Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (Grade 1)

THERE was only one Grade 1 in the US last weekend and the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes presented by Dixiana did have a little Irish connection as the winner, Lush Lips, began her career in Ireland.

The British-bred Ten Sovereigns filly gave trainer Brendan Walsh his second Grade 1 win of the meet, in the nine-furlong race. The filly had raced three times without winning for Donnacha O’Brien and had finished down the field in a valuable maiden at the Kentucky Downs meeting in September 2024 after which she joined Brendan Walsh’s team.

Brad Cox’s Grade 1 winner Fionn went off favourite after Laurelin had also been well supported but Lush Lips broke well, led after 50yds before Opulent Restraint took over to halfway. Lush Lips was angled out onto leader’s quarters with over two furlongs to run and ridden to lead approaching final furlong. Laurelin gave chase but she could never get on terms and the Walsh filly stayed on to win by a length and a quarter.

Jockey Tyler Gaffalione said afterwards: “I have to give credit to Brendan and his team. They’ve done a fabulous job with this filly, getting her to relax. She’s come a long way this year and really stepped it up nicely. The race went perfectly.

“She broke great, put me in a good spot, relaxed beautifully, and when I asked her, she really turned it on nice. It was a great performance and great for the connections.”

Brendan Walsh added: “It seems she has no problem going the mile and an eighth. It was fantastic. It opens a big door for her, especially for next year, because we always thought this filly was going to be a good four-year-old. It’s fantastic to win a Grade 1 with her.”

The winner races for Medallion Racing, Parkland Thoroughbreds, Hoffman Thoroughbreds, Mrs. Paul Shanahan, and Susan Magnier.

He also was quoted on Blood-Horse, commenting on the Keeneland meeting. “For us, being based in Kentucky, to do this is fantastic. All credit to my team. They work hard throughout the year. To have this at the end of the year, it’s a tribute to them as much as anything.”

Favourite Fionn proved a disappointment as she was never involved and finished a never nearer fourth, beaten over four lengths, while Ollie Sangster’s Simmering was also never involved, finishing seventh of the eight.

France

IT was a quiet post Arc weekend time in France but Francis Graffard and the Aga Khan Studs were still to the fore, taking the sole group race of the weekend, the Group 2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte over six furlongs at Chantilly when the Irish-bred Blue Point colt Samangan made it three wins in a row when Mikael Barzalona partnered him to victory. Ridden just inside final furlong, the short-priced favourite kept on strongly to beat Street Show by two and a half lengths.