International competition is the jewel in horse racing’s crown with champion horses, jockeys and trainers vying for the sport’s greatest trophies on the global stage, while generating wonderful entertainment for worldwide audiences.
As a passionate advocate of international racing with its capacity to showcase the best of our sport to the world, I am delighted with the inclusion in the Club’s World Pool operation of the Shergar Cup at Ascot this coming August, especially with the introduction of a Hong Kong Jockey Club team in the series.
It is fitting that the Shergar Cup should become part of World Pool because we launched World Pool at Royal Ascot in 2019 and since then it has expanded to cover 54 percent of the world’s top Group 1 races.
World Pool is not only a key weapon in the fight against illegal gambling operators, but it is a leading example of what can be achieved through international collaboration and the unified promotion of our heroes – humans and horses – on the world stage.
Furthermore, the benefits World Pool provides to customers through its unmatched liquidity as well as the financial returns it generates for host clubs and jurisdictions for the enhancement of racecourse tracks and facilities, prizemoney and human and equine health and safety have been overwhelmingly positive.
It is especially exciting that the three-rider Hong Kong Jockey Club Shergar Cup team will be captained by Vincent Ho, a world-class product of the Club’s renowned Apprentice Jockeys’ School, who helped the Rest of the World team win the Shergar Cup in 2019.
It is fantastic that three of our best jockeys will be able to compete on the international stage against star riders from across the world at such a famous racecourse as Ascot and also for it to be showcased through World Pool.
More immediately, World Pool will feature three premier meetings this weekend with the first of the prestige fixtures coming from Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne with Australian Guineas Day with the first of four races from 11.30am.
The Australian Guineas is carded as S1-4 and will be run over 1600m at 1.20pm. The pace is expected to be good with OBSERVER likely to lead WEST OF SWINDON, ROMANTIC ENCOUNTER and VICTORIOUS SPIRIT.
G1 Victoria Derby (2500m) winner OBSERVER, who will be ridden by Ethan Brown as he prepares to soon move to Hong Kong to start his short-term riding stint here, returned in impressive fashion with an easy win over 1400m at Caulfield on 7 February. OBSERVER will have improved even more from the run and is my win and place selection.
SIXTIES, to be partnered by Damian Lane, is building a good record with four wins from eight starts and won easily over 1400m at Flemington 14 February. He is also a win and place chance.
PLANET RED is consistent with two wins and three placings from six starts but has challenging draw in gate nine for Jamie Melham and is a place chance along with WEST OF SWINDON, for Ben Allen, and VICTORIOUS SPIRIT, for Zac Spain.
Verry Elleegant Stakes Day is the focus from Randwick Racecourse in Sydney with the first of four races simulcast from 1pm.
The G1 Verry Elleegant Stakes is carded as S2-2 and will be run over 1600m at 1.40pm.
The pace is expected to be good with LINDERMANN leading AELIANA and AUTUMN GLOW with SIR DELIUS next.
Chris Waller has seven of the nine starters engaged and the clear favourite is star mare AUTUMN GLOW, who is unbeaten in nine starts. She will be ridden again today by James McDonald and, while she steps to weight-for-age for the second time in her career, she is a win and a place chance.
SIR DELIUS, who will be ridden by Craig Williams, is a highly talented stayer who has adapted well to Australian conditions after running eighth in the G1 Prix de Arc de Triomphe (2400m) as a three-year-old in 2024. He is the main danger to AUTUMN GLOW.
LINDERMANN (Nash Rawiller), AELIANA (Zac Lloyd) and CEOWULF (Chad Schofield) are all place chances.
On Saturday night, focus switches to Meydan Racecourse in Dubai for the Dubai Super Saturday meeting with the first of four races at 11.25pm with the G3 Mahab Al Shimaa, which is run over 1200m on dirt.
The pace should be good.
SING DRAGON, to be ridden by Karis Teetan, represents Hong Kong, China and faces a formidable challenge against TUZ and DARK SAFFRON, the past two winners of the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, over this course and distance.
TUZ, who is partnered by Tadhg O’Shea, is a seven-time course and distance winner and resumes for the first time since April 2025, when he was third to DARK SAFFRON in the Dubai Golden Shaheen. He is a win and place chance.
DARK SAFFRON (Connor Beasley) is a talented sprinter but has struggled to regain form this preparation. However, at his best, he is a threat as a place chance.
MUFASA, who will be ridden by Ryan Moore, is an accomplished dirt track specialist and is also a place chance along with EL NASSEEB (Silvestre de Sousa).
SING DRAGON is a dirt specialist with all five of his Hong Kong wins coming on the all-weather track at Sha Tin and, with the benefit of gate one, can finish in the top four with a peak performance.
The G2 Al Maktoum Classic is carded as S3-3 and will be run over 2000m on dirt at 12.35am. Trainer Bhupat Seemar saddles WALK OF STARS (Mickael Barzalona) and MENDELSSOHN BAY (Richard Mullen).
WALK OF STARS, who is a Group 1 winner at the track, shapes as the likely leader and is my win and place chance.
MENDELSSOHN BAY won at Group 3 level last start, and he should handle the extra distance. I also make him a win and place chance. HEART OF HONOR (Saffie Osborne) is a dual winner this season and is a place chance.
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