Again it’s the northern Autumn, and again it’s Aidan O’Brien to dominate international racing with the might of Coolmore seeking world-wide success.
At Ascot it’s the Aidan O’Brien’s multiple Gr1 winning 5yo mare Magical, to be ridden by Ryan Moore, who is 7/4 or $2.75 favourite with Ladbrokes for the Qipco Champion Stakes of 1½miles.
Now twice winner of the Irish Champion Stakes, she was earlier beaten this season in the Eclipse Stakes, having previously won the Tattersalls Gold Cup and Pretty Polly Stakes.
Across the Atlantic its Magical at $4.50 for the Breeders’ Cup Longines Turf of 1½ miles at Keeneland on 7 November, with her Godolphin arch rival Ghaiyyath as the $4.00 race favourite.
The Charlie Appleby trained Ghaiyyath was beaten by Magical in the Irish Champion Stakes, having defeated her in the Eclipse Stakes, with him twice winning at Group 1 level earlier this year.
Not to be overlooked, Magical maintains her $2.75 favouritism for the Breeders’ Cup Fillies & Mares Turf from Dermot Weld’s Prix de l’Opera winner Tarnawa at $5, with Rushing Falls paying $6.
Again, it’s the might of Coolmore breeding and their breed-shaping Galileo, with Magical being a full-sister to triple Group 1 winner Rhododendron, from 1000 Guineas winner Halfway To Heaven.
Also from Coolmore, is the Aidan O’Brien trained Galileo 4yo Japan, a full brother to Gr1 winners Mogul and Sir Isaac Newton, being the family of Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winning sire Sagamix.
Paying $13, and $16 for the Breeders’ Cup Turf, Japan is winless so far this season, having last year won the Grand Prix de Paris, King Edward VII Stakes and Juddmonte International Stakes.
The surprise Epsom Derby winner Serpentine is at $17, and $21 for the Breeders’ Cup Turf, having been fourth to in the Grand Prix de Paris, and is by Galileo from the family of Dylan Thomas.
‘Down under’ at Caulfield it’s Coolmore meeting the international market with their Epsom Derby hero travelling to the ‘colonies’ to be equal-favourite in a ‘mile-and-a-half million-dollar handicap.’
As last year’s Epsom Derby winner, Anthony Van Dyck is $6.00 on Sportsbet for the $5m Atella Artois Caulfield Cup of 2400m and to be ridden by former World Best Jockey in Hugh Bowman, from gate 21.
Anthony Van Dyck is coming off a short-neck victory over ‘champion two miler’ Stradivarius in the Prix Foy of 2400m at Longchamp, and ran second in the Coronation Cup of 1½ miles earlier this year.
In winning the Epsom Derby and second in the Irish Derby, he was a duel Group 7f winner at 2 years and by the great Galileo he has a liking for good-firm tracks, making him suitable to Australian racing.
A half-brother to NZ Railway Stakes winner Bounding, Anthony Van Dyck is from the Australian Gr3 winning Exceed and Excel mare Believe’N’Succeed, a full-sister to Irish based Australian sire Kuroshio.
In being a surprise $21 for the $8m Lexus Melbourne Cup, Anthony Van Dyck has his lightly raced and Irish Derby placed stable-mate Tiger Moth as $6.50 race favourite for the ‘Loving Cup.’
Also by Galileo, Tiger Moth is half-brother to Norfolk Stakes winning sire Coach House, with his stable-mate Santiago at $10 for the 2020 Melbourne Cup, being a son of the Epsom Derby winner Authorised.
The versatile Santiago this season first won the Queen’s Vase of 1¾m, dropped to 1½m to win the Irish Derby, then to 2 miles for third in the Goodwood Cup, and down again for fourth in the St Leger Stakes.
Again its Aidan O’Brien’s globetrotting Galileo mare Magic Wand who is $17 for the $5m Cox Plate at Moonee Valley, but is she also looking for back-to-back Mackinnon Stake victories.
However, Aidan O’Brien and Coolmore are definitely looking for Group 1 success with their Cox Plate $4.50 fancied Armory, having recently run second to Magical in the Irish Champion Stakes.
In being placed in all six Group 1 career starts, Armory this season won the Irish Royal Whip Stakes, and was a duel Group winning juvenile, being by Galileo from the winning Danehill Dancer mare After.
