Melbourne-bound Mustajeer wins Ebor

Mustajeer (GB) (Medicean {GB}) has won Europe's richest handicap, the Ebor at York, ahead of his transfer to Kris Lees to be prepared for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Trained in Ireland by Ger Lyons, Mustajeer, who finished fourth in the Ebor last year, won the 2800m race by three-quarters of a length from Red Galileo (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

He has been bought by Australian Bloodstock and will travel to Australia next month and join Lees at Newcastle. Ridden by Colin Keane, Mustajeer was always within striking distance from a prime draw in barrier two. He took the lead in the final stages and held off Red Galileo, with Desert Skyline (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) and Raymond Tusk (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) third and fourth.

Prince of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}), third in last year's Melbourne Cup, pleased trainer Charlie Fellowes with his eighth, five lengths from the winner, and is on target for his return to Australia.

"That's his last race for us. He's been sold to go to Australia, but David Spratt still owns a share," said Lyons' daughter and assistant Kerri Lyons.

"Hopefully it will be the Caulfield Cup and then the Melbourne Cup. That will be a dream come true, and he'll do well for the new owners."

Australian Bloodstock won the 2014 Melbourne Cup with Protectionist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), prepared by German trainer Andreas Wohler.

Goodwood specialist strikes again

Duke of Hazzard (Fr) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) returned to his favourite track and struck black-type gold on Saturday with victory in the G2 Celebration Mile at Goodwood. Duke of Hazzard had been unbeaten in two previous starts at the track, including the G3 Thoroughbred S., and on Saturday he kept that perfect record intact with another strong performance.

After tracking the leaders in third place, he was angled off the fence and drove past Turgenev (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) to win by three-quarters of a length.

“I spent all night on my tablet going through the form and working out how the race would pan out and I didn’t sleep very well,” admitted rider Rossa Ryan after securing the biggest success of his fledgling career.

“He dug deep for me and has concentrated a lot more since they put the headgear on.” Overall, the Paul Cole-trained 3-year-old now boasts a career record of 15 starts for five wins and five placings.

Three new stakes winners for Kingman

Second-season sire Kingman (GB) enjoyed a remarkable day in Europe on Saturday with three new black-type winners. Classy 2-year-old filly Boomer (GB) scored her second win from three starts in the G3 Prestige S. at Goodwood, while fellow 2-year-old Alligator Alley (GB) won the Listed Julia Graves Roses S. at York and 3-year-old Raakib Alhawa (Ire) won the Listed August S. at Windsor. A four-time Group 1-winning son of Invincible Spirit (Ire).

Kingman has now sired 67 winners from 121 runners overall. There have been 15 individual stakes winners, headed by Persian King (Ire) in the G1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains.

Camelot 4-year-old impresses

One-time Deutsches Derby contender Alounak (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) turned his form around with an impressive victory in the G3 Preis Der Sparkassen Finanzgruppe at Baden-Baden.

Dropping back to 2000m after finishing fifth in the 2400m Grosser Preis Von Berlin, Alounak stalked the front-running Be My Sheriff (Ger) (Lawman {Fr}) before nailing him right on the finish line. The winner of the Listed Derby Trial at Dusseldorf last April and runner-up in the G2 Prix Greffulhe, Alounak had gone winless in six starts this year before Saturday’s breakthrough. He has now had 12 starts for four wins and two placings.

Frankel’s brother sires Travers winner

Noble Mission (GB), the brother of champion Frankel (GB), sired his first Group/Grade 1 winner when Code Of Honor (USA) won Saturday’s Travers S. at Saratoga. The Shug McGaughey-trained Code Of Honor, who had previously won the G2 Fountain of Youth S. and was runner-up in the Kentucky Derby, stepped up to the big time with a dominant Travers performance.

Ridden by John Velazquez, the colt came from off the pace and rushed past the leaders in the straight, opening up an emphatic three-length margin over the placegetters Tacitus (USA) (Tapit {USA}) and Mucho Gusto (USA) (Mucho Macho Man {USA}).

“When I got him out to the clear, he responded right away, so I was very happy for him,” Velazquez said.

“Obviously, we've been looking for this kind of performance for a long time. He's a late foal, not really knowing what to do, even though he's run some really big races. He's never really put it together until today.”

Standing at Lane’s End in Kentucky, Noble Mission has sired 41 winners from 107 runners to date, with G3 Newmarket Bahrain Trophy winner Spanish Mission (USA) his other stakes winner.

Annals of Time breaks three-year drought

Almost three years on from his first Grade 1 victory in the 2016 Hollywood Derby, Annals of Time (USA) (Temple City {USA}) broke a long drought in Saturday’s G1 Sword Dancer S. at Saratoga. Ridden by Javier Castellano, the 6-year-old charged home from third-last to get the better of the 2017 Sword Dancer winner Sadler’s Joy (USA) (Kitten’s Joy {USA}).

It was the fifth win from just eight career starts for Annals of Time, whose career has been interrupted by injuries.

“It's been a real team effort,” trainer Chad Brown said.

“Nick de Meric down in Ocala picked him out as a baby, and every time he has gone to the sidelines, he's gone to rehab with him and his team."

“He sent him back to us, now as a 6-year-old, in fine shape. We finally have had an uninterrupted training schedule and campaign with him. I'm just so grateful to have him back healthy.”

Elate narrowly beaten again in Personal Ensign

A year after being pipped at the post by Abel Tasman (USA) (Quality Road {USA}) in a thrilling G1 Personal Ensign S., history repeated at Saratoga on Saturday for Elate (USA) (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}). In this year’s Personal Ensign, Elate was edged out by Midnight Bisou (USA) (Midnight Lute {USA}), who prevailed by a nose to extend her perfect 2019 record to five out of five.

"Two great mares hooked up at Saratoga in a Grade 1,” said winning trainer Steve Asmussen, who also won the G1 Forego S. with Mitole (USA) (Eskendereya {USA}).

“A beautiful day, a beautiful setting, and two great mares.”

For the second year in a row, Elate’s trainer Bill Mott was gracious in defeat.

“I don't see any big excuse right now,” he said. “It was a good race. One jump before the wire, we were a head in front. "

“Maybe we'll have to keep her in training another year and try again. But she ran great. Both the top two fillies ran great.”

The other Grade 1 winners at Saratoga were Come Dancing (USA) (Malibu Moon {USA}) in the Ballerina S. and Mind Control (USA) (Stay Thirsty {USA}) in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S.