Sat, 09/28/2013 - 14:31

Newmarket: Vorda wins Cheveley Park, headed for Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

Newmarket Racecourse in England hosted three group stakes Saturday, and the race with Breeders’ Cup implications was not the one you’d expect.

Berkshire won the Royal Lodge Stakes, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Win and You’re In race, but probably won’t start again until 2014. Sky Lantern, who traveled to Santa Anita for the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf last season, powerfully won the Sun Chariot Stakes, but her major late-season international goal is Hong Kong, not California.

Fri, 09/27/2013 - 14:19

Newmarket: Chriselliam connects at 28-1 in Fillies' Mile

Chriselliam, a 28-1 outsider, closed from last in a field of eight 2-year-old fillies to score an upset win in Friday’s $272,000 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket Racecourse in England.

The Group 1 Fillies’ Mile was the first stakes win for Chriselliam, an Irish-bred by Iffraaj.

Chriselliam was at the back of the field until the final furlong when jockey Richard Hughes switched her to the middle of the track for racing room. Chriselliam accelerated well and took the lead from 7-4 favorite Rizeena in the final 50 yards.

Thu, 09/26/2013 - 16:54

Europe: Sun Chariot features rematch of Falmouth

The Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes is a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, but the best race Saturday at Newmarket is the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes.

Wed, 09/25/2013 - 17:24

Newmarket: Rizeena goes for another Group 1 in Fillies' Mile

Rizeena, who has won three stakes since May, can win her second consecutive Group 1 race in Friday’s $272,000 Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket Racecourse in England.

Trained by Clive Brittain for Sheikh Rashid Dalmook al-Maktoum, Rizeena won the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes over seven furlongs at The Curragh in Ireland on Sept. 1, a victory that ended a two-race losing streak in group races. Rizeena was third against males in the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville, France, on Aug. 18, losing to the American-trained No Nay Never.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 21:00

Longchamp: Orfevre shines in Group 2 Prix Foy

If preview day for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe served as any guide, we are in for a cracking edition of the Arc itself next month at Longchamp.

The Prix Niel, Prix Foy, and Prix Vermeille all were contested over 1 1/2 miles on Sunday at Longchamp, and all the races provided plenty of fodder to digest before the Oct. 6 Arc. The Niel, for 3-year-olds, was by far the most hotly contested of the three races, with Japanese Derby winner Kizuna edging Epsom Derby winner Ruler of The World by the slimmest of margins.

Sat, 09/14/2013 - 12:20

Doncaster: Leading Light strong in St. Leger marathon

Aidan and Joseph O’Brien and the Coolmore group behind them were denied an English Triple Crown when Encke handed Camelot a surprise defeat last year in the Leger Stakes, but with less on the line the same connections won the 2013 St. Leger with Leading Light on Saturday at Doncaster in England.

Fri, 09/13/2013 - 16:50

Longchamp: Prix Niel best of six group stakes on card

How hot a race is this year’s Prix Niel? Put it this way: The Epsom Derby winner, Ruler of the World, is a distant third choice in ante-post wagering. That’s due mainly to the imposing presence of Flintshire, who not only is favored to win the Niel, but is accorded a good chance of giving trainer Andre Fabre an eighth Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe next month.

Thu, 09/12/2013 - 14:24

Doncaster: Galileo Rock may skip English St. Leger if ground is too wet

The racing world trained its collective eyes toward Doncaster for the 2012 English St. Leger Stakes, where Camelot was defeated by Encke in his attempt to win a rare English Triple Crown. This year’s Group 1 St. Leger – restricted to 3-year-olds, contested over a little more than 1 3/4 miles, and dating to 1776 – includes neither winner of the first two English classics, the 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby, and attention will wane accordingly.

Sat, 09/07/2013 - 15:40

Irish Champion Stakes: The Fugue outfinishes Al Kazeem at Leopardstown

Four-year-old filly The Fugue, winning her first big race against males, overhauled pace-setting Trading Leather and outfinished Al Kazeem to win the Group 1 $570,000 Irish Champion Stakes on Saturday at Leopardstown.

Thu, 09/05/2013 - 16:49

Leopardstown: Softer turf for Irish Champion should suit Al Kazeem

The near certainty of a rainy Friday night and Saturday on the eastern coast of Ireland means Al Kazeem will cross the Irish Sea from England to contest the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes on Saturday at Leopardstown.