BELMONT Park saw the only Grade 1 action in the US last weekend and the European-raced Magic Attitude set down a marker on her American debut, winning the Grade 1 Belmont Invitational Oaks.

The race was the opening leg of the New York Racing Association’s Turf Tiara series for three-year-old fillies when it was launched last year but only the original second leg, the Saratoga Oaks has also been run this year due to the pandemic.

The Lael Stables-owned filly moved to trainer Arnaud Delacour’s barn in late July, from Fabrice Chappet in France for whom she had last finished fifth behind Fancy Blue in the Group 1 Prix de Diane and earlier won the Group 3 Prix Vanteaux.

Efforts to get the filly to relax more paid a dividend, but she may just be of better ability than those she was up against here.

The filly is superbly bred being a daughter of Galileo and out of the Nunthorpe Stakes winner Margot Did.

Magic Attitude raced in last place in the field of five and turning for home, she showed a good turn of foot under jockey Javier Castellano to catch the Godolphin filly Antoinette a furlong out and pulled away for a two-and-a-quarter-length victory in the 10-furlong turf race for three-year-old fillies.

Antoinette was over two lengths clear of third-place finisher Neige Blanche.

“It is what she showed in France, a great turn of foot, not especially a long turn of foot. Javier did a great job and he felt confident about knowing the filly and knowing how to ride her. I’m glad it worked out,” Delacour said.

“One race at a time. The Queen Elizabeth (in Keeneland) is in 21 days and might be coming back too quick. We’ll let her tell us,” he added.

THE Belmont Stakes winner Tiz The Law will not run in next week’s Preakness Stakes, owners Sackatoga Stable’s manager Jack Knowlton said this week that after conferring with trainer Barclay Tagg and assistant Robin Smullen.

Tiz The Law will now train up to the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 7th in Keeneland.

“You have to listen to your horse. We didn’t feel we would have him 100% ready for the Preakness, so we decided to train up to the Breeders’ Cup. We know he runs very well off long layoffs so that’s the decision we made.

Tiz The Law has not worked since the Kentucky Derby loss at Churchill Downs.

Knowlton said the colt will be shipped to Keeneland early so that he can put in a work over the track in Lexington before the Classic.

Italy

Intense Party

THERE was group-race action in Italy last weekend and the Group 3 Premio Elena e Sergio Cumani for fillies and mares went to the Endo Botti-trained Irish-bred Party Goer, a daughter of Intense Focus.

The Group 2 Premio Federico Tesio over 10 furlongs saw Stex overcome the favourite, Royal Julius, by a length and a half. The four-year-old filly is listed as Irish-bred, by Lord Of England and bred by Gunther Barth, and was winning her third race in a row in taking the over €60,000-to-the-winner prize for trainer Roland Dzubasz.

The other Group 3 on the San Siro card was the Premio del Piazzale - Memorial Enrico Camici and it went to Potemkin, a son of New Approach.

Germany

THE Group 3 Deutsches St Leger took place last weekend in Dortmund and it was won by Quian, a four-year-old German-bred son of Mastercraftsman trained by Peter Schiergen.

Winning by two lengths, the grey, who had been down the field in the Group 3 Prix Gladiateur last time out behind Called To The Bar, took the one-mile-and-six-furlong contest from the favourite, Sommelier, for winning jockey Lukas Delozier.

Hong Kong

JOAO Moreira stole the limelight with a stunning six-timer at the opening Hong Kong meeting of the season last Sunday.

The official attendance at Sha Tin was 2,636 as the day’s action was the first opportunity for Hong Kong punters to enjoy a day at the races since the coronavirus outbreak earlier this year.

Moreira wasted little time, winning aboard 7/4 favourite Skyey Supreme in the second race before doubling up in the following contest.

Races six and seven went his way before The Rock then motored home under Moreira to complete the five-timer in race eight before Excellent Proposal, one of Hong Kong’s most exciting four-year-olds, won his first start at a mile to make it six.

“I just hope that I can keep it up – it’s not going to be an easy season. It’s just the beginning of the season – I want to concentrate on these good horses.

“Hopefully I am on board some nice ones when we get closer to December,” Moreira said.

Former UK-based Irish jockey Neil Callan secured his first win for season 2020/21 aboard the Ricky Yiu-trained Excellent Chariot.