Sha Tin Selections
(Sunday, May 31, 2026)

The only time the veteran Australian sprinter Jimmysstar has not started in a Group 1 in the last eight months occurred in early November when he won the $1.96 million Russell Balding Stakes.

Otherwise, Jimmysstar has started in six consecutive Group 1 sprints, beginning with a third-place finish in the $13.09 million Everest Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney last October. The streak will extend to seven straight appearances in Group 1 races when Jimmysstar starts in Saturday’s $713,300 Kingsford Smith Cup at 6 1/2 furlongs at Eagle Farm in Brisbane.

Happy Valley Selections
(Wednesday, May 27, 2026)

Juryoku Pierrot seemed like another runner toward the back of an 18-filly field at the top of the stretch in Sunday’s Grade 1 Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse.

Instead, she was on the verge of an historic rally through the final 5/16 of a mile. Juryoku Pierrot passed the rest of the field under jockey Seina Imamura, who became the first Japanese-born female rider to win a race at the highest level.

“It’s like I’m dreaming,” Imamura told Japan Racing Association publicity.

Juryoku Pierrot, the fifth choice, paid $26 in American pools.

One might, focusing solely on classic races for 3-year-old fillies in England and Ireland this spring, wonder who, exactly, is the top rider for trainer Aidan O’Brien.

In the 1000 Guineas on May 3 at Newmarket, it was Wayne Lordan riding 5-1 chance True Love to victory, as Ryan Moore, stable jockey for O’Brien and his globally powerful owners since 2015, steered 9-5 favorite Precise to a seventh-place finish.

By Leo Schlink

Sealing his place among Hong Kong’s pantheon of equine immortals with triumph in the HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (24 May) – and becoming only the third horse to clinch the Triple Crown – Romantic Warrior will be given a well-earned spell before trainer Danny Shum decides the champion’s racing future.

Alexis Badel believes Gentlemen Legacy is a classy stayer whose consistency over course and distance suggests he is capable of more than simply making up the numbers in the HK$13 million G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) on Sunday (24 May).

While the Tony Cruz-trained five-year-old will make his debut at Group 1 level in the Sha Tin feature, Badel says there are enough positives in Gentlemen Legacy’s profile to suggest he can be competitive.

Gstaad recorded his first win in a European Group 1 in his fifth attempt with a comprehensive victory in Saturday’s $580,600 Irish 2000 Guineas at a mile for 3-year-olds at The Curragh.

Ridden by Ryan Moore for Aidan O’Brien, Gstaad closed from third in a field of nine to win by three lengths over Distant Storm. Gstaad took the lead with more than a furlong remaining and was quickly clear of his rivals.

Gstaad paid a mere $2.40 in American pools. Distant Storm (6-1) finished a length clear of 31-1 Pacific Avenue.

Distance may be the only thing preventing Star Anise from winning her third consecutive Grade 1 race in Sunday’s $2.03 million Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse.

Star Anise, Japan’s champion 2-year-old filly of 2025, has never raced beyond a mile, the distance of her last two wins, the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies last December and her lone start this year in the Japanese 1000 Guineas. Both were Grade 1 races.

Gstaad, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar last October, will be an odds-on favorite to win his first Group 1 in Europe in Saturday’s $580,600 Irish 2000 Guineas at a mile for 3-year-olds at The Curragh.

Gstaad, a colt by Starspangledbanner, has won 3 of 7 starts, with all the losses in Group 1 races. In his first start this year, Gstaad was second by 2 3/4 lengths to Bow Echo in the Group 1 English 2000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse in Great Britain on May 2.