Satono Crown, the conqueror of Highland Reel in December, earned his second group 1 win and a berth in Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) with a stretch-running victory in the June 25 Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse.
Idaho emerged from the shadow of his older brother Highland Reel (IRE) to win the Hardwicke Stakes (G2) on the final day of Royal Ascot June 24, providing Coolmore a powerful 1-2 punch for the remainder of the season worldwide.
The Coolmore team from Ireland ruled the fourth day of Royal Ascot, where it won both group 1 events and gave a boost to Caravaggio, one of the most promising sons of the late sire Scat Daddy.
Big Orange ran the biggest race of his career, dug in gamely in the final yards to hold off defending champion Order Of St George, and won by a desperate nose in the Gold Cup (G1), the featured race on the middle day of Royal Ascot.
The Royal Ascot meeting won't go without a bang Saturday, as there's a group 1 sprint on tap and a good supporting cast of races.
Highland Reel (IRE) refused to be beaten in the £750,000 ($945,000) Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) June 21, the feature of the second day of Royal Ascot and richest race of the meeting.
The Royal Ascot heavyweights are poised to square off in the first of two group 1 events on the second-last day of Royal Ascot.
Order of St George is the overwhelming favorite in the sole group 1 event June 22 at Royal Ascot, The Gold Cup at 2 1/2 miles for 4-year-olds and up.
Frankie Dettori will sit out this year's Royal Ascot meeting with an arm injury sustained last week at Yarmouth.
The Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1), the richest race of the meeting and one of its most competitive at the top level, is the gem of the second day of Royal Ascot June 21.
While most of the attention "across the pond" in America is focused on Miss Temple City's appearance in the Queen Anne Stakes (G1), the Royal Ascot opening day feature for most of the locals will be the St. James's Palace (G1).
Satono Aladdin captured the June 4 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo Racecourse, his first grade 1 victory, over last year's winner Logotype.
Hong Kong horsemen have not been shy about targeting rich races elsewhere in Asia and the June 4 Yasuda Kinen (G1) at Tokyo Racecourse is no exception.
Rey de Oro settled briefly behind a slow pace in the May 28 Tokyo Yushun (G1), or Japanese Derby, moved up when jockey Christophe Lemaire realized action was required and powered through deep stretch to win by three-quarters of a length.
Werther answered the distance question with authority in the final group 1 event of Hong Kong's season, kicking away from his main rival, Blazing Speed, to win the May 28 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup by three lengths.
After finishing a close third as the favorite in last year's Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (G1) on the Sha Tin turf, Hong Kong Horse of the Year Werther is likely to be favored for a second straight year May 28.
A group 1 double-header May 7 at Sha Tin was marred by the fatal breakdown of Rapper Dragon, the brightest star on the local horizon.
Sha Tin hosts a group 1 doubleheader May 7 and, while the races are largely intramural affairs, the paucity of international competition doesn't lessen the interest.
Neorealism jumped to the lead with a dramatic move halfway through the Audemars Piguet QEII Cup at Sha Tin April 30 and held off the top two local contestants for a narrow win.
Kitasan Black, reigning Japanese Horse of the Year, dominated a tough field in the Tenno Sho Spring (G1) at Kyoto April 30, chasing down the runaway leader and sweeping to a 1 1/4-length victory.
Japan's reigning Horse of the Year, Kitasan Black, will tackle a tough field April 30 in the Tenno Sho Spring (G1) at Kyoto Racecourse.
The past three winners of the Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) all will be looking for a repeat April 30 at Sha Tin against contenders from Japan, France, and Australia, and another pair from their own ranks.
Juddmonte Farms' Arrogate broke last, but rallied easily to win the $10 million Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline.
Mind Your Biscuits, a New York-bred son of Posse and winner of last year's Malibu Stakes (G1), broke through in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) at Meydan. The win was a first for trainer Chad Summers.
Thunder Snow, only days after being made a late nominee to the U.S. Triple Crown series, justified the investment with a hard-fought victory March 25 in the UAE Derby Sponsored By The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (G2) at Meydan Racecourse.
Mind Your Biscuits, Stallwalkin' Dude and St. Joe Bay will carry the U.S. banner in the 1,200 meters (about 6 furlongs) dirt sprint, which pays $1.2 million to the winner.
The UAE Derby features a Japanese runner already qualified for a spot in the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (G1) in the form of Epicharis. Another, Adirato, could earn a spot with a victory March 25 at Meydan.
The gelded son of Street Boss makes history with an emphatic win in the March 19 BMW Hong Kong Derby.
Winx, Australia's reigning super mare, had no trouble with the heavy turf against six overmatched opponents in the March 18 China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (G1) and rolled to her 16th straight win by more than seven lengths.
The 3-year-old Hussonet gelding out of champion Almah sold to Peter Lau for HK$10.5 million.
It's one big race after another, after another March 18 at Rosehill Gardens outside Sydney but the main focus will be on--who else?--Winx.
Son of Street Boss looking to be first to sweep Hong Kong's Classic Series but faces one of the deepest fields ever in the Hong Kong Derby.
Jockey João Moreira, known as "Magic Man" to Hong Kong bettors, scored eight wins on the March 5 card at Sha Tin Racecourse, bettering the local record by two.
Locals and early arrivals audition the evening of March 4 at Meydan for the $10 million Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1).
The Illinois Racing Board Feb. 28 conditionally approved transferring $500,000 of its "surplus" operating funds to bolster purses at the state's three remaining tracks.
Trainer John Moore saddled the winners in both group 1 events Feb. 26 at Sha Tin and, rubbing salt into his opponents' wounds, took the top three placings in one of them.
Winx, a 5-year-old daughter of Street Cry, sailed to a two-length victory in the TAB Chipping Norton Stakes (G1) at Royal Randwick.
A pair of top-level races Sunday at Sha Tin will showcase some of Hong Kong's proven stars, including two former Horse of the Year honorees.
Epicharis, a grandson of Sunday Silence, earned a guaranteed spot in the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (G1) with a victory in Sunday's Hyacinth Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse.
Fifteen 3-year-olds, including one owned by Sheikh Mohammed, are set for the Hyacinth Stakes Feb. 19 at Tokyo Racecourse, which carries a qualifying opportunity to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
Move will put more money into overnight purses
The Illinois Racing Board on Jan. 24 discussed a proposal to put $500,000 in expected surplus funds into the state's purse accounts.
Japanese superstar Maurice (JPN) rolled to a dramatic, stretch-running victory Dec. 11 in the Longines Hong Kong Cup (HK-I), capping a day that saw Japan and Hong Kong sweep the honors on the Sha Tin Racecourse turf.
Pure Sensation, the only American entry in the Dec. 11 Longines Hong Kong International Races, returned to the Sha Tin all-weather track for a light jog Dec. 10 but was declared a non-runner for Sunday's Longines Hong Kong Sprint (HK-I).
Able Friend tries to overcome a frustrating series of misfortunes to return to glory in the Hong Kong Mile (HK-I).
Pure Sensation, the only American entry in the Dec. 11 Longines Hong Kong International Races, is a questionable starter due to problems with both his left hind leg and left fore foot, local stewards said Dec. 9.
The Longines Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin Dec. 11 feature intriguing matchups of defending champions including reigning Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) winner Highland Reel.
Australian Hugh Bowman won Wednesday night's Longines International Jockeys' Championship at Happy Valley in Hong Kong as the sole American contestant, Florent Geroux, finished off the board.
Kitasan Black led from the first jump and was never challenged in a dominating victory Nov. 27 in the 36th running of the Japan Cup in association with Longines at Tokyo Racecourse.
Mont Saint Legame tracked the pace in the Nov. 26 Cattleya Sho at Tokyo Racecourse, went by outside the leader in mid-straight, and claimed a 1 1/4-length victory, becoming the leading Japanese contender for the 2017 Kentucky Derby.
Get the latest insider news, analysis, entries and results on your phone or sent to your email!
Sign up for our free weekly email newsletters and alerts, filled with race previews and results, news of the week, or breaking news.
Sign Up
