Trainer trifecta on tap with British Isles-bred horses in Melbourne Cup

Lambeth, shown winning the October 9 Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland, is the early favorite for Saturday’s Grade III River City at Churchill Downs. Photo courtesy of Keeneland

Oct. 6 (UPI) — Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup, inconveniently scheduled just three days after the Breeders’ Cup, produced a trifecta win for trainer Ciaron Maher and for horses bred in the British Isles.

Next up are the Japan Cup, with the Aga Khan’s Studs’ Calandagan hoping to double up on his historic victory a year ago, and then Hong Kong’s iconic year-end international races with big names from around the world in the early-entry box.

Back in North America, horse racing catches its breath after another successful return of the Breeders Cup to Keeneland.

Around the world, around the clock

Australia

It’s unusual to see a trainer saddle the first three finishers in any race, much less a top-level race (think Aidan O’Brien and Chad Brown). But how about "the race that stops the nation" — the Melbourne Cup? That’s the hat trick that Ciaron Maher pulled off Tuesday at Flemington.

Point of Law went off favorite at 6-1 and showed that was value, winning by 3 3/4 lengths from 25-1 stablemate Zahrann. Juja Kibo completed the hat trick, just a nose farther behind. The closest rival was the Joseph O’Brien shipper Sons and Lovers, another 1 1/4 lengths in arrears.

Maher had a strong hand with seven horses in the field of 23, also including Royal Supremacy, who shot away to a gigantic lead before handing over to his stablemate. The trainer became the first to score the Melbourne Cup trifecta.

"I knew I had my best hand going into it, but we just had to execute," Maher said in post-race interview. "I certainly didn’t know that Royal Supremacy would lead by that far, but it is a true test of staying and, Point of Law, he’s just thrived.

"It has been a whirlwind, but I’m very proud of all the team to get three horses in the first three spots."

While the results were a sweep for the home team, it’s worth noting that all three top finishers were sired by European-raced stallions — Frankel, Night of Thunder and Belardo — and bred in the British Isles.

Point of Law was bred in England by King Charles III and raced there in the royal colors through the summer under the care of John and Thady Gosden before changing hands to an Aussie syndicate.

Zahrann and Juba Kibo were bred in Ireland. Zahrann raced in Ireland through 2025, and Juba Kibo is the only horse of the first three whose career has been run solely down under.

Trainer trifectas in big races? Aidan O’Brien was 1-2-3 in the 2016 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with Found, Highland Reel and Order of St George and 1-2-3 in the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Mile with Order of Australia, Circus Maximus and Lope y Fernandez — a trifecta that returned $4,393 for a 50-cent investment.

Chad Brown has turned the trick multiple times in graded stakes, primarily in New York and most recently in the Grade I Diana at Saratoga on July 18.

Hong Kong

Entries for the Dec. 13 Longines Hong Kong International Races total 142 horses and 36 individual Group 1 winners for the four Group 1 races, ranging from the Sprint at 1,200 meters through the Mile, the Cup at 2,000 meters and the Vase at 2,400 meters.

Among the most recognizable names on the entries lists are Ka Ying Rising, Voyage Bubble, Benvenuto Cellini, Diamond Necklace, Lambourn, Masquerade Ball, Giavellotto, Almaqam, Land Legend, Sir Delius, Kingswood, Puro Magic, Star Anise, Docklands, Erdenali and Embroidery — among them, Group 1 winners from Royal Ascot, the Breeders’ Cup and other global meetings.

"We are incredibly pleased with the support from our international friends with outstanding entries for the 2026 Longines Hong Kong International Races," said Hong Kong Jockey Club executive director, racing, Andrew Harding. "Hong Kong will once again meet world-class opposition on an exciting afternoon of action at Sha Tin Racecourse."

Entries, of course, do not always translate into actual starters and the long ship into Hong Kong is not a done deal until wheels up. But the extensive list seems to guarantee plenty of international competition.

One international competitor, Docklands, is set to arrive from London on Nov. 14 to try his luck in the Nov. 22 Jockey Club Cup, the local prep for the corresponding race a month on.

And Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising, whose 21-race win streak ended in the Group 1 The Everest in his last start, is back at Sha Tin and aiming for start in the Jockey Club Sprint on the same day.

Australia

Flemington on Saturday hosts its own trio of Group 1 events, the Champion Stakes, Champion Mile and Champion Sprint.

Meanwhile, back in North America:

Belmont Park

Saturday’s program has four stakes races, including the $300,000 Grade II Mother Goose for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles. Bodacious Bay, a Not This Time filly from the Saffie Joseph Jr. string, seeks to improve on a record of two wins and three seconds from five starts as the 5-2 favorite.

Churchill Downs

The $300,000 Grade III River City at 9 furlongs on the turf and the $300,000, 6-furlong Bet On Sunshine compete for attention Saturday under the twin spires.

Lambeth, fresh off his first graded stakes win in the Grade II Sycamore at Keeneland, is favored in the River City. Three-year-old Obliteration hasn’t quite lived up to the promise of his 2025 season or his second-place finish in the Group 2 Saudi Derby in February, but nonetheless is the favorite against elders in the Bet On Sunshine.

Woodbine

Saturday’s three Grade III stakes go on the all-weather course. The 7-furlong Bessarabian Stakes and the Maple Leaf Stakes at 1 1/4 miles are for fillies and mares. The HPI Bet Autumn Stakes is 9 furlongs.

Lupa, a 4-year-old Lope de Vega filly, is even-money for the Maple Leaf after winning the Grade III Ontario Matron in her last. Reagan’s Flame is a narrow choice in a tough Bessarabian field coming off a win in the Grade II Presque Isle Masters. Runaway Again is the odds-on pick in a field of six for the Autumn Stakes.

Source: sports.yahoo.com — article syndicated from the publisher’s feed; all rights remain with the original publisher.