The Curragh hosted day two of the Irish Champions Festival, highlighted by four Group 1s including a pair of Breeders’ Cup Challenge events.

Scratched from last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1), the brilliant Bradsell is on course to try again at Del Mar after landing Friday’s “Win and You’re In” Nunthorpe (G1) at York.

Closing day at Royal Ascot produced a bevy of surprising results, but none more stunning than the triumph of 73-1 longshot Khaadem in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee (G1).

Sprinting six furlongs doesn’t leave much time to recover from a poor start, but Shaquille made it work in the Commonwealth Cup (G1) at Royal Ascot.

A pair of winners on 2023 opening day made world-renowned trainer Aidan O’Brien the winningest trainer in Royal Ascot history.

Champions Day concluded with major upsets. Hitherto unbeaten Baaeed could muster only fourth in his finale, as Bay Bridge returned with a vengeance in the Champion, and Bayside Boy sprang a surprise in the Queen Elizabeth II.

In addition to Alpinista in the main event, British-trained horses captured two other Group 1s on Arc Day, and the French turned their own Group 1 triple in Breeders’ Cup Challenge races.

The hot favorite off her victory in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) (G1), Nashwa readily passed her first test versus older distaffers in Thursday’s Nassau (G1) at Glorious Goodwood.

Star power was on full display when the five-day Royal Ascot meeting opened in England on Tuesday. Baaeed and Nature Strip were among the first to shine.