TRACKSIDE WORLDWIDE

Rebel’s Romance Conquers Qatar While Longshots Steal the Show in New Orleans and Melbourne The road to the Kentucky Derby picked up momentum in New Orleans with high-stakes racing at Fair Grounds, headlined by the Grade Two $500,000 Risen Star Stakes. Magnitude broke sharply from the outside gate, quickly securing the rail and setting the pace. He maintained his lead entering the final furlong before finding another gear and pulling away from his rivals. Race favorite East Avenue contested the lead early but faded late, missing out on 50 qualifying points for America’s most prestigious race. It was another disappointment for East Avenue’s supporters after an underwhelming performance in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

In the Grade Two, Rachel Alexandra Stakes, Good Cheer delivered as expected, preserving her unbeaten record with an authoritative victory. The Godolphin-owned three-year-old defeated a small field of four with ease, extending her streak to five consecutive wins. This triumph gave Godolphin its third straight victory in the race, following in the footsteps of Pretty Mischievous and Tarifa. With this dominant display, Good Cheer has positioned herself as a leading contender for the Kentucky Oaks.

Elsewhere on the card, the Grade Three $250,000 Mineshaft Stakes saw a dramatic finish as Hall of Fame secured his third consecutive victory. Longshot Komorebino Omoide nearly pulled off an upset but was narrowly denied. Despite jockey Jansen Melancon’s claims of interference, race officials upheld the result. In the other Grade Three event of the day, Taking Candy impressed in the Fair Grounds Stakes, notching his first graded stakes victory with a commanding performance.

Beyond New Orleans, Rebel's Romance continued to cement his status as a global force by winning the $2.5 million Amir Trophy in Qatar for the second consecutive year. The two-time Breeders' Cup winner adapted seamlessly to the last-minute venue change to Al Uqda Racecourse after a slip on the original track forced organizers to postpone Saturday's races. Despite the change in setting and distance, Rebel's Romance cruised to victory, securing his 11th Group Race win. Having triumphed in America, Qatar, Dubai, Hong Kong and even Germany last year, he remains one of the premier globetrotting thoroughbreds.

Meanwhile, in Australia, Flemington Racecourse delivered a shock result in the Group One $1 million Black Caviar Lightning Stakes. Longshot Skybird stunned the field with a late charge, overcoming a competitive lineup over 1000 meters. The hot hand of jockey James McDonald was favoured as he paired up with trainer Chris Waller to ride Switzerland but only managed to finish fourth in a competitive race. Instead, it was John Allen who masterfully navigated Skybird through traffic before unleashing a powerful surge in the final 200 meters to claim victory. Skybird’s owners will likely continue targeting sprint races after this breakthrough performance, especially following her disappointing 10th-place finish in a 1500-meter event last time out.