Sat, 09/13/2025 - 12:01

Australia: Mr Brightside can’t be caught in Makybe Diva

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. 

Fri, 09/12/2025 - 13:14

Australian sprint star Asfoora looks for another Group 1 win in the Flying Five

Barbara D. Livingston
Irish St. Leger favorite Al Riffa is using the race as a possible prep for the Nov. 4 Melbourne Cup.

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.

Fri, 09/12/2025 - 10:01

Crawford hopes Only U can deliver first Hong Kong winner with Purton aboard

The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Brett Crawford is searching for Sha Tin success this Sunday (14 September).

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.

Fri, 09/12/2025 - 09:50

Hong Kong Selections for Sunday, September 14, 2025

Paul Lally: 
R1 4-3-1-7 
R2 9-1-5-8 
R3 4-1-5-9 
R4 2-6-3-11 
R5 4-3-2-9 
R6 11-8-2-1 
R7 7-11-2-6 
R8 1-10-12-8 
R9 10-9-7-8 
R10 9-8-1-6 
Best Bet R9 N10 Mr Energia 
Longshot R2 N9 Panda Legend 
Play Race4 QQP 2-3-6 

Fri, 09/12/2025 - 09:46

Ryan Moore’s World Pool blog: Irish Champion Stakes Day

The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Ryan Moore

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

Thu, 09/11/2025 - 14:21

Australia: Waller pair dominate Makybe Stakes betting

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.

Thu, 09/11/2025 - 14:12

Luke Middlebrook's Hong Kong Selections and Analysis for Sunday, September 14, 2025

Sha Tin Selections
(Sunday, September 14, 2025) 

Thu, 09/11/2025 - 13:51

Delacroix will go his best distance in Irish Champion Stakes

Focusonracing.com
Delacroix took the measure of star older rival Ombudsman in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, a race run at same 10-furlong distance as the Irish Champion Stakes.

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.

Thu, 09/11/2025 - 13:49

Storming Dragon, Wrote A New Page strike early in DBS x Manulife Million Challenge as Richards shines again

The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Storming Dragon, Wrote A New Page strike early in DBS x Manulife Million Challenge as Richards shines again

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.

Tue, 09/09/2025 - 10:25

Jerry Chau back in action at Happy Valley as DBS x Manulife Million Challenge starts

The Hong Kong Jockey Club
Jerry Chau returns victorious with Embraces at Happy Valley.

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.