The $807,000 Group 1 German Derby at Hamburg on Sunday boils down to a contest between the favored Aspectus and four sons or daughters of Germany's leading stallion, Monsun.

By the influential Champion Stakes winner Spectrum, Aspectus is an Irish-bred colt who made amends for his dull 13th-place finish in the 1 5/16-mile French Derby with a sharp score in the major German Derby prep, the 1 3/8-mile Group 2 Oppenheim-Union-Rennen on July 2. Trained by Hans Blume, he left three of his main German Derby rivals behind him that day and will have Andre de Vries in the saddle.

NEW YORK - Are we standing at the gates of the golden age of Japanese racing?

Recent events suggest we are. The Sunday Silence-driven improvement of the Japanese Thoroughbred has produced a cornucopia of outstanding horses in recent years. Since 1998, when Seeking the Pearl and Taiki Shuttle became the first Japanese-trained horses to win Group 1 races in Europe, the Japanese Thoroughbred has emerged from his shell and become a force around the world.

Touch of Land will head to Chicago for a third try in the Arlington Million after successfully defending his Group 3, $100,000 Grand Prix de Vichy title on Wednesday night.

Alexandrova proved a class apart as she cruised to victory in the $507,000 Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Sunday, giving trainer Aidan O'Brien his 12th Irish classic triumph but only his first in this 1 1/2-mile test for fillies.

In defeating Scottish Stage by four lengths, Alexandrova also completed the English Oaks-Irish Oaks double, having landed the Epsom fillies classic by six lengths from Rising Cross on June 2. Rising Cross was third on Sunday, a length behind the runner-up.

Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms celebrated Bastille Day in style at Longchamp on Friday, when Rail Link won the Group 1, $625,000 Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris. It was Juddmonte's fourth win of the day, as they had also taken the 1 3/4-mile Group 2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil with Bellamy Cay, the listed Prix de Thiberville with Village Fete, and an allowance race with Enforce.

Trained by Andre Fabre, Rail Link defeated British invader Red Rocks by two lengths in the 1 1/2-mile Grand Prix as the even-money favorite. It was another head back to Sudan in third.

Alexandrova, who looked like the second coming of All Along when she won the English Oaks by six lengths on June 2, could have her mettle tested in the $507,000 Irish Oaks at the Curragh on Sunday.

Displaying remarkable consistency for a British sprinter, Les Arcs followed his Royal Ascot Golden Jubilee Stakes victory with a late-running triumph in the $666,000 July Cup at Newmarket on Friday.

A gelded 6-year-old Maryland-bred son of Super Derby winner Arch, Les Arcs is the first British-trained sprinter to win two consecutive Group 1 sprints since 2003, when Oasis Dream won the July Cup and the Nunthorpe Stakes.

Kieren Fallon on Thursday lost his appeal to have his jockey's license reinstated in Britain. Following a hearing Wednesday evening, the appeal board of the Horseracing Regulatory Authority ruled on Thursday morning that it was upholding the authority's original decision to suspend Fallon after he was charged last week with conspiracy to defraud through race fixing.

Strategic Prince overturned the juvenile form of Royal Ascot's Norfolk Stakes on Thursday as he stormed clear to take the Group 2 July Stakes at Newmarket.

Strategic Prince had finished fifth, seven lengths behind the

victorious Dutch Art, in the Norfolk. Sent off at 16-1 in the six-furlong July Stakes, he went from last to first for a 1 3/4-length victory over the 50-1 Armigerent. The Norfolk runner-up and odds-on July favorite, Hoh Mike, failed to find another gear and finished seventh of nine, nine lengths behind the winner.

Kieren Fallon on Thursday lost his appeal to have his jockey's license reinstated in Britain. Following a hearing Wedneday evening, the appeal board of the Horseracing Regulatory Authority ruled on Thursday morning that it was upholding its original decision to suspend Fallon after he was charged last week with conspiracy to defraud through race fixing.