THERE was British success last weekend at Chantilly in the Group 3 Prix des Chenes - Fonds Europeen de l’Elevage over a mile when the Brian Meehan-trained Oceans Four ridden by Christophe Soumillon got home in front by a short neck from Elastic. The winner had been narrowly beaten by a nose when second in the Group 3 Solario Stakes at Sandown to A Bit Of Spirit last time. He was added to the Arc Sale this week.

The six-furlong Group 3 Prix Eclipse - Fonds Europeen de l’Elevage for two-year-olds went to the Aga Khan Studs-owned and bred son of Blue Point in the favourite Samangan, who beat Ceramic by half a length under Mickael Barzalona for Francis-Henri Graffard. He was following up a last-time-out conditions race win at Deauville.

The Group 3 Prix Bertrand de Tarragon - Fonds Europeen de l’Elevage for fillies and mares over nine furlongs went to Zabeel Light, trained by Andreas Schütz for Jaber Abdullah and Rabbah Bloodstock Limited, beating the British runner Royal Dress from the James Tate yard, by a short head under Aurelien Lemaitre.

There was also an impressive success for the late leading sire Wootton Bassett in the opening mile maiden, when Wootton Centurion took the Prix de Villebon for unraced colts by six lengths, the colt is trained by Victoria Head.

Germany

section>Scott plunders German Leger

IN Germany, there was also British success in the Group 3 Wettstar.de - 141st Deutsches St Leger over a mile and six furlongs, when the George Scott-trained Caballo De Mar ran out a two and three-quarter length winner under Adrie de Vries, beating Waldnebel with short-priced favourite Lordano only third of the six runners.

The four-year-old Phoenix Of Spain gelding had finished second to French Master in the Copper Horse Stakes at Royal Ascot in the summer.

America

KENTUCKY Derby-winning jockey Brian Hernandez Jr, who won the Kentucky Oaks and Derby in 2024 for Kenny McPeek on Mystik Dan and the subsequent Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, suffered serious injuries when thrown from his mount during the third race at Churchill Downs last Sunday.

Hernandez suffered seven broken ribs, a punctured lung and lacerated liver according to a social media post shared by his wife.

A two-year-old lost its jockey after being bumped at the start of the six-furlong race on a sloppy dirt track.

Sgt. Garcia, a colt trained by McPeek, left the track in an equine ambulance but was later reported to have suffered fatal injuries. Hernandez, considered one of the US’s top jockeys, was in intensive care being treated for his injuries.

Later in the week, he posted a photo on X and said:

I had a successful surgery today to stabilize my ribs. I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers! The doctors and nurses here at UofL have been absolutely fantastic. Hopefully one step closer to going home.