Round-Up from Around the World - 15/10/2018

First off, Andrea Atzeni starred as the Brits dominated in Canada over the weekend, as he rode a Grade 1 double with Desert Encounter and Sheikha Reika at Woodbine.In the Pattison Canadian International,

Atzeni and Desert Encounter were able to see off another British contender in Thundering Blue, after both pulled away from the rest of the chasing pack.

In doing so, he helped claim the $800,000 prize on the David Simcock-trained horse, before going on to enjoy further success with Sheikha Reika in the EP Taylor for Roger Varian. Victory there added another $500,000 to the winning pot, with the two horses now returning to Newmarket.

There was another international feel-good story at the weekend, this time coming from Australia, as the Godolphin-owned Benbatl stormed to victory in the Ladbrokes Group 1 Caulfield Stakes.

There are now plans for him to challenge Winx in the famous Cox Plate at the end of this month and goes into the race as second-favourite behind the three-time winner, who is looking for a record fourth victory in the race.

However, it has since been confirmed that Winx’s stablemate, The Autumn Sun, will not challenge him in the Cox Plate next weekend, after trainer Chris Waller admitted he did not believe that he isn’t yet ready for a race of such magnitude.

He told NZ Trackside Radio: "The fact is, it's a pretty tough ask. I just don't think he needs that pressure just yet and we are best waiting for a little bit longer.

"He's not, to my eye, he's not fully developed yet. He's going to round out and thicken up. Winx is rated the world's best so he has to be the world's best to beat the world's best."

The British quartet that travelled east across Europe failed to come home with the desired result, as none were able to pick up the victory in the Velka Pardubicka in the Czech Republic.

Thomas Garner, Leighton Aspell, Andrew Glassonbury and James Best all made the trip across the continent, with Garner having the greatest success on Stretton. He lead heading into the home straight but was unable to hold on, eventually finishing third after agonisingly falling away.

Glassonbury was the next most successful after coming ninth, with Glassonbury, with Best finishing 11th. Aspell fell with Vajgoras on the first circuit.

Home favourites clearly enjoy the Velka Pardubicka, with 2018 being the 13th-consecutive year in which a Czech-trained horse has won it, with the Pavel Tuma-trained Tzigane Du Berlais being brought home by Jan Faltejsek.