Aidan O’Brien signed off a record-breaking Breeders’ Cup with Benvenuto Cellini in the Turf on Saturday, while Sovereignty finally got his hands on the Classic at Keeneland. Closer to home, Pic d’Orhy and Strong Leader landed the big prizes at Wetherby, Jamie Snowden enjoyed a Sunday to savour and all eyes now turn to Flemington for the Melbourne Cup. Here is the racing news today, rounded up for Monday.
Benvenuto Cellini and Sovereignty star on Breeders’ Cup Saturday
Ryan Moore was at his brilliant best on Benvenuto Cellini in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf. The Irish Derby winner was still on the rail with plenty of traffic in front of him turning for home, but Moore waited for the gap. The 3/1 shot eventually burst through the field to beat 40/1 outsider Map Of Stars by three-quarters of a length, with stablemate Diamond Necklace a further three-quarters of a length back in third.
It was a first win since the Curragh in June for the colt, who had been third in the King George and ninth in the Arc, and O’Brien believes “he’s going to be some four-year-old”. The success was a record eighth Breeders’ Cup Turf for O’Brien and a record sixth for Moore, while it took the trainer to 24 Breeders’ Cup winners after Sun Goddess and Haffner on Friday. It was also his 28th Group or Grade 1 winner of the year, equalling his own world record.
12 months after a fever ruled him out of the race, Sovereignty made amends in the $7 million Classic. Junior Alvarado produced last year’s Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner with a powerful late run to beat The Puma by a length-and-three-quarters, with Knightsbridge third. Defending champion Forever Young was only fifth as the 8/5 favourite. Sovereignty’s trainer Bill Mott said: “You could almost say he’s a once-in-a-lifetime horse.”
Benvenuto Cellini was the only European-trained winner on Saturday. Charlie Appleby’s Notable Speech could not defend his crown in the Mile, where he was beaten by Deterministic, while Willie Mullins’ Ethical Diamond was sixth in the Turf.
Pic d’Orhy and Strong Leader strike at Wetherby
Pic d’Orhy showed age is just a number with an easy success in the Charlie Hall Chase on Saturday. Making his debut for Dan and Harry Skelton, the 11-year-old was sent off the 10/11 favourite and quickened clear from two out to beat Ben Pauling’s Handstands by six-and-a-half lengths. Handstands stayed on for second but was never a threat, and it was a first win for Pic d’Orhy since the Ascot Chase in February 2025.
Earlier on the card, Strong Leader made it back-to-back wins in the West Yorkshire Hurdle for Olly Murphy and Sean Bowen. The 13/8 shot made all and stayed on strongly after a good jump at the last to hold Ruth Jefferson’s Lavida Adiva by a length-and-a-quarter, with the Skeltons’ even-money favourite Take No Chances half a length away in third.
Jamie Snowden lands Sunday four-timer
Jamie Snowden enjoyed a Sunday to remember with four winners across Worcester and Carlisle. Gavin Sheehan got the ball rolling on Joyau Allen at 7/4 in the 12.10pm at Worcester, before Johnny’s Jury made a winning start over fences as the 4/5 favourite in the 1.20pm beginners’ chase.
The focus then switched to Carlisle, where Sam Twiston-Davies drove Obsessedwithyou to a game success at 6/1 in the Listed Houghton Mares’ Chase. Wendigo completed the four-timer at 4/1 under Conor O’Farrell in the Listed Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase. Wendigo and Johnny’s Jury, who headlined Snowden’s interview with GG last week, have now both started their campaigns with a win.
Melbourne Cup build-up: Joseph O’Brien fires five at Flemington
The race that stops a nation takes place at Flemington in the early hours of Tuesday morning, with the Melbourne Cup due off at 4am UK time. Twenty-four runners will line up for the A$10 million handicap over 3,200 metres, and Joseph O’Brien leads the overseas challenge with five runners, headed by the James McDonald-ridden Trustyourinstinct from barrier 18.
Trustyourinstinct and Ciaron Maher’s Point Of Law, who drew barrier nine, head the betting, with Maher responsible for seven of the field. O’Brien’s Sons And Lovers carries top weight, while British hopes rest with George Boughey’s Hopewell Rock from barrier 15 and Roger Varian’s Enfjaar, who is drawn in eight. Joseph O’Brien was dealt a blow last week, though, when his big hope Defiantly was ruled out with a hoof abscess.
Racing today
The first and last race times below are from the live racecards when this draft was built. Check for late changes before publication.
Plumpton — first race: 13:00 · last race: 16:00
Fakenham — first race: 13:10 · last race: 15:40 · meeting abandoned
Southwell — first race: 13:15 · last race: 15:45
Wolverhampton — first race: 16:30 · last race: 20:30
Chelmsford — first race: 16:45 · last race: 20:15
[View today’s racecards] · [Latest non-runners] · [Today’s results]