Prix de l’Opera winner Barnavara knocked down for 4.8m gns ($6.73m), Ascot prize-money boost, Ka Ying Rising sparkles ahead of HK Sprint – all this and more in our weekly digest of recent international racing news
Barnavara tops sales at 4,800,000m guineas
GB: The blue-chip Sceptre Sessions at this week’s Tattersalls December Mares Sale produced the expected fireworks on Tuesday [Dec 2] as Prix de l’Opera winner Barnavara was knocked down for 4.8 million guineas (£5.04m/$6.73m).
Consigned by Baroda Stud on behalf of trainer Jessica Harrington and owners Alpha Racing, the three-year-old filly was purchased by Sugar Whiskey Trading, bidding online. She becomes the highest-priced filly in training sold anywhere in the world this year.
A total of 11 lots his the seven-figure mark, a record-equalling figure for the sale. They included four-time G1 winner Porta Fortuna, who went to MV Magnier for 4,5m gns. “There is a good chance she could go to Starspangledbanner,” said Magnier, who also signed for G1 winner Tamfana for 2.6m gns. Over 81.5m gns changed hands at a clearance rate of 81% over the sale’s three days. More here
World #1 Ryan Moore back with a double
GB: Ryan Moore, the world’s #1 jockey on Thoroughbred Racing Commentary’s Global Rankings, wasted no time getting back among the winners on his return to action after a leg injury.
Moore, 42, has been sidelined since August with a stress fracture of his right femur. He resumed with a double (on Lazzar and Morrophore) from five rides on a minor card at Lingfield Park on Wednesday [Dec 3]. “It’s been a while, so it’s good to be back,” said Moore, speaking on Sky Sports Racing. He expects to ride next week in Hong Kong. More here
• James McDonald named Longines World’s Best Jockey More here
Emergency brain surgery for Jorge Chavez
USA: Eclipse Award-winning jockey Jorge Chavez, who won the Kentucky Derby on Monarchos in 2001, is recovering after emergency brain surgery last week to remove a tumor behind an eye at North Shore Hospital in New York.
Peruvian-born Chavez, 64, retired after suffering serious injury at Aqueduct in 2011, ending a career in which he ordered more than 4,500 winners. Known affectionately as ‘Chop Chop’ on the New York circuit, he won his Eclipse Award in 1999. More here
Ascot boosts prize-money to record levels for 2026
GB: Following across-the-board increases at Royal Ascot, every race at next year’s five-day stand will be worth at least £120,000 ($160,000) – with all eight G1 events set to carry prize-money starting at £700,000 ($933,000), with two of them at the £1m mark.
In all, 26 of 35 races at the summer showpiece will be run for more than they were in 2025 as Ascot announced a record total of £19.4m (up £1.65m) across the track’s 25 racedays. (Figures do not include the industry-owned QIPCO British Champions Day card.)
No race at Ascot all year will be worth less than £25,000 and Royal Ascot alone will carry total prize-money of £10.65m. In July, it was announced that the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes will become Britain’s first £2m race next year. More here
Ka Ying Rising: ‘He just keeps on improving’
Hong Kong: Sprint superstar Ka Ying Rising delighted trainer David Hayes as he completed his fast work ahead of next weekend’s Hong Kong Sprint with a workout under Zac Purton at Sha Tin on Thursday [Dec 4].
The five-time G1 winner surged over the final 400m in 21.6s in what was described as a “sparkling turf gallop” before his next assignment, in which he will attempt to match Golden Sixty’s feat of winning 16 races in a row – a streak bettered only by Silent Witness (17 wins) as a HK-trained horse.
“I thought it was as good as you could ask the horse to work,” said Hayes. “I think Zac thought it was the best he’s felt in work, so he just keeps on improving and he’ll just do steady work into the big race. We’re very happy with him.” More here
Death of outstanding miler Hawk Wing, aged 26
South Korea: Former world champion racehorse Hawk Wing has died from colic in South Korea, where he ended up at stud after an initial spell at Coolmore. He was 26.
A spectacular performer at his best for Aidan O’Brien’s Ballydoyle team, the son of Woodman was a G1 winner at ages two, three and four, notably with a sensational 11-length victory in the Lockinge Stakes on soft ground at Newbury in 2003.
Although Hawk Wing was also second in both the 2,000 Guineas and Derby as a three-year-old, he had more than his share of detractors as he suffered several short-priced defeats and ran with an ungainly head carriage. More here
Elsewhere in racing …
GB: Retirement ruled out for Constitution Hill after latest jumping mishap More here
USA: Aqueduct Sunday card cancelled amid jockeys’ protest More here
USA: First Stateside meet title for Umberto Rispoli at Del Mar More here
USA: Dylan Davis targets February return after fall More here
USA: Whitney family donates trophies to National Museum More here
UAE: Mufasa and Dark Saffron clash in third Dubai Carnival card More here
Jamaica: Javier Castellano to bring star power to Mouttet Mile More here
Japan: Narukami heads Champions Cup (former Japan Cup Dirt) More here
Japan: Arc fifth Byzantine Dream set for Arima Kinen More here
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