Christophe Soumillon picks up the Arc mount on favourite Minnie Hauk, a winning comeback from Forever Young in Japan and Thorpedo Anna headlines star-studded Keeneland cast – all this and more in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Arc latest: Soumillon rides favourite Minnie Hauk from stall one
France: Christophe Soumillon will ride the favourite Minnie Hauk, who has been drawn one in a 17-runner field for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at ParisLongchamp on Sunday [Oct 5].
The dual Oaks winner was supplemented at a cost of €120,000 to Europe’s richest race on Wednesday [Oct 1], joining stablemate Los Angeles (Wayne Lordan) in a two-headed assault from world #1 trainer Aidan O’Brien, whose stable jockey Ryan Moore remains sidelined through injury. More here
Other leading fancies include in an open-looking contest include last year’s runner-up Aventure and Kalpana, who will wear cheekpieces for the first time after a surprise odds-on defeat to Sunday’s rival Giavellotto. Japan fields a powerful three-strong contingent in Derby winner Croix Du Nord, Byzantine Dream and Alohi Alii, all of whom won their prep races in France.
Estrange is a non-runner, leaving a field of 17. More here
Forever Young faultless in Breeders’ Cup prep
USA: Saudi Cup winner Forever Young tuned up for another crack at the Breeders’ Cup Classic with a comfortable return to action on Wednesday [Oct 1] at Funabashi.
Third in both the Kentucky Derby and BC Classic in 2024, the four-year-old was unruffled to score by 2½ lengths in the Nippon TV Hai, a local G2 event over 1,800 metres. “I was relieved because I couldn’t lose,” said jockey Ryusei Sakai. “He was in perfect shape after the break, and we needed this result and a good performance before heading to America.” More here
Thorpedo Anna headlines Keeneland’s Fall Stars Weekend
USA: Keeneland’s stakes-laden Fall Meet kicks off with the star-studded Fall Stars Weekend featuring three top-class days’ racing catering that serve as a showcase for horses targeting the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar on Oct 31-Nov 1.
Thorpedo Anna, the reigning Horse of the Year, heads the cast list in Sunday’s G1 Spinster Stakes, one of 11 stakes over the weekend worth 6.3m and eight Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ contests. More here
With a purse of $1.25m, the Coolmore Turf Mile on Saturday’s card offers the weekend’s richest prize. Prix Jacques le Marois winner Diego Velazquez heads the 12-runner field with Frankie Dettori in the saddle, while Woodshauna and Jonquil also travel from Europe. More here
Choisya bids for her second Keeneland G1 win in the $800,000 First Lady, where she is joined by British-trained counterparts Simmering and Great Generation. Todd Pletcher’s star juveniles Ned Toffey and Tommy Jo will also be in action over the weekend. More here
Book’em Danno to bypass BC Sprint
USA: Book’em Danno, ante-post favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, has been ruled out of the Del Mar extravaganza in the wake of the six-month suspension recently handed out by HISA to the gelding’s regular jockey Paco Lopez.
Trainer Derek Ryan labeled the decision as “disgusting” after Lopez – America’s leading rider numerically in 2025 with 300 victories – sustained the six-month whip ban. The jockey is appealing the decision.
Book’em Danno, who completed a Saratoga hat-trick last time out in the G1 Forego Stakes, will now be rested ahead of his five-year-old campaign in 2026. More here
USA: Leading jockeys support Paco Lopez over whip ban More here
Enable and Dick Hern join British Hall of Fame
GB: Dual Arc winner Enable and legendary trainer Dick Hern are set to become the latest inductees to the British Racing Hall of Fame. They will officially join the modern greats of the sport on October 18.
In five seasons of racing carrying the Juddmonte silks, star racemare Enable won 11 G1 races across four different countries. “She was without doubt one of those absolute racemares of a lifetime,” commented her trainer John Gosden. More here
Major Dick Hern, who died in May 2002, was one of the outstanding trainers in the second half of the 20th century, scooping 16 British Classics. Among his most notable horses were three Derby winners – Troy (1979), Henbit (1980) and Nashwan (1989) – plus the great sprinter Dayjur. More here
Romantic Warrior shines in barrier trial
Hong Kong: Former world #1 Romantic Warrior took a significant step towards a return to racing when coming through a barrier trial at Happy Valley on Saturday [Sept 27].
The ten-time G1 winner, who has been sidelined since undergoing fetlock surgery in May, pleased trainer Danny Shum in a 1,700-metre spin under Hugh Bowman.
Unraced since a narrow defeat in the Dubai Turf, Romantic Warrior is set to return to action in the G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup at Sha Tin on November 23 ahead of a bid for a historic fourth win in the Hong Kong Cup. The Saudi Cup is also on his agenda in 2026. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
USA: NYRA unveils official new logo for Belmont Park More here
USA: Keeneland catalogs 3,075 horses for November Breeding Stock Sale More here
USA: Bill Mott honored with Warner Jones Horseman of the Year Award More here
Canada: Nations Pride heads Canadian International More here
Australia: Via Sistina heads Turnbull Stakes More here
GB: Emma Berry to succeed Simon Sweeting as EBF chair More here
South Africa: Mass resignations on NHRA Board More here
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