Weekend round up: Mixed fortunes for Series stars

Wuheida is on course to return at Newmarket on Friday week. Picture: Racingfotos.com

It was a busy weekend for QIPCO British Champions Series stars of the past, present and future. If you missed the action, here is a summary of all you need to know.

CAPRI: The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt kept on stoutly to get the better of Cracksman and Wings Of Eagles in the Irish Derby on Saturday evening. Promoted to favourite for the William Hill St Leger at Doncaster in September after that battling success.

CRACKSMAN: Again a case of so close, yet so far for the Frankel colt. A close third in the Derby at Epsom, he went down by a head to Capri in the Irish equivalent. Jockey Pat Smullen said: “He got a little bit further back than we had planned but he never really travelled through the race and showed a lot of immaturity still. He’s very babyish.”

HAWKBILL: Dropped away from two furlongs out in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud after racing too freely. Put a line through this run.

JOURNEY: A brilliant winner on Champions Day at Ascot last year, Journey started 15-8 favourite for the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday but beat only one home. Her running was too bad to be true and it would be no surprise if an explanation comes to light.

MARSHA: Third in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot, Marsha is set to have her next run in the Qatar Airways Sapphire Stakes at the Curragh on July 15.

MINDING: Aidan O’Brien has thrown doubt over whether the seven-time Group One winner, who chalked up four wins in the QIPCO British Champions Series last year, will race again this term. On Sunday the trainer revealed she is not yet ready to return to exercise after a setback and said: “We’ll leave her another month, but we could run out of time.”

MY DREAM BOAT: The five-year-old has run well without winning since landing the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot last year and it was a similar story in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on Sunday, in which he finished two lengths fourth to Zarak.

NEZWAAH: The Roger Varian-trained filly was an emphatic winner of the Pretty Polly Stakes and her trainer hinted afterwards that an appearance in the Champions Series could beckon. He said: “Maybe she’s justified staying in Europe and taking her to Goodwood for the Nassau [Stakes.”

REKINDLING: Joseph O’Brien indicated his colt could be aimed at the St Leger after Rekindling swooped late to land the Comer Group International Curragh Cup on Sunday.

WUHEIDA: The Charlie Appleby-trained filly was a leading fancy for the QIPCO 1000 Guineas and Investec Oaks before suffering a setback. She is set to make her long-awaited seasonal return in the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket on Friday week and Appleby said: “She will be fit enough to run well there.”

WINGS OF EAGLES: The Derby hero ran remarkably to finish third in the Irish version given he was subsequently found to have suffered a career-ending injury.