Three Weekend Eyecatchers - 15/07/19

The big race on Saturday was of course the July Cup Stakes at Newmarket and the sprint contest over six furlongs saw a superb performance from the Aidan O'Brien trained Ten Sovereigns.

After last season, when he came back for his three year old campaign, many punters thought that the six furlong to a mile division could see a knew superstar after as a two year old being unbeaten and landing the Group 1 Middle park Stakes at Newmarket.

The son of No Nay Never started this season in the 2000 Guineas and after being heavily backed finished fifth in the 19 strong field and it looked like the step up to a mile was to far.

At Royal Ascot O'Brien dropped him back to his preferred six furlongs, but again he disappointed finishing fourth in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

Many were now thinking that just like Too Darn Hot, this horse would be not be the same as a three year old but how wrong they were.

At Newmarket he got back to his best seeing off a strong field of sprinters including Group 1 winners and showed that he has to be feared again for the rest of the season.

Again it was another masterstroke from Aidan O'Brien who picked up his fifth win in the contest whilst also landing back to back successes.

King Power Racing truly did see the highs and lows of the sport on Saturday after having a superb day of winners which has showed how much the racing group has progressed in such a small amount of time.

They picked up wins in many of the big races across the Saturday with one of the stand out performances coming from Pivoine at York in the 21 runner Diamond Jubilee Cup.

Along with that they had Mystery Power in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes and the owners and trainer Richard Hannon look to have a very exciting juvenile on their hands after he stormed to victory.

He has now been quoted as a big contender for next seasons 2000 Guineas with that victory showing he can see off some very good horses.

However, the shine of these victories was taken away when the racing groups arguably most famous prodigy, Beat The Bank put in a typical determined and classy performance to land the Group 2 Summer Mile at Ascot to only suffer a fatal injury in the process.

Beat The Bank took the race for the second year in a row but in his final stride to get up on the line fractured one of limbs which saw King Power and his trainer Andrew Balding lose one of their greatest ever horses.

It marked a mixed day for the owners and trainer but they will be sure to bounce back with more classy horses.

Sunday bought some more superb racing but this time across the pond in France at Paris Longchamp and the feature contest of the day was the Group 1 Grand Prix De Paris and it did not disappoint.

Aidan O'Brien bought over his up and coming star Japan who was bought for 1,300,000 Guineas as a yearling and the three year old did not disappoint landing his first black type victory.

Japan as a two year old landed the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at Naas which gave plenty of encouragement for his three year old campaign.

He was disappointing on his first run of the season but that can be excused as his latest three have been some of the highest calibre performances from a horse this season.

In the Epsom Derby he came from a mile back to just get pipped on the line in a photo-finish and off the back of that landed the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Stepping back up to a Group 1 contest was inevitable and he went off as the 1/2 favourite but justified his credentials and is now to score fairly easily and is now a firm contender to go well back at Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.