purton. Narrowly beaten earlier this year by Hong Kong’s best horse, Golden Sixty, going 1 1/4 miles, probably Romantic Warrior’s best trip, he was handed a neck defeat Sunday at Sha Tin by Hong Kong’s best 1 1/2-mile horse.
Tahiyra, wearing the green and red silks of the Aga Khan, did not disappoint Sunday at The Curragh, winning the Irish 1000 Guineas by 1 1/2 lengths over a game Meditate.
Vadeni, wearing the green and red silks of the Aga Khan, was very disappointing Sunday at The Curragh, finishing fifth with no excuse as Luxembourg made all the running to win the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup.
