What a fantastic few days of racing we have just witnessed from Doncaster to Dublin. At the former, racegoers enjoyed a plethora of magnificent performances across the St. Leger Festival from 8-11 September. Friday saw the running of the Doncaster Cup - the course’s oldest race and one of Britain's leading events for "stayers" (horses specialising in racing over long distances) - with 7-year-old superstar Stradivarius earning the 19th victory of his career. Jockey Frankie Dettori beamed from ear-to-ear at the enduring successful and affectionate relationship he has with this marvellous horse.
On Saturday at Doncaster, Hurricane Lane blew all his contenders away in an exhilarating running of the St. Leger Stakes. The race is the final leg of the English Triple Crown, which begins with the 2000 Guineas and continues with the Derby. Ridden to victory by William Buick, Hurricane Lane was able to finish 2 ¾ lengths from Derby runner-up Mojo Star, who beat him into third at Epsom but had finished fifth behind him in the Curragh’s Irish equivalent.
Coincidentally, last weekend the Curragh and Leopardstown played host to the Irish Champions Weekend where another of the season’s big names was victorious. Trained by Aidan O’Brien, 3-year-old St. Mark’s Basilica was ridden to first place by Ryan Moore and has now won 5 successive Group 1 races.
The favourites haven’t always succeeded in the last week. Epsom, Irish, and Yorkshire Oaks winner Snowfall suffered a shock defeat in Paris Longchamp’s Prix Vermeille. It was Roger Varian's Teona who had finished 28 lengths behind runaway Oaks heroine Snowfall at Epsom back in June but managed a shock triumph over the favourite in France. Snowfall, Hurricane Lane, and St. Mark’s Basilica are set to be among the favourites to win the prestigious Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on 3 October.
Fear not; there is still plenty to look forward to before the jump racing season takes us through the winter months! From 16-18 September, Ayr is hosting its fantastic Gold Cup Festival. Newmarket’s Rowley Mile will welcome racegoers for several events for the town’s Gold Season including Cesarewitch Trial Day (18 September), the Cambridgeshire Meeting (23-25 September), Sun Chariot Day (2 October), and Dubai Future Champions Festival (8-9 October).
Ascot hosts its annual British Champions Day on 16 October acting as the culmination of the British Champions Series; the 35 top British flat races across the year including Newmarket’s Guineas, the Goodwood Cup, and the Epsom Derby and Oaks. All this as well as an array of season finale meetings at courses across the UK including Epsom, Chester, Goodwood, Haydock Park, Worcester, and Newbury.
Many big events have already gone on sale for the 2022 flat racing season. Newmarket is selling tickets to the Guineas Festival (30 April-1 May) and the July Festival (7-9 July) while Epsom’s Derby Festival (3-4 June) and Royal Ascot (14-18 June) are also already on sale.