The Japan Racing Association will introduce a new race at the Grade 1 level at Tokyo on Sunday: the $1.6 million . The race has attracted a full field of 18 fillies and mares, of which the standout undeniably is Rhein Kraft.

NEW YORK - There were signs in the sun and stars on May 6, 2006, and they were all aligned above the name of Jackson.

To put what Roy and Gretchen Jackson achieved last Saturday at Newmarket and Churchill Downs into perspective it is necessary to invent newly minted superlatives that are not currently found in any English dictionary, either in America or Britain.

Papal Bull, a Montjeu colt owned by the same team as Saturday's 2000 Guineas winner, George Washington, came from last to first to win the Group 3, $122,000 Chester Vase at Chester Racecourse, south of Liverpool, on Thursday.

With the withdrawal of last year's French juvenile champion, Carlotamix, from Sunday's Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) at the four-day entry stage Wednesday, trainer Andre Fabre will be without a runner in both that race and its filly equivalent, the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas).

France Galop announced Tuesday that it has signed an agreement with Japanese automobile manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors to sponsor the Prix du Jockey-Club, or French Derby, to be run at Chantilly on June 4.

The sponsorship is a two-year contract with an option to renew in 2008. The French classic is now officially known as the Prix du Jockey-Club Mitsubishi Motors and has a value of $1.9 million.

Speciosa scored one for racing's lesser lights at Newmarket on Sunday as she stormed to a 2 1/2-length victory in the 1000 Guineas Stakes over a rain-softened Rowley Mile that her better-connected rivals could not handle. Earlier in the day, Shirocco reveled in the soft going to take the Group 2 Jockey Club Stakes easily in his first start since having won the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Bullish Luck scored a repeat victory in the $1.03 million Champions Mile at Sha Tin on Sunday, as the fabled Silent Witness faded tamely into ninth place in the third leg of the Asian Mile Challenge.

Speciosa scored one for racing's lesser lights at Newmarket on Sunday, when she stormed to victory in the Group 1, $607,000 1000 Guineas Stakes over a rain softened Rowley Mile that her better connected rivals could not handle. Earlier in the day, Shirocco reveled in the soft going to easily take the Group 2, $167,000 Jockey Club Stakes in his first start since he won the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Bullish Luck scored a repeat victory in the $1.03 million Champions Mile at Sha Tin on Sunday, as the fabled Silent Witness faded tamely into ninth place in the third leg of the Asian Mile Challenge.

George Washington gave his trainer, Aidan O'Brien, his fourth victory in the 2000 Guineas with a 2 1/2-length score over Sir Percy at Newmarket on Saturday.

Kieren Fallon, riding George Washington, the 3-2 favorite in the $607,000 race, rated his horse near the back of the 14-runner field before setting him down just inside the halfway point of the straight mile. George Washington responded when asked to take the lead at the quarter pole, and the 4-1 Sir Percy could not keep pace. George Washington crossed the line in 1:36.86 on ground labeled good to firm, firm in places.