The 8-year-old gelding Mr Brightside proved impossible to catch in Saturday’s Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at a mile at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, beating a field that included Via Sistina, Australia’s reigning Horse of the Year.
The victory was the 10th in a Group 1 for Mr Brightside, and the third consecutive year he has won the $495,000 Makybe Diva Stakes. He also won the $3.32 million All-Star Mile in 2023, a race that gained Grade 1 status earlier this year.
The Australian sprint mare Asfoora has already had a successful second journey to Europe this summer, winning the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York Racecourse last month.
In 2024, Asfoora won the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at five furlongs at Royal Ascot, the highlight of a four-race British campaign.
This year’s campaign could be more productive if Asfoora has a successful first trip to Ireland for Sunday’s Group 1 Flying Five Stakes at five furlongs at the Curragh.
By Paul Ryding
Brett Crawford believes he can get off the mark in Hong Kong at Sha Tin on Sunday (14 September) when he prepares his second runner in the city, with champion jockey Zac Purton in the saddle.
Top weight Only U (135lb) represents the South African handler’s sole entry at the meeting in the first section of the Class 5 Hong Tung Handicap (1400m), but Crawford is encouraged by the six-year-old’s solid recent form and the fact that the famously studious Purton thought enough of the horse’s chances to reach out and request the ride.
Irish Champions Weekend is a brilliant event, so it will be a hard one to watch it from the sidelines.
Leopardstown | Race 1: Listed Ingabelle Stakes
Diamond Necklace is a filly by St Mark’s Basilica, who was a good winner of a race at the Curragh last month which usually turns out to be pretty good. I think she’ll step forward and Leopardstown should suit her well. She could be hard to beat.
Leopardstown | Race 2: 3yo+ Handicap
Via Sistina may be Australia’s reigning Horse of the Year, but she has ample competition within trainer Chris Waller’s prestigious stable alone to retain that title.
Via Sistina won her first start of the current Australia season by slightly less than a half-length over stablemate Aeliana in the Group 1 Winx Stakes at seven furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Aug. 23.
At 1 1/4 miles on turf, Delacroix has been almost unbeatable this year, leaving the 3-year-old a deserving favorite in Saturday’s Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown Racecourse in Ireland.
Delacroix, trained by Aidan O’Brien for the Coolmore syndicate, won two Group 3 races for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles in Ireland in the spring before he finished ninth as the 2-1 favorite in the Group 1 English Derby at 1 1/2 miles on June 7 at Epsom Downs in his only start at the distance.
By Leo Schlink
Jamie Richards’ stable stocks continued to rise at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (10 September) after the New Zealand trainer slotted his second double in two meetings as Storming Dragon claimed joint leadership of the HK$1.5 million DBS x Manulife Million Challenge.
Fresh from a brace at the season-opening fixture at Sha Tin on Sunday (7 September), Richards struck with Storming Dragon and To Infinity to erase the memories of a challenging 2024/25 campaign when he saddled 21 winners.
by Declan Schuster
Riding high after a monumental success in South Korea on Sunday afternoon (7 September), Jerry Chau returns to Hong Kong racing on Wednesday (10 September) at Happy Valley aiming to kick on with the same momentum which resulted in an unlikely G3 Korea Sprint (1200m, sand) triumph on Self Improvement.
