The Group 3 Prix du Prince d'Orange is not a race normally associated with the best French 3-year-olds, but in Literato, this Saturday's renewal at Longchamp will feature a horse who could yet make an impact at the international level this fall.
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DRF Past Performances
In a bid to salvage Australia's Thoroughbred breeding season, the government of New South Wales will allow restricted movement of mares in areas affected by the nation's first-ever outbreak of highly contagious equine influenza.
That news came amid reports that representatives from Darley and Coolmore's Australian operations had met with government officials to ask for the release of shuttle stallions that the disease has kept in quarantine since late August.
New Approach won the most definitive juvenile race of the European season to date on Sunday, leading throughout for a most convincing score in the Group 1, $416,000 National Stakes at the Curragh.
Now undefeated after four starts, New Approach and his jockey, Kevin Manning, held sway over the Vintage Stakes winner, Rio de la Plata, by 1 3/4 lengths with the Prix Morny winner, Myboycharlie, the same margin away in third. Sent off as the 9-4 choice, New Approach covered the seven furlongs in a swift 1:23.50.
Many of the questions concerning this year's European pecking order should be answered on Sunday when five of the first eight favorites for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe will be in action at Longchamp in three course-and-distance preps for the big 1 1/2-mile race on Oct. 7.
Lucarno faces a phalanx of Aidan O'Brien-trained challengers at Doncaster on Saturday when he will try to give American owner George Strawbridge his first British classic triumph in the St. Leger Stakes. The 1 3/4-mile, 132-yard Group 1 race is worth $1omillion for the first time this year in its 232nd running.
A group of Australian breeders are contemplating a class action lawsuit against Australia's federal government over its handling of the equine influenza crisis that has brought the country's lucrative breeding season to a near standstill.
One of the breeders who said he will join the proposed suit is Damien Flower, who campaigned Australian Group 1 winner Snitzel and now stands him at Arrowfield Stud.
Darjina established herself as very probably the best miler in Europe on Sunday, as she gave older colts a sound beating in the $550,000 Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.
Settled nicely in third by Christophe Soumillon, she collared the Queen Anne Stakes and Sussex Stakes winner Ramonti at the eighth pole and drew clear for a two-length victory at 7-2. Two-time European champion and 8-5 favorite George Washington was up for third, a length behind Ramonti, with Linngari fading to fourth, another length behind.
Dylan Thomas beat his stablemates Duke of Marmalade and Red Rock Canyon at Leopardstown on Saturday to become the first dual winner of the Irish Champion Stakes. He ran the 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.27.
Kieren Fallon, who was riding Dylan Thomas for the first time since beating Ouija Board by a neck in this race last year, was happy to settle the son of Danehill fourth of the six runners. Red Rock Canyon led Duke of Marmalade as far as the straight, at which point Dylan Thomas passed English shipper Maraahel to move into third.