Leading combination Christophe Lemaire and Kazuo Fujisawa continued their hot form, capturing their second Grade One in a week as Rey de Oro proved too strong in Sunday’s Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby).
The duo won the Yushun Himba last week with Soul Stirring, while Lemaire’s top-level winning streak extends another week having also won the Victoria Mile with Admire Lead.
Fujisawa is the fifth trainer to complete the Japanese Oaks-Derby double and the first in 13 years, while Lemaire is also the fifth jockey to get the set and the first in 42 years.
After a slow start, Rey de Oro was pushed up the field down the back before holding off the challengers in the home straight to capture the prestigious race, beating Suave Richard and the favourite Admirable.
Over in Ireland and the all-conquering Coolmore operation continued its domination, winning both the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Irish 2,000 Guineas.
Aiden O’Brien and Ryan Moore landed the former with Winter and the latter with Churchill, both starting short-priced favourites.
It’s a double-double for the stable, the duo having won both the 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket with the same horses.
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— Dubai Racing Channel (@DubaiRacingTV) May 27, 2017
Churchill ridden by Ryan Moore won the Irish 2000 Guineas at Curragh #dubairacingtv pic.twitter.com/rEZ7MP96uJ
The big meeting at the Curragh was capped off by Decorated Knight’s victory in the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup.
Ridden by Andrea Atzeni, the Roger Charlton-trained stayer got the chocolates, beating Somehow and Deauville.
ROGER CHARLTON'S Decorated Knight wins the @tatts_ireland Gold Cup! @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/NV601gaz0b
— Racing Focus (@Racing_Focus) May 28, 2017
Over in France and the Jean-Claude Rouget-prepared Mekhtaal ran down Robin Of Navan late to win the Group One Prix d’Ispahan at Chantilly.
الجواد "Mekhtaal" ابن سي ذا ستارز لاسطبل الشقب يحقق الفوز بسباق Prix d'Ispahan G1 على مضمار شانتيي الفرنسي pic.twitter.com/au3lKz4CTb
— فروسية وطن (@forositwatn) May 28, 2017
Over in Australia and the Brisbane carnival is beset by problems with the track at Eagle Farm, which was rated heavy despite there being no rain or irrigation for seven days.
It was described by Kerrin McEvoy as “the worst track I’ve ever ridden on”, with the rest of the carnival now moved to neighbouring Doomben.
The Kris Lees-trained Clearly Innocent took out Saturday’s feature, the Group One Kingsford-Smith Cup beating Jungle Edge and Counterattack.
It also kicked off a big weekend for jockey Hugh Bowman, who then made the trip to Hong Kong on Sunday, taking out the Group One Champions & Chater Cup with Werther.
Gear change the key as Werther shows his class in the Champions Chater Cup
