Horse racing news: Seven Group 1s across three race days as World Pool returns to Ireland, Australia

World Pool will return to action this weekend, with 16 races across three fixtures from Ireland and Australia, including seven Group 1 races, set to be globally commingled.

Leopardstown, Curragh await action

In Ireland, World Pool will be in operation on Irish Champion Stakes day from Leopardstown on Saturday 13 September, where all nine races will be commingled, including the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes and Group 1 Matron Stakes, both of which feature in recent rankings of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities’ (IFHA) Top 100 races.

Last year, the Irish Champion Stakes was ranked the eighth best race in the world by the IFHA and saw UK raider Economics defeat Auguste Rodin with Japanese challenger Shin Emperor back in third.

Shin Emperor will once again add international flavour this year as the Yoshito Yahagi–trained colt returns for a second attempt at the race.

Economics’ win was named the World Pool Moment of the Day, with his groom taking home a cheque for €4,000, and this year a Moment of the Day will again be chosen from the nine races at Leopardstown.

World Pool customers from 26 countries will have access to the full card from Leopardstown, while the day will also include three races from Flemington in Melbourne on Makybe Diva Stakes day, featuring the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes, another inclusion in the IFHA’s Top 100 races in the last few years, along with the HKJC World Pool Bobbie Lewis Quality and Lexus Archer Stakes (Hotham Handicap).

Defending champion Mr Brightside will aim to become the first three-time winner in the race’s 77-year history, but he faces stiff opposition against top-class Chris Waller mares Via Sistina and Aeliana, Group 1 winners Antino and Tom Kitten, as well as Melbourne Cup contender Mark Twain.

Irish Champions weekend continues on Sunday 14 September, where four Group 1s on Irish St Leger day from the Curragh will be globally commingled.

These include the Irish St Leger – won last year by the Aidan O’Brien–trained superstar stayer Kyprios – Moyglare Stud Stakes, Flying Five Stakes, and the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes.

READ MORE: Horse racing news: Shrewd punter turns paltry 52p into nearly £12,000 by picking seven winners

Variety for the punter

Across the two race days from Leopardstown and the Curragh, competing jockeys will have the chance to score points, based on World Pool win odds, in the World Pool Jockeys’ Championship.

Oisin Murphy currently leads the championship on 151.15 points, followed by Kieran Shoemark (96.60) and Richard Kingscote (91.75), who has recently departed to join the riding ranks in Hong Kong.

World Pool customers betting on the Irish action from Leopardstown and the Curragh will have seven World Pool bet types to choose from – Win, Place, Quinella, Quinella Place (Swinger), Forecast (Exacta), Tierce (Trifecta), and Treble.

On Makybe Diva Stakes day from Australia, there will be five bet types on offer – Win, Place, Quinella, Quinella Place (Duet), and Tierce (Trifecta).

Sam Nati, head of commingling at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “Perhaps it’s a touch ironic that Via Sistina, the Irish-bred reigning Australian horse of the year, will headline the Group 1 at Flemington on the same day as the Champion Stakes at the Leopardstown.

“It highlights the symmetry of global racing and indeed World Pool’s objective to create not only a strong wagering product, but activation and engagement for racing fans everywhere.”

For the full World Pool fixtures up to December 2025, please visit here.

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