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The Champions Cup on dirt has attracted a field of 16, and Narukami (Thunder Snow) holds pride of place in the advance markets on the back of his Listed Japan Dirt Classic victory in October. Chukyo's 1800-metre affair, a rare Japanese top-level event on dirt, is also the site of the favourite's only loss in six starts. Assistant trainer Hiroyuki Yamazaki said of the Godolphin homebred who is booked in post 12 with Keita Tosaki aboard, "Since the Kozukata Sho, he's been a bit tense when taking the bit and...

Group 1 winner Jantar Mantar (Palace Malice) looms large in the 18-strong G1 Mile Championship at Kyoto on Sunday. The dual top-level winner earned a victory over Gaia Force (Kitasan Black) in the G1 Yasuda Kinen in June, and found only that rival too good prepping for this contest with a second in the G2 Fuji Stakes. Trainer Tomokazu Takano said of the G1 NHK Mile Cup hero, "After his run in the Fuji Stakes Oct. 18, his heart and lungs had improved. He was just about in tiptop shape...

Already a two-time Group 1 winner Regaleira (Suave Richard) is aiming for her third crown in Sunday's G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Kyoto. The Sunday Racing colourbearer will face 15 rivals and carries the mantle of market favouritism in advance of the big day. Leaving from post seven under Keta Tosaki, the four-year-old filly has a Hopeful Stakes score versus males in her win column at two, and defeated them again in last December's Arima Kinen over 2500 metres. She warmed up for this contest with a victory going...

Group 1 winners lie thicker in the field than the falling leaves on the ground in the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn), set for Sunday in Kyoto. However, it is G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) runner-up Masquerade Ball (Duramente) who leads in the advance markets as an 8-5 chance against 13 rivals, seven of them Group 1 scorers. Yet to salute at the highest level, the 2024 Listed Ivy Stakes winner's only blip in six lifetime starts was an unplaced run to his Derby conqueror Croix Du Nord (Kitasan Black) in...

Riding a three-race winning streak, Kamunyak (Black Tide) faces 17 rivals in the G1 Shuka Sho over 2000 metres at Kyoto on Sunday. The third jewel of the Japanese Triple Tiara brings together the winners of the first two legs. A winner of the G2 Flora Stakes, G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) and G2 Rose Stakes in succession, the last coming on September 14, the filly is the one to beat. She had Theresa (Admire Mars) back in second with G1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies second Vip Daisy (Satono Diamond) fourth...

After a summer of toing and froing and ding-dong battles, Ascot's feature G1 QIPCO Champion Stakes brings it all to a satisfyingly gladiatorial climax on Saturday. Having revelled in Ombudsman's dramatic surge at the end of the Prince of Wales's, Delacroix's huge move coming off Leopardstown's bend in the Irish Champion and the relentless power of Calandagan at the close of the King George, it all comes together in a perfect blend on a perfect sunlit autumn afternoon for the latest QIPCO Champions Day. The headline race is a qualifier...

Unbeaten Dewhurst winners are common, but unbeaten Dewhurst winners who have already won a July Stakes, Vintage Stakes and National Stakes are extremely rare and Zavateri (Without Parole) looks to complete that formidable quartet in Saturday's Darley-sponsored Newmarket feature. The one that very much got away from the bloodstock cognoscenti at 35,000gns, the huge talent whose third dam is the brilliant Zarkava has taken everything thrown at him at the July Festival, Glorious Goodwood and Irish Champions Weekend in his impressive stride. "He's great, he's been working really, really well...

Is there an adequate Japanese proverb that conveys the nation's unflinching endeavour to win the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe? Perhaps "Ishi no ue ni mo san nen", to sit patiently on a cold stone for three years which relates to the power of perseverance, or "Nana korobi ya oki", to fall seven times and get up eight, or "Mateba kairo no hiyori ari". The latter points to waiting out the unpredictable to choose the right route and ultimately prevail. Since the country's first real go in 1999...

Opulence Thoroughbreds is still in its infancy as a syndicate and their flagship filly Royal Fixation (Palace Pier) has already struck gold for them by winning the Lowther, but a follow-up in Newmarket's G1 Tattersalls Sceptre Sessions Cheveley Park Stakes on Saturday would see her enter new territory. Having met with defeat once when runner-up to Venetian Sun in the Duchess of Cambridge, the Ed Walker-trained daughter of the burgeoning first-crop sire currently heads the market for the six-furlong joint-feature on the card and Opulence's racing and communications manager Ed...

A 16-strong field loaded with two past winners of the G1 Sprinters Stakes will vie for the 1200-metre feature at Nakayama on Sunday. Seventh in the 2024 edition to Lugal (Duramente) with Namura Clair (Mikki Isle) third, Satono Reve ran third in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint last December. After defeating Namura Clair in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March, he was a good second to Hong Kong Horse of the Year Ka Ying Rising (Shamexpress) in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize a month later. In action during Royal Ascot,...

Capital Partner (GB) (Kingman {GB}) and Dr. Agne (Into Mischief), a pair of 'TDN Rising Stars off debut maiden wins at the Spa, headline the GIII With Anticipation Stakes for 2-year-olds on the inner turf at Saratoga Thursday. The $175,000 event is run over 1 1/16 miles and features a field of eight. Klaravich Stables Inc.'s Capital Partner, favored at 5-2 on the morning line, did not have the smoothest of trips on debut Aug. 2 at this distance. He was fractious in the gate, bumped more than once, rank,...

Ahead of next week's York Ebor Festival, a middling Saturday in Britain and Ireland precedes a serious Sunday in France, where the G1 The Aga Khan Studs Prix Jacques le Marois offers a grand spectacle of international flavour. Sponsored by Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard for many moons, Deauville's jewel of their August Meeting is now graced by another huge operation with great prestige to fit what has always been one of Europe's key events. Fortunately this year we get to see how a top Japanese runner can fare against...