Three Weekend Eye-Catchers - 22/10/2018

The performance of the day, weekend and probably season was seen in the Champions Stakes. Cracksman in the hands of Frankie Dettori absolutely trounced his rivals. Dettori went for home early, but once he did there was little doubt who would come home first.

The horse is nigh on unbeatable on soft ground and so it proved as he won by seven lengths. The quality of the field in behind showed how ludicrously good this horse is on his day. Yes, he has struggled on fast ground, however there probably hasn’t been a better horse in and around this distance since his Father, Frankel.

The horse can now enjoy his retirement at stud with connections hoping he can follow in his father’s footsteps again by producing a dual Champions Stakes winner.

Three-year-old Roaring Lion proved his ability to deal with a less than ideal trip and ground but sadly for race fans that may now be it for the Qatar Racing owned star.

The win was by a mere neck, but it was the attitude of the horse in conditions he had never faced that made it arguably the best of his victories.

Whilst it has been reported by owner Sheikh Fahad he may go to the Breeders Cup at the start of November, Gosden seemed to indicate the Derby third would be sent off to stud with immediate effect. The horse will retire with three Group 1 victories, all coming in his last three runs.

The Group 2 Gran Premio del Jockey Club Italiano held in Milan went to the Richard Hannon trained Raymond Tusk. With Jamie Spencer aboard the three-year-old Filly the horse went at it from the off and nothing could get onto terms with the British Raider.

The part-owned Middleham Park Racing owned Filly finished sixth in the St Leger however this was undoubtedly her finest performance in a career that only began in April with victory in a Class 4 handicap at Newbury.

Connections will now be mapping out her four-year-old career with excitement after a season that has finished in fitting style.