A filly won the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes on Friday at York Racecourse, but not the one widely expected to do so.
In fact, Marsha’s victory over the U.S.-based Lady Aurelia wasn’t expected even after the horses had crossed the finish line. Lady Aurelia appeared to have held on as jockey Frankie Dettori rose up from the saddle and punched the air in celebration. A minute later, the photo finish was resolved and Lady Aurelia had been defeated by a nose.
Enable galloped her way to a five-length win in Thursday’s Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks at York Racecourse in northern England to further solidify her status as the future-book favorite for the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly Racecourse in France on Oct. 1.
After the Yorkshire Oaks, Enable was even-money with British bookmakers to win the Arc, Europe’s most prestigious race.
Ulysses is no Trojan horse. The 4-year-old colt is all solid racehorse now, improving start by start, and after an impressive two-length win over Churchill on Wednesday at York in the Group 1 Juddmonte International, his connections are pointing to the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar.
The International is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Win and You’re In race, granting its winner a fees-paid berth in the BC Turf, including international travel expenses. As a 3-year-old last fall, Ulysses finished fourth in the BC Turf, and he has since improved considerably.
Enable, the 3-year-old filly who has soared to the top of European racing in recent months, will be a massive favorite to win her fourth consecutive Group 1 race in Thursday’s $453,950 Yorkshire Oaks at York Racecourse in northern England.
Trained by John Gosden for Juddmonte Farms, Enable was the 3-10 favorite for the Yorkshire Oaks as of Wednesday. Enable has won four consecutive starts, including the English Oaks on June 2, the Irish Oaks on 15, and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 29, all Group 1 races.
The English-based colt Unfortunately is having a fine summer in France.
Unfortunately won his second consecutive group stakes for 2-year-olds in the Group 1 Prix Morny at six furlongs on turf Sunday at Deauville Racecourse. Havana Grey, who set the pace, finished second, giving trainer Karl Burke a sweep of the exacta in the eight-horse field.
Winx overcame a poor start to win her 18th consecutive race in Saturday’s Group 2 Warwick Stakes at seven furlongs on turf at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Australia.
Her victory, however, was by only a head - her narrowest win margin in 23 months.
There are five fillies among the eight runners in Sunday’s Group 1 Prix Morny at six furlongs on turf at Deauville Racecourse in France.
One of them – Different League – could be bound for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 3. Different League won the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. After the race, Con Marnane, husband of owner Theresa Marnane, mentioned the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf as a long-range goal.
The $411,320 Prix Morny on a straightaway course will be difficult enough.
Winx, the winner of 17 consecutive races and the world’s top-rated turf horse, will have her first start of the 2017-18 Australian season in Saturday’s Group 2 Warwick Stakes at seven furlongs on turf at Royal Randwick Racecourse outside of Sydney.
The 6-year-old Winx will be a heavy favorite against seven rivals in the $197,050 Warwick Stakes, a race she won in 2016 at the start of an eight-race campaign. Post time is 10 p.m., Friday, Pacific.
First Sitting won the first group stakes of his career in Tuesday’s Group 3 Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club at Deauville, France, beating a field that included Almanzor, the top-rated horse in Europe in 2016.
First Sitting, a 6-1 shot ridden by Gerald Moose, won the $94,400 race at 1 1/4 miles on turf by three-quarters of a length over 11-2 Garlingari. Almanzor, unraced since winning the British Champions Stakes at Ascot last October, finished in a dead heat for fifth in a field of six, beaten 3 3/4 lengths.
