Electrocutionist can take advantage of a Hurricane Run who may not be in top form and a Heart's Cry who has not run in four months when they meet in the $1.38 million King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

Andre Fabre has named Christophe Soumillon to replace Kieren Fallon aboard even-money favorite Hurricane Run in Saturday's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot.

Fallon, who has been charged in an alleged race-fixing scheme, could retain the ride aboard Hurricane Run if a British court on Thursday reverses the Horseracing Regulatory Authority's ruling that bars him from riding in Britain. It is more likely, however, that Soumillon will ride Hurricane Run in the King George VI, in which he will meet Heart's Cry and Electrocutionist.

Schiaparelli followed in the footsteps of his full brother Samum on Sunday when he confirmed 2.70-1 favoritism in landing the $816,000 German Derby at Hamburg.

A son of Monsun out of the Old Vic mare Sacarina, Schiaparelli quickened to lead through the final sixteenth of the Group 1 classic under Andrasch Starke, defeating Dickens by a length. The time for the 1 1/2 miles on good ground was 2:30.94.

Schiaparelli followed in the footsteps of his full brother Samum on Sunday, when he won the Group 1, $816,000 German Derby at Hamburg.

Off as the 2.70-1 favorite under Andrasch Starke, Schiaparelli quickened to lead through the final sixteenth of the German Derby, defeating Dickens by a length. Oriental Tiger finished another 1 3/4 lengths back in third. The time for the 1 1/2 miles on good ground was 2:30.94.

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.