https://www.scmp.com/rss/324074/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Australian speedster Asfoora returned to her brilliant best to win a thrilling Group One Nunthorpe Stakes (1,000m) at York on Friday. The 17-runner dash was wide open on paper, but Henry Dwyer’s mare turned the race into a procession under Oisin Murphy to win her second top-level race in Britain. Asfoora always travelled ominously well just behind the leaders and, when others were rowing away, Murphy was just gently coaxing his mount along and the writing was quickly on the wall. She took up the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3322917/australian-speedball-asfoora-beats-home-team-win-red-hot-nunthorpe-york?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3322917/australian-speedball-asfoora-beats-home-team-win-red-hot-nunthorpe-york?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Aug 2025 08:37:47 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Minnie Hauk enhanced her Group One Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2,400m) claims after a dominant display in the Group One Yorkshire Oaks (2,400m) at York on Wednesday, but she also has the option of the Breeders’ Cup. The Aidan O’Brien-trained filly was already towards the top of the market for Europe’s premier middle-distance race after wins in the Group One Oaks (2,400m) at Epsom and the Group One Irish Oaks (2,400m) at the Curragh, and this performance was a statement to all her potential... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3322807/minnie-hauk-tunes-bigger-targets-dominant-yorkshire-oaks-victory-aidan-obrien?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3322807/minnie-hauk-tunes-bigger-targets-dominant-yorkshire-oaks-victory-aidan-obrien?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Aug 2025 08:55:40 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Lady Iman and Spicy Marg bid to become rare two-year-old winners of the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes (1,000m) at York on Friday but will face competition from all angles in a 17-runner barn burner. The Nunthorpe has always been a historically competitive contest and this year’s running is no different, with no stand-out favourite and a host of runners from different age groups. The last two-year-old to win the Nunthorpe was Kingsgate Native in 2007, but trainer Ger Lyons clearly has confidence... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3322675/youngsters-lady-iman-and-spicy-marg-aim-buck-trends-wide-open-nunthorpe-york?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3322675/youngsters-lady-iman-and-spicy-marg-aim-buck-trends-wide-open-nunthorpe-york?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Aug 2025 10:00:34 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Ombudsman emphatically turned the tables on Delacroix to win a fascinating Group One International Stakes (2,051m) at York on day one of their Ebor Festival. The John and Thady Gosden-trained star was pipped by Delacroix in a tactical Group One Eclipse Stakes (2,000m) at Sandown last month, but the form was reversed in no uncertain terms. Godolphin ensured the race would be run at a true gallop by introducing Birr Castle as a pacemaker, with Rab Havlin sending him on by over 20 lengths and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3322658/ombudsman-wins-rematch-delacroix-win-thrilling-international-stakes-york?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3322658/ombudsman-wins-rematch-delacroix-win-thrilling-international-stakes-york?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Aug 2025 09:02:15 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Aidan O’Brien will look to Minnie Hauk as he bids to equal legendary trainers Sir Michael Stoute and Mathew Dawson on nine wins in the Group One Yorkshire Oaks (2,381m) at York on Thursday. According to the betting markets, the illustrious prize – won by the likes of Alpinista, Love, Enable and Alexandrova – could be turned into a procession by O’Brien’s dual Oaks winner. She defeated stablemate and subsequent Group One winner Whirl in the Group One Oaks (2,400m) at Epsom in June, before... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3322532/minnie-hauk-star-attraction-yorkshire-oaks-aidan-obrien-bids-history?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3322532/minnie-hauk-star-attraction-yorkshire-oaks-aidan-obrien-bids-history?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 20 Aug 2025 09:53:39 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Shogo Yasuda is hoping his star Danon Decile can climb the mountain to beat British, Irish and French challengers and win the Group One International Stakes (2,051m) race at York on Wednesday. Living up to its name, the International Stakes has attracted top-class horses from across the globe and Danon Decile, who will be ridden by Keita Tosaki, looks to have a brilliant chance. The four-year-old has been absent since a brilliant performance to down multiple Group One winner Calandagan and win... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3322384/international-stakes-global-affair-ebor-festival-york-kicks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3322384/international-stakes-global-affair-ebor-festival-york-kicks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Aug 2025 09:25:45 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Hugh Bowman won leading rider honours at the Shergar Cup for the second time at Ascot on Saturday with a winner and two placings. The 45-year-old went over to the Shergar Cup – a team-based event for riders from around the globe – alongside Karis Teetan to represent the Rest of the World team with US jockey Katie Davis. Bowman made his Shergar Cup debut in 2007, winning his first Silver Saddle, and 18 years later he made the best possible start when riding the Richard Fahey-trained Vintage... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3321449/hk-racing-season-update-bowman-wins-another-silver-saddle-exciting-imports-announced?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3321449/hk-racing-season-update-bowman-wins-another-silver-saddle-exciting-imports-announced?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Aug 2025 08:40:17 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Global sensation Rebel’s Romance won his eighth Group One by regaining the Grosser Preis von Berlin (2,400m) at Hoppegarten on Sunday. Charlie Appleby’s seven-year-old won four top-level races last year, - including the Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m) at Sha Tin, - and has shown no signs of decline this campaign. Sent off as the $1.2 favourite after a pair of Group Two wins and a close Group One third at Ascot on his prior start, Rebel’s Romance was always travelling best under Billy... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3321415/rebels-romance-bags-another-group-one-sajir-causes-huge-27-shock-france?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3321415/rebels-romance-bags-another-group-one-sajir-causes-huge-27-shock-france?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Aug 2025 04:38:47 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Lazzat will take the next step in cementing himself as the best European sprinter when he goes for back to back wins in the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest (1,300m) at Deauville on Sunday. The Jerome Reynier-trained speedster is a perfect three from three at the sprint trips and bagged his second top-level success when making all the running in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1,200m) at Royal Ascot. He gave his connections a scare post race, however, unshipping his jockey James... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3321322/hong-kong-winners-lazzat-and-rebels-romance-star-acts-sundays-simulcast-cards?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3321322/hong-kong-winners-lazzat-and-rebels-romance-star-acts-sundays-simulcast-cards?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 09 Aug 2025 11:26:18 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Aidan O’Brien is hunting down his third Group One Prix Rothschild (1,600m) at Deauville on Sunday and looks to hold the aces with his progressive three-year-old January. The top trainer is a force wherever he sends runners in Europe and January, who has been threatening to break her Group One duck, will be ridden by French ace Christophe Soumillon. She has shown improved form this season, building on a modest reappearance by finishing second in the Group One Coronation Stakes (1,600m) at Royal... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3320543/master-trainer-aidan-obrien-holds-aces-france-and-germanys-simulcast-group-ones-sunday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3320543/master-trainer-aidan-obrien-holds-aces-france-and-germanys-simulcast-group-ones-sunday?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Aug 2025 10:14:17 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Whirl made quick work of torrential conditions at Glorious Goodwood to win the Group One Nassau Stakes (2,000m) in impressive fashion on Wednesday. Biblical rain, thanks to a heavy thunderstorm, saw racegoers cowering indoors before the race, and the Nassau itself was delayed for 10 minutes with lightning in the area. None of that – including a flag start due to safety concerns – fazed Aidan O’Brien’s $1.7 favourite, who went straight to the lead under Ryan Moore and was never seriously... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3320450/whirl-powers-through-goodwood-thunderstorm-ease-away-nassau-stakes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3320450/whirl-powers-through-goodwood-thunderstorm-ease-away-nassau-stakes?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Aug 2025 09:19:51 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Unconsidered pacemaker Qirat became the longest-priced winner of a Group One in Britain with a remarkable victory in the Sussex Stakes (1,600m) at Glorious Goodwood on Tuesday. Trained by Ralph Beckett, Qirat was supplemented by the owner’s Juddmonte for £70,000 (HK$730,000) in a move to introduce a pacemaker into the race for the world’s joint-highest-rated horse, Field Of Gold. Finishing just 27th of 30 in a Royal Ascot handicap last month, Qirat was conceding 7lb to Field Of Gold and went... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3320273/pacemaker-qirat-causes-historic-150-1-sussex-stakes-shock-glorious-goodwood?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3320273/pacemaker-qirat-causes-historic-150-1-sussex-stakes-shock-glorious-goodwood?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 31 Jul 2025 08:04:26 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Whirl and See The Fire are set for a Group One Nassau Stakes (2,000m) showdown at Glorious Goodwood on Thursday. See The Fire arrived a neck too late behind Aidan O’Brien’s Opera Singer 12 months ago and will need to overcome another Ballydoyle powerhouse in Whirl if she is to break her top-level duck at the ninth attempt. Andrew Balding’s filly has looked better than ever this season and ran riot in the Group Two Middleton Fillies’ Stakes (2,000m) at York in May, streaking away by a remarkable... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3320164/top-fillies-whirl-and-see-fire-set-goodwood-showdown-nassau-stakes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3320164/top-fillies-whirl-and-see-fire-set-goodwood-showdown-nassau-stakes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Jul 2025 10:38:38 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Three-year-old Scandinavia showed his older rivals how it is done with a game performance to lift the Group One Goodwood Cup (3,209m) on Tuesday. The Aidan O’Brien-trained up-and-comer was sent off as the $5.3 second favourite and could always be seen travelling ominously well under Wayne Lordan, tracking the pace set by his stablemate Illinois. The $1.9 favourite looked set to hold on in a protracted duel down the Goodwood straight, but Scandinavia had other ideas and knuckled down to take the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3320120/scandinavia-outbattles-stablemate-illinois-lift-goodwood-cup-aidan-obrien?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3320120/scandinavia-outbattles-stablemate-illinois-lift-goodwood-cup-aidan-obrien?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Jul 2025 07:46:38 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Field Of Gold will stake his claim to being the best horse in the world when he tackles the Group One Sussex Stakes (1,600m) at Goodwood on Wednesday. The John and Thady Gosden-trained star is already the highest rated three-year-old in the world but could become the outright best horse on the planet when he takes on the likes of Henri Matisse, Rosallion and Docklands. The striking grey has won three of his four starts this campaign and is unlucky to not be unbeaten, suffering a narrow defeat in... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3320009/field-gold-verge-being-outright-worlds-best-horse-ahead-superb-sussex-stakes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3320009/field-gold-verge-being-outright-worlds-best-horse-ahead-superb-sussex-stakes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Jul 2025 10:11:04 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Aidan O’Brien is hoping Illinois can fill the void left by star stayer Kyprios when he lines up in Tuesday’s Group One Goodwood Cup (3,209m) as the iconic five-day racing festival gets under way. Last year’s winner Kyprios, an eight-time Group One winner who won the Goodwood Cup on two occasions, was retired in May after aggravating an old injury, - leaving the staying throne up for grabs. Illinois was made favourite for the Group One Gold Cup (4,000m) at Royal Ascot following his retirement but... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3319846/illinois-has-big-shoes-fill-goodwood-cup-iconic-festival-kicks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3319846/illinois-has-big-shoes-fill-goodwood-cup-iconic-festival-kicks?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 09:16:59 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Calandagan justified favourtism in devastating fashion to give Francis-Henri Graffard back-to-back wins in the Group One King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,400m) at Ascot on Saturday. The Gleneagles gelding was beaten by Jan Brueghel in the Group One Coronation Cup (2,400m) at Epsom in June but reversed the form in no uncertain terms after what looked to be a tactical mishap from Ballydoyle. From an outsiders view, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Continuous looked to be a pacemaker for his... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3319825/calandagan-wins-king-george-ascot-while-godolphin-snares-german-group-one-honours?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3319825/calandagan-wins-king-george-ascot-while-godolphin-snares-german-group-one-honours?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 07:46:32 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Dave The King will look for his crowning glory when he goes for back-to-back wins in the Group One HKJC Champions Cup (1,800m) at Greyville on Sunday. The Mike and Mathew De Kock-trained star is unbeaten in two starts this campaign, latterly winning the Group One Gold Challenge (1,600m) at Greyville in June. The four-year-old was a comfortable winner of this race 12 months ago, cruising clear on his way to becoming South African Horse of the Year. The father and son combination have their runner... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3319687/dave-king-bids-champions-cup-repeat-keagen-de-melo-opposition-greyville?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3319687/dave-king-bids-champions-cup-repeat-keagen-de-melo-opposition-greyville?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Jul 2025 08:03:38 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding International superstar Rebel’s Romance will look to add an elusive British Group One to his CV when he lines up in the Group One King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,400m) at Ascot on Saturday. The only overseas winner of Hong Kong’s Group One Champions & Chater Cup (2,400m), Charlie Appleby’s globetrotter has won 18 of his 26 career starts including seven top-level successes in four different countries. He added a Royal Ascot win to his incredible record when surging clear to land the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3319572/global-superstar-rebels-romance-bids-missing-british-group-one-king-george-ascot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3319572/global-superstar-rebels-romance-bids-missing-british-group-one-king-george-ascot?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Jul 2025 07:01:32 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Germany’s most important race, the Group One Deutsches Derby (2,400m) at Hamburg racecourse, headlines a brilliant day of top-level action that will be simulcast on Sunday. A field of 18 will go to post for the German Derby, which has been won by the likes of Shirocco, Sea The Moon, Adlerflug and most recently Palladium. Trainer Andreas Wöhler has won the race five times and has a pair of chances, the headline act being the unbeaten Lady Charlotte, the only filly in the field. She won one of the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3317092/deutsches-derby-headline-act-while-stars-align-prix-jean-prat-france?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3317092/deutsches-derby-headline-act-while-stars-align-prix-jean-prat-france?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Jul 2025 10:50:35 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Ombudsman headlines a stellar cast of world-class runners in the Group One Eclipse Stakes (1,990m) at Sandown on Saturday. The John and Thady Gosden-trained four-year-old bounced back from defeat on seasonal reappearance with a devastating performance to win the Group One Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (2,000m) at Royal Ascot last month. Held up for a run for much of the straight, William Buick managed to manoeuvre around runners at the 200m pole and charge home to win going away in impressive... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3316943/no-complaints-about-ombudsman-he-headlines-stellar-eclipse-stakes-line-sandown?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3316943/no-complaints-about-ombudsman-he-headlines-stellar-eclipse-stakes-line-sandown?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Jul 2025 07:10:51 +0000 by SCMP.com staff by SCMP.com staff Lambourn led throughout when galloping his 17 rivals into submission in the Group One Epsom Derby (2,405m) earlier this month and he is the favourite to prove that was no fluke in Sunday’s 10-runner Group One Irish Derby (2,400m) at the Curragh. If the son of 2014 Irish Derby winner Australia achieves that feat, he will be the 20th horse to land the historic Classic double as well as being an extraordinary 17th Irish Derby victor for his trainer Aidan O’Brien. Ryan Moore takes over on Lambourn... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3316217/aidan-obriens-lambourn-chases-historic-classic-double-irish-derby?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3316217/aidan-obriens-lambourn-chases-historic-classic-double-irish-derby?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Jun 2025 09:43:40 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding French star Lazzat broke Japanese hearts as he downed Satono Reve in a pulsating international finish to the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1,200m) at Royal Ascot on Saturday. The Jerome Reynier-trained four-year-old enjoyed a fast break and landed in the lead early under Wathnan’s top jockey, James Doyle. From there, the writing was firmly on the wall, with the Territories gelding being a top-level winner over the 1,800m distance. The pair kept on galloping relentlessly and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3315392/lazzat-defeats-satono-reve-and-rebels-romance-shines-royal-ascot-comes-close?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3315392/lazzat-defeats-satono-reve-and-rebels-romance-shines-royal-ascot-comes-close?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Jun 2025 10:07:29 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Satono Reve could give a hefty boost to the formlines of Ka Ying Rising when he lines up in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1,200m) at Royal Ascot on Saturday. Trained by Noriyuki Hori in Japan, the Lord Kanaloa galloper has twice chased home Ka Ying Rising this season, first when third in December’s Group One Hong Kong Sprint (1,200m) before his second-placed finish in the Group One Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1,200m) in April. In-between those runs was a fantastic win in the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3315168/satono-reve-brings-ka-ying-rising-form-royal-ascot-meeting-comes-close?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3315168/satono-reve-brings-ka-ying-rising-form-royal-ascot-meeting-comes-close?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Jun 2025 05:10:21 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Trawlerman produced a stunning performance to lead from pillar to post and win Royal Ascot’s most historic race, the Group One Ascot Gold Cup (3,991m), for in-form father and son training partnership John and Thady Gosden on Thursday. It was quite some way for jockey William Buick to win his first Gold Cup aged 36, the winner also breaking the track record. Norway-born Buick, who also rode Wednesday’s feature-race winner Ombudsman for the Gosdens, stood up in the saddle and saluted the crowd,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3315148/trawlerman-and-william-buick-move-top-gear-land-ascot-gold-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3315148/trawlerman-and-william-buick-move-top-gear-land-ascot-gold-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Jun 2025 03:06:12 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Zarigana bids to continue her perfect season and follow on from Classic glory when she lines up in the Group One Coronation Stakes (1,600m) at Royal Ascot on Friday. The Francis-Henri Graffard-trained filly won the Group One Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (1,600m) at Longchamp last month after overhauling first-past-the-post She’s Perfect in the stewards’ room following a lengthy inquiry. Graffard won the race in 2019 with Watch Me at big odds and his Siyouni galloper has a very similar profile,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3315035/classic-filly-zarigana-tops-coronation-stakes-billing-royal-ascot-marches-friday?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3315035/classic-filly-zarigana-tops-coronation-stakes-billing-royal-ascot-marches-friday?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Jun 2025 06:08:14 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Ombudsman overcame a troubled passage to run riot in the Group One Prince Of Wales’s (2,005m) at Royal Ascot on Wednesday. The John and Thady Gosden-trained four-year-old was trapped behind a wall of horses at the 400m pole and it looked certain that William Buick was going to become the victim of a classic Royal Ascot hard-luck story. Godolphin’s retained rider didn’t panic, however, and switched into the clear at the 200m before surging down the outside to overhaul Anmaat and land the... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3315017/ombudsman-runs-riot-prince-waless-stakes-james-mcdonald-salutes-day-two-royal-ascot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3315017/ombudsman-runs-riot-prince-waless-stakes-james-mcdonald-salutes-day-two-royal-ascot?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Jun 2025 04:32:47 +0000 Sam Agars Sam Agars The Jockey Club has received government approval to significantly up its simulcast programme, with the number of overseas meetings offered for betting to Hong Kong punters increasing from 37 to 70 in the next two years. The number of meetings the Jockey Club can simulcast will jump from 37 to 53 in the 2025-26 season and climb to 70 in 2026-27, while the number of simulcast races – races from overseas shown on Hong Kong race days – will increase from 25 to 40 from 2025-26 and rocket to 55 from... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3315011/jockey-club-receives-government-approval-significantly-increase-simulcast-programme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3315011/jockey-club-receives-government-approval-significantly-increase-simulcast-programme?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Jun 2025 04:15:38 +0000 Sam Agars Sam Agars There will be a Hong Kong flavour to Thursday’s Group One Ascot Gold Cup (3,991m) at Royal Ascot but local owner Boniface Ho Ka-kui will no doubt be realistic about the chances of Wonder Legend in a race packed with crack stayers. Trained by James Ferguson with Daniel Muscutt to take the ride, Wonder Legend brings winning form into the race but finds himself on the fifth line of betting in overseas fixed-odds markets at around $34. Leading the way is the Aidan O’Brien-trained Illinois at $2.75,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3314907/hong-kong-flavour-ascot-gold-cup-boniface-hos-wonder-legend-will-have-work-cut-out-against-big-guns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3314907/hong-kong-flavour-ascot-gold-cup-boniface-hos-wonder-legend-will-have-work-cut-out-against-big-guns?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Jun 2025 08:48:35 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Los Angeles and Anmaat will lock horns again in what is expected to be a titanic tussle for Wednesday’s Group One Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (2,000m) at Royal Ascot. The day two feature has gone to powerhouse trainer Aidan O’Brien on five occasions and three-time Group One winner Los Angeles is set to go off favourite for the middle-distance contest. The Camelot colt is unbeaten in two starts this season, winning the Group Two Mooresbridge Stakes (2,000m) at the Curragh on reappearance before... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3314803/los-angeles-and-anmaat-lock-horns-pulsating-prince-waless-stakes-clash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3314803/los-angeles-and-anmaat-lock-horns-pulsating-prince-waless-stakes-clash?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Jun 2025 10:29:16 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Formlines from the English, Irish and French 2,000 Guineas will collide in a pulsating running of the Group One St James’s Palace Stakes (1,600m) to headline day one of Royal Ascot on Tuesday. Field Of Gold and Ruling Court – who locked horns in the Group One 2,000 Guineas (1,600m) at Newmarket in May – will renew their rivalry once again, with the former looking to exact revenge for a half-length defeat. Ruling Court, trained by Charlie Appleby, got first run that day over Field Of Gold, who... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3314606/st-jamess-palace-stakes-showdown-headlines-star-studded-first-day-royal-ascot?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3314606/st-jamess-palace-stakes-showdown-headlines-star-studded-first-day-royal-ascot?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Jun 2025 09:02:24 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding War Machine lived up to his name with an explosive display to win the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1,400m) at Eagle Farm for the Hayes brothers. Ridden by Tim Clark, the winner of 59 races in Hong Kong including the 2013 Classic Cup on It Has To Be You, the Harry Angel gelding settled just forward of midfield, sitting three wide with cover. Hooked out on the turn, War Machine charged home down the outside and readily collared the leaders, winning by just under a length from a fast-finishing... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3314454/hayes-brothers-and-tim-clark-combine-war-machine-lands-stradbroke?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3314454/hayes-brothers-and-tim-clark-combine-war-machine-lands-stradbroke?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Jun 2025 09:59:52 +0000 by SCMP.com staff by SCMP.com staff Sydney trainer Joseph Pride is undeterred by the challenges facing Private Eye when the outstanding miler tackles the Group One Stradbroke Handicap (1,400m) at Eagle Farm in Brisbane, Australia on Saturday. Assigned top weight of 57kg (125.6lb), Private Eye will resume after a 182-day break and will have to defy history as he attempts to become the first horse to carry 57kg or more to victory in the Stradbroke Handicap since Rough Habit successfully carried 58.5kg in 1992. Additionally, winning... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3314286/private-eye-chases-history-stradbroke-handicap?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3314286/private-eye-chases-history-stradbroke-handicap?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Jun 2025 06:25:24 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Lambourn led them a merry dance in the Group One Epsom Derby (2,400m) to give Aidan O’Brien a record-extending 12th win in the English Classic on Saturday. Shunned by Coolmore’s stable jockey Ryan Moore, it was Wayne Lordan who got his moment in the sun, pushing the Australia galloper into the lead soon after the start. The pair turned into the straight with a three-length lead and never looked likely to surrender it, thundering down the Epsom straight to win by a very comfortable three and a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3313545/lambourn-reigns-supreme-epsom-derby-jantar-mantar-prevails-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3313545/lambourn-reigns-supreme-epsom-derby-jantar-mantar-prevails-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Jun 2025 09:37:29 +0000 by SCMP.com staff by SCMP.com staff Two months after humbling Romantic Warrior in the Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m), Soul Rush headlines the 75th running of the Group One Yasuda Kinen (1,600m) at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday, contesting the prestigious contest for the fourth time. Third behind Romantic Warrior in last year’s Yasuda Kinen, Soul Rush has posted two wins, two seconds and a third from his past five races and looks like he is improving with age. The seven-year-old son of Rulership will be ridden by Suguru Hamanaka. The... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3313462/soul-rush-back-races-first-time-humbling-romantic-warrior?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3313462/soul-rush-back-races-first-time-humbling-romantic-warrior?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Jun 2025 02:01:57 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The imperious Shergar and Harzand book ended the late Aga Khan IV’s five Epsom Derby winners and on Saturday Midak can provide a poignant win in the race which is named in his honour this year. Adding to the potential for a fairy tale, Midak is prominent French trainer Francis-Henri Graffard’s first runner in the race considered to be the “blue riband” of flat racing. The Aga Khan, for decades a leading owner-breeder of thoroughbreds and whose grandfather Aga Khan III also won the Derby five... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3313284/midak-bids-deliver-poignant-victory-aga-khans-epsom-derby?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3313284/midak-bids-deliver-poignant-victory-aga-khans-epsom-derby?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Jun 2025 03:19:06 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Ryan Moore showed his class once again as Camille Pissarro got the gaps in the nick of time to win the Group One Prix Du Jockey Club (2,000m) at Chantilly on Sunday. The $3.4 favourite was always prominent in the box seat under Moore but as the field began to sprint in the home straight, he was stuck behind a wall of horses. Camille Pissarro was forced to sit and suffer, but Moore kept the revs up on the Wootton Bassett galloper and when Bowmark began to weaken on the rail, the 41-year-old... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3312690/ryan-moore-shines-camille-pissarro-french-derby-croix-du-nord-confirms-star-status?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3312690/ryan-moore-shines-camille-pissarro-french-derby-croix-du-nord-confirms-star-status?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Jun 2025 03:59:18 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Aidan O’Brien heads into Sunday’s Group One Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (2,000m) double-handed as he bids to win the race for just the second time in his career at Chantilly on Sunday. The master of Ballydoyle first landed the French Derby with St Mark’s Basilica and Camille Pissarro looks to have a brilliant chance of doubling his tally in the third French Classic of the season. The Wootton Bassett galloper won the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (1,400m) at Longchamp in October and posted a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3312579/camille-pissarro-and-croix-du-nord-headline-star-simulcast-cast-france-and-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3312579/camille-pissarro-and-croix-du-nord-headline-star-simulcast-cast-france-and-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 May 2025 07:04:58 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Field Of Gold secured Classic redemption for John and Thady Gosden in a Group One Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas (1,600m) rout at the Curragh on Saturday. After suffering an agonising defeat in the Group One Betfred 2,000 Guineas (1,600m) at Newmarket three weeks earlier, the Gosdens were vindicated by their decision to remove Kieran Shoemark from the saddle in favour of Colin Keane, who steered the Kingman galloper to an impressive success. Held up in midfield, Keane kept things simple, making... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3311780/field-gold-gets-classic-redemption-irish-2000-guineas-antino-confirms-star-status?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3311780/field-gold-gets-classic-redemption-irish-2000-guineas-antino-confirms-star-status?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 May 2025 04:22:42 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Aidan O’Brien is hoping Lake Victoria can get him back to winning ways in the Group One Irish 1,000 Guineas (1,600m) at the Curragh on Sunday. The Ballydoyle trainer has won the first Irish Classic of the campaign a record 10 times, but has been winless since Empress Josephine triumphed in the 2021 running. O’Brien relies on Lake Victoria to be the next superstar filly off the Coolmore conveyor belt and his daughter of Frankel looked the part with an unbeaten juvenile campaign that featured a... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3311648/lake-victoria-headline-act-aidan-obrien-targets-further-guineas-riches-curragh?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3311648/lake-victoria-headline-act-aidan-obrien-targets-further-guineas-riches-curragh?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 May 2025 06:00:23 +0000 by SCMP.com staff by SCMP.com staff Field Of Gold looks set to be the focus of the Curragh on Saturday when he faces eight rivals in the Group One Irish 2,000 Guineas (1,600m), the first Irish Classic of the season. His narrow defeat by William Buick’s Ruling Court in Newmarket’s Group One 2,000 Guineas (1,600m) has certainly been the biggest talking point in British racing this season, with the main consequence of a career-best performance being the replacement of jockey Kieran Shoemark by six-times Irish champion Colin... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3311647/field-gold-focus-john-gosden-hopes-irish-2000-guineas-redemption?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3311647/field-gold-focus-john-gosden-hopes-irish-2000-guineas-redemption?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 May 2025 03:54:04 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Matthew Poon Ming-fai is relishing the challenge as he gets ready to partner Klondike in Saturday’s Group One Doomben Cup (2,000m). Poon, who sits on 34 wins for the season, will head to Brisbane to ride the Galileo galloper, who was a smart horse in the United Kingdom before shipping to Australia. Winner of the Listed Grand Cup Stakes (2,800m) at York, he produced his best performance for top trainer William Haggas when running out a convincing winner of the Group Three Prix de Reux (2,400m) at... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3311511/matthew-poon-cant-wait-chase-group-one-glory-doomben-cup?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3311511/matthew-poon-cant-wait-chase-group-one-glory-doomben-cup?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 23 May 2025 05:42:20 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Ascoli Piceno got up in the final strides to deny ownermate Queen’s Walk in a thrilling finish to the Group One Victoria Mile at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday. Rank outsider Alice Verite took the field along at a frantic gallop with $2.7 favourite Ascoli Piceno settled dead last, just behind Queen’s Walk. At the 400m pole it looked as though Alice Verite may cling on for a remarkable upset, but her strides shortened and those held-up – including Ascoli Piceno, Queen’s Walk and Shirankedo – lashed... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3310810/ascoli-piceno-gets-late-victoria-mile-thriller-while-lead-artist-dazzles-newbury?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3310810/ascoli-piceno-gets-late-victoria-mile-thriller-while-lead-artist-dazzles-newbury?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 May 2025 08:36:21 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Top-class trio Dancing Gemini, Rosallion and Notable Speech will lock horns in a thrilling Group One Lockinge Stakes (1,600m) at Newbury on Saturday. The Roger Teal-trained Dancing Gemini finished second in last year’s Group One Poule d’Essai des Poulains (1,600m) at Longchamp and was far from disgraced when sixth in the Epsom Derby (2,000m) on his next start. Top-level success has continued to elude the Camelot galloper, but he has returned this season in career-best form, winning the Listed... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3310628/vintage-lockinge-headlines-fantastic-newbury-card-while-doomben-10000-also-excites?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3310628/vintage-lockinge-headlines-fantastic-newbury-card-while-doomben-10000-also-excites?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 16 May 2025 08:06:31 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Zarigana snatched the Group One Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (1,600m) in the stewards’ room for Francis-Henri Graffard to deny Charlie Fellowes his first Group One success with British raider Shes Perfect. Sent off the $1.8 favourite, Zarigana was settled in midfield by Mickael Barzalona and looked to be travelling ominously well as Shes Perfect led the field into the straight. Shes Perfect was all heart under pressure, but drifted to her left in the final furlong and gave a small bump to both... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3309954/zarigana-takes-pouliches-stewards-room-give-francis-henri-graffard-back-back-wins?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3309954/zarigana-takes-pouliches-stewards-room-give-francis-henri-graffard-back-back-wins?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 May 2025 04:00:17 +0000 Owen Goulding Owen Goulding Francis-Henri Graffard hopes his “turbocharged” potential star Zarigana can prove too strong as France bids to defend both its Classic races at Paris-Longchamp on Sunday. Graffard saddled last year’s Group One Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (1,600m) winner Rouyiha in the iconic Aga Khan silks and Zarigana, ridden by Mickael Barzalona, will sport the same red and green colours as she bids to live up to her top billing. She won the course and distance Group Three Prix d’Aumale after a successful... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3309866/potential-superstar-zarigana-leads-french-defence-guineas-day-paris-longchamp?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3309866/potential-superstar-zarigana-leads-french-defence-guineas-day-paris-longchamp?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 May 2025 12:11:19 +0000 by SCMP.com staff by SCMP.com staff Trainer John Gosden’s name has long been synonymous with success in the British racing world, but Newmarket’s 2000 Guineas has so far eluded his grasp. On Saturday, striking grey Field Of Gold has a strong chance of righting that omission in the Group One three-year-old classic over the straight 1,600m of the historic Rowley Mile. In the moments leading up to the 2025 reappearance of the Juddmonte-owned son of Kingman in last month’s Group Three Craven Stakes – run over the Guineas course and... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3308867/john-gosden-bids-drought-breaking-success-2000-guineas-newmarket?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3308867/john-gosden-bids-drought-breaking-success-2000-guineas-newmarket?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 May 2025 10:10:39 +0000 Aiming for a phenomenal seven Group One victories in a season, champion mare Via Sistina is an overwhelming favourite for Saturday’s Group One Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2,000m) at Randwick in Sydney. British raider Dubai Honour, who holds an entry for the Group One QE II Cup (2,000m) at Sha Tin later this month, looms as the biggest challenger. He has raced three times in Australia for three Group One victories, including his first-up triumph in the Group One Tancred Stakes (2,400m) at Rosehill on... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3306106/sistina-locks-horns-dubai-honour-bumper-queen-elizabeth-stakes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3306106/sistina-locks-horns-dubai-honour-bumper-queen-elizabeth-stakes?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Apr 2025 05:45:13 +0000 Stellenbosch, Bellagio Opera, Sixpence and Lord Del Rey are expected to fight out the Group One Osaka Hai (2,000m) at Hanshin on Sunday in Japan’s second top-tier turf event of the spring – a race regarded as a breakthrough opportunity at the elite level. Joao Moreira will ride the expected favourite Stellenbosch as he goes for two Group One wins in a row after claiming the Group One Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1,200m) at Chukyo on Satono Reve last weekend. A four-year-old Epiphaneia filly,... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3305342/joao-moreira-chases-more-group-one-glory-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3305342/joao-moreira-chases-more-group-one-glory-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Apr 2025 08:06:30 +0000 James McDonald is confident Romantic Warrior is ready to produce another top performance in Saturday’s Group One Dubai Turf (1,800m) six weeks after his Herculean second in the Group One Saudi Cup (1,800m) on dirt. The 10-time Group One winner, who returns to the Meydan course and distance of his track-record blitz in January’s Group One Jebel Hatta (1,800m), continues to thrive after more than three months in the Middle East. “It seems like he’s taken no side effects from Saudi, he’s bounced... https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3304941/romantic-warrior-ready-hit-dubai-turf-all-guns-blazing-after-drawing-gate-nine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/racing/article/3304941/romantic-warrior-ready-hit-dubai-turf-all-guns-blazing-after-drawing-gate-nine?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Apr 2025 10:46:06 +0000