WHILE the Breeders’ Cup dominated matters at the weekend, there was some good stuff going on elsewhere, especially in Australia, where Bivouac was an impressive winner of the Group 1 Darley Sprint Classic at Flemington from front runner Nature Strip.

The top Australian sprinters are not the most consistent at present, but Bivouac (124), Nature Strip (123) and the Everest winner Classique Legend (125) are as good as any on the planet at shorter distances on their days.

There is less strength in Australian racing at longer distances, and True Self and Pondus registered a one-two for Irish-trained horses in the 13-furlong Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Handicap at Flemington, both running to 110 on my figures.

Showdown

There were a couple of Group 2s of largely local significance in Tokyo at the weekend, but that country’s racing fans are gearing up for a major showdown at the end of the month between the colts’ and fillies’ Triple Crown winners, Contrail (123) and Daring Tact (115), in the Japan Cup at the same course.

That is a battle that Contrail will need to win, and to win well, to continue to be considered the best three-year-old in the world in some quarters (but not yet this one).

The showdown may not stop there, however, with 118-rated Way To Paris a likely raider from France and it now is likely that the star Japanese mare and 2018 Japan Cup winner Almond Eye (124) will be turning up. Quite a race could be in store.

The identity of the best three-year-old jumper in the world would appear to be Theleme (151), who won the Grade 1 Prix Cambaceres at Auteuil last Sunday in good style. That is a figure good enough to win the Triumph Hurdle as often as not, and plenty in Britain and Ireland will be hoping that Theleme remains in France.

Paul’s Saga (158) and Le Berry (152) were other good winners at France’s premier jumps track over the weekend.