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

The William Haggas-trained Economics added to his burgeoning profile by dethroning Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champion (G1), one of three Breeders’ Cup Challenge races at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Day 3 of racing at Royal Ascot in England saw a changing of the guard in the 2 1/2-mile Gold Cup (G1).

The Rockfel S. (G2) was the “Win and You’re In” at Newmarket Friday, but the Joel S. (G2) could also have Breeders’ Cup implications after Godolphin veteran Benbatl set a new course record.

The upsets kept coming on day two of Irish Champions Weekend at the Curragh, including both of Sunday’s Breeders’ Cup Challenge events.

Odds-on favorite St Mark’s Basilica survived an inquiry in the Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Irish Champion (G1), but otherwise upsets were the order of the day at Leopardstown.