The pick of the action from the last 7 days was Saturdays card at Newbury which played host to 3 Stakes races.

The feature was the running of the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes over 1400m where the William Haggas trained Sacred (Exceed And Excel) become the first 3yoF to win the event since 1995, carrying the famous Cheveley Park Stud colours Sacred was able to double her Group race tally having claimed the Neil Gwyn Stakes back in April.

Meanwhile on the undercard the the highly progressive 4yo stayer Hukum (Sea the Stars) took his record to 6wins from 10 starts and a 4th win at Blacktype level when he was able to score the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes for the second year in a row. Hukum will now embark on an international campaign with America or Hong Kong being considered.

The 2yo’s were also in action as first season sire El Kabeir left his second Stakes winner of the season with Masekela landing the Listed Denford Stakes for the in form Andrew Balding stable.

24 hours earlier there was plenty to cheer about for the team at Little Avondale Stud as there shuttle stallion Time Test sired a first Stakes winner with Tardis taking out the Listed St Hughs Stakes over 1000m for 2yo fillies. Time Test returns to New Zealand in 2021 and will stand for $8,500.

Ireland.

Racing at both of Ireland’s major flat courses this week,Thursday meeting at Leopardstown included the Group 3 Desmond Stakes over a mile, it was Johnny Murtaghs 3yo Filly Create Belief (Awtaad) who took care of her older rivals to set up a return to Leopardstown in a months time for a crack at the fillies and mares Group 1 Matron Stakes also over a mile.

A day later racing moved to the Curragh, the day was highlighted by 2020 Melbourne Cup hero Twilight Payment (Teofilo) returning to the winner’s circle in the Group 3 Irish St Leger Trial as he builds towards a return to Australia for a title defence this spring.