by Paul Ryding
Britney Wong underlined her potential as she reached a career milestone at Sha Tin on Sunday (14 September) when the 26-year-old achieved her 20th win in Hong Kong.
She rode two winners – reducing her apprentice’s claim to seven pounds from next week – on an intriguing day of racing that also featured a treble for Alexis Badel and doubles for Andrea Atzeni, Mark Newnham and Danny Shum.
The summertime migration from Arizona to Del Mar is understandable, with desert residents seeking cooler temperatures on the California coast.
This fall, Arizona Blaze, a speedy 3-year-old colt from Ireland, could be Del Mar-bound for a hot race after winning Sunday’s Group 1 Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh.
Arizona Blaze earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 1 with a game win from the front in the $468,800 Flying Five Stakes at five furlongs.
On both sides of the Irish Sea on Saturday, the well-backed colts Delacroix and Scandinavia gave the Coolmore syndicate and trainer Aidan O’Brien Group 1 wins with implications for major stakes later this year.
Delacroix earned a fees-paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 1 with a win in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Leopardstown Racecourse. Delacroix, however, has been mentioned as a candidate for the Group 1 Champion Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Ascot Racecourse in Britain on Oct. 18.
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.
