The second half of the year promises to be a cracker for horse racing fans, with the calendar packed with a host of exciting top-class events.
The Glorious Goodwood meeting is one of the highlights of the summer in the United Kingdom, while the St Leger at Doncaster is a standout race during autumn.
Looking further afield, Australia hosts one the biggest races of the year in November, and punters looking to bet on horse racing would do well to follow the Melbourne Cup odds in the run-up to the event.
Read on as we look at some of the biggest races scheduled to take place over the next few months and pick out the horses to follow in each one.
Love – King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes – Ascot
Love returned from a 300-day absence to win the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and looks a good bet to follow up in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes during July.
The Galileo filly won the 1,000 Guineas, the Oaks and the Yorkshire Oaks last term, before soft ground forced her to be pulled out of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
The four-year-old probably wasn’t fully fit at Royal Ascot, but still produced a gritty front-running display to fend off the opposition.
Aidan O’Brien’s horses generally improve for their first run of the season and Love is fully expected to run out a comfortable winner on her next outing.
Palace Pier – Sussex Stakes – Goodwood
The Sussex Stakes will bring together the best two milers in Europe, with Palace Pier and Poetic Flare set to go head-to-head at Goodwood.
Palace Pier has won the Lockinge Stakes and Queen Anne Stakes this season to cement his status at the head of the one-mile rankings.
John and Thady Gosden’s charge will face a tough opponent in Poetic Flare, who was an impressive winner of the St James’ Palace Stakes.
However, Palace Pier looks a class apart and is a banker bet to send the Jim Bolger trained horse back to Ireland with his tail between his legs.
Wordsworth – St Leger – Doncaster
Wordsworth has progressed steadily this season, running two promising races in Ireland before stepping up in class in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot.
He finished second behind Kemari that day, and was subsequently an unlucky third place finisher behind Hurricane Lane in the Irish Derby.
Wordsworth was badly hampered under two furlongs out, before rallying in the final furlong to close the gap on the front two.
Stepping back up in trip, this brother to 2018 St Leger winner Kew Gardens looks primed to run a huge race at Doncaster.
Kemari – Melbourne Cup – Flemington
Trainer Charlie Appleby put the Melbourne Cup in his sights following Kemari’s impressive victory over Wordsworth at Royal Ascot.
Appleby has likened the three-year-old to his 2018 Melbourne Cup winner Cross Counter, which is a massive pointer towards his chances.
Kemari was bred by Luca and Sara Cumani, and the family are desperate to win the prestigious race after several near misses.
Jockey William Buick hinted after their Queen’s Vase success that the Melbourne Cup is on the agenda, and Kemari is well worth monitoring over the coming months.
Michael specializes in journalism, digital content production and social media management. He has a passion for numerous sports including football, horse racing and ice hockey. Michael currently works on a freelance basis, producing daily content for various outlets within the sports industry.
