Number of qualifying races held in Australia since the last wrap-up: 0

There's been a fair few more overseas; well, in the UK, Ireland and France, anyway. The below might be a bit of a wasted effort on my part as space will be limited on the flight to Australia. Unlike previous years, just the one charter is making the journey, with half of the cargo to be horses making a one-way trip to local stables and the remaining 16 to maintain their international trainer. What sort of contingent can travel with the horse, if any, is the big questions - one trainer has reportedly already pulled the pin; though I'm not sure which one it is. The racing industry is currently lobbying the Government to streamline the process and they're working through the guidelines. It'll also no doubt depend on how things are going with coronavirus at the time.


Thursday, 9th July

Bahrain Trophy Stakes (G3) 2600m - https://twitter.com/i/status/1281220357215698944
Al Aasy snoozes at the rear, then takes the league comfortably in the final furlong of this race for 3yos. Dawn Rising and Al Dabaran round out the places.

Princess of Wales's Tattersalls Stakes (G2) 2400m - https://www.racingtv.com/news/holli...rd-dame-malliot
Dame Malliot finishes well ahead of Communique and Desert Encounter. Old Persian isn't having a good season, finishing about 10L back in 6th of the 7. It was one of the slower runnings of recent times but still, only slightly behind that of Fiorente's victory in 2012 - who, of course, would run 2nd to Green Moon in the Melbourne Cup of that year.


Tuesday 14th July

Prix dy Lys (G3) 2400m - https://twitter.com/i/status/1283011775986831362
Don't come last in this four-horse field and you've run a qualifying performance for the 2020 Melbourne Cup. Volkan Star, Ketil and Measure Of Time were the lucky non-last placers; though they're not likely to come.

Prix de Malleret (G2) 2400m - https://twitter.com/i/status/1283022155475755008
A much more competitive field in the next race: this one had 5 starters. Vaucelles, Oriental Mystique and Mozzarella finish top 3.

Prix Maurice De Nieuil (G2) 2800m - https://twitter.com/i/status/1283050387021402113
Red Verdon continues his celebration of returning to full health with another win. Only 4 starters in this race as well, which led to quite a slow pace. A little more quality though with Called To The Bar, San Huberto and Holdthasigreen finishing in that order. Red Verdon trailed the leader the whole way then took the lead in the final 3 furlongs, holding the rest of the field well.


Thursday 16th July

Nijinsky Stakes (Listed) 2400m
Aidan O'Brien's Delphi leads the whole way, eventually wining this 3yo race by 4 lengths. Numen and Aunt Bee take the placings.


Saturday 18th July

Aphrodite Fillies' Stakes (Listed) 2400m - https://twitter.com/i/status/1284496907541372928
The grey Cabaletta edges out Lady G, both finishing over 2 lengths in front of Makawee. The winner here notably beat Frankly Darling in a maiden race a while back.

Silver Cup Stakes (G3) 2800m - https://twitter.com/i/status/1284474513753767936
Eagles By Day showed good speed to hit the front late but didn't seem to want to put Communique away. The pair of them put 3 lengths on Universal Order.

Curragh Cup (G2) 2800m - https://twitter.com/i/status/1284516306625204225
Impressive run by Twilight Payment, gapping the field, and winning his second consecutive Curragh Cup. Master Of Reality - his Joseph O'Brien stablemate - was runner-up but 8 lengths adrift. Third place Camphor was another 9 further back. Last year, Twilight Payment followed his Curragh Cup win with a 7th in the G1 Irish St Leger and an 11th in the Melbourne Cup. Lloyd and Nick Williams are in the ownership so it wouldn't be surprising to see both O'Brien runners back for another tilt, space on the single flight coming obliging.

Irish Oaks (G1) 2400m - https://youtu.be/i__6jByL8cg
Even So takes out this 3yo Fillies race. Cayenne Pepper and Passion headed in the final furlong and pushed to the minors.


Tuesday, 21st July

Prix Hubert Baguenault de Puchesse (Listed) - https://twitter.com/i/status/1285576261620858882
Close finish in a race from which we'll get no starters.


Thursday, 23rd July

Prix de Thiberville (Listed) 2400m - https://twitter.com/i/status/1286259561029140480
Unbeaten filly Valia takes out this race for 3yos, putting nearly 3 lengths on Wonderful Tonight and Padovana. Not at all likely.


Friday, 24th July

Prix Frederic de Lagrange (Listed) 2400m - https://twitter.com/i/status/1286642602801070081
5 runners in this 3yo race, Paix shows some good speed to pull away at the finish, followed by Mykiss and Control Tower.


Saturday, 25th July

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) 2400m - https://twitter.com/i/status/1287034600066252805
Only 3 in it, so they all ran a Melbourne Cup Qualifying performance, even though the last placegetter was over 16 lengths behind the winner. That winner was Enable though, so it's not as bad as it sounds. It was a third win in this race for the wonder mare - in her fastest time yet - with Sovereign and Japan the other racers.

Vintage Tipple Stakes (Listed) 2800m - https://twitter.com/i/status/1287018660280913920
Fillies' & Mares' race for 3 and 4yos. Kastasa wins, with Nan Yehi second and Traisha third. The three of them put a bit of a gap on the rest of the field.


Tuesday, 28th July

Goodwood Cup (G1) 3200m - https://youtu.be/AK03FwXYTaU
Four straight wins to Stradivarius. Not too shabby... The top 5 in this race all qualified, the others being Nayef Road, Santiago, Eagles By Day, and Euchen Glen. Wouldn't mind Nayef Road out here: led for much of the race and held on well, only headed by a superstar. At least we'd get a genuinely run Cup; unlikely, but his trainer has been out here before.


Thursday, 30th July

Gordon Stakes (G3) 2400m - https://youtu.be/PF2nj6b6dys
Aidan O'Brien wins this race for 3yo with Mogul. Highland Chief and Subjectivist round out the top 3. Nayef Road won this race last year, as did Cross Counter the year before.


Friday, 31st July

Queen's Plate (G3) 2400m - https://twitter.com/i/status/1289212984468869120
Pablo Escobarr, Desert Encounter and Le Don De Vie with qualifying runs.

Luth Enchantee Stakes (Listed) 2400m - https://twitter.com/i/status/1289208073039511554
Pretty tight racing with Liberty London nudging out Edisa and Goderville. Surely not in the running.


Saturday, 1st August

Lillie Langtry Stakes (G2) 2800m - https://twitter.com/i/status/1289652128512843777
Enbihaar makes it two wins off this race in a row. A comprehensive winner in this 3-horse race, easily accounting for Cabaletta and Snow.

Chalice Stakes (Listed) 2400m - https://twitter.com/i/status/1289567571105087489
Katara wins handily, ahead of Expressionism and Cosmic Princess.

Further Flight Stakes (Listed) 2800m - https://twitter.com/i/status/1289576631598641152
A familiar name in Withhold takes out this race comfortably with Dubious Affair and Vivid Diamond beating the only other runner home.

Prix du Carrousel (Listed) 3000m - https://twitter.com/i/status/1289537172576632833
Get Shirty wins with Ashrun and Ghostwatch coming out ahead in a bunch finish for the minors. Ghostwatch was heading out here last year but was injured before boarding the plane, if I recall correctly. Get Shirty is 2 wins from 3 this season and his trainer has expressed an interest in shipping him to Australia for a tilt at the Cup, COVID restrictions obliging. His next race will be the Prix de Kergolay.


Thursday, 6th August

Ballyroan Stakes (G3) 2400m -
Nickajack Cave edges out Fresnel and Mythical.


Saturday, 8th August

Prix Hocquart Longines (G2) 2500m - https://twitter.com/i/status/1292108555626196993
Port Guillaume wins comfortably with Ketil and Pao Alto doing the best in a bunch finished for the minors.


Sunday, 9th August

Prix Michel Houyvet (Listed) 2800m
Just happened. Measure Of Time wins; Zeyrek 2nd and Manoucheer 3rd.

Prix De Reux (G3) 2500m
Runs in a few hours. Soft Light is the favourite with the next 4 all very close to each others' price.