Delacroix and Scandinavia, two most promising stallion prospects for Ireland's Coolmore "lads," got key victory in this weekend' horse racing action.

Caitlinhergrtness returns to the all-weather and returns to form with a win in Saturday's Ontario Matron. Michael Burns photo, courtesy of Woodbine UPI Delacroix returns from pivotal win Saturday in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes. Photo by Racing Post, courtesy of Breeders' Cup UPI Notable Speech wins Breeders' Cup berth with victory in Saturday's Grade I Woodbine Mile. Photo by Michael Burns, courtesy of Woodbine UPI Spice Runner wins Saturday's Iroquois Stakes, the first race in the 2025-26 "Road to the Kentucky Derby" series. Photo by Shelly Radosevich, courtesy of Churchill Downs UPI

Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Ireland's Coolmore "lads" and trainer Aidan O'Brien had a special weekend with signal victories in both England and the Emerald Isle -- results that will echo in racing and breeding for years to come.

With several of those races serving as "Win and You're In" events for the Breeders' Cup, a victory by the Japanese Derby winner in France and a Group 1 "three-peat" in Australia, we'll start on the global front. But there's no shortage of North American doings.

Ireland

That massive sigh of relief that swept over northeast Ireland shortly after 5:30 p.m. Saturday came from the Coolmore "lads" and trainer Aidan O'Brien in response to the outcome of the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.

The connections had an amazing stake in the outcome as the winner, Delacroix, a Dubawi colt out of the late American champion mare Tepin, is the great hope for the future of their breeding operations.

To keep that hope at the boil, Delacroix had to win against a field that included Anmaat, who had not raced since finishing second in the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, and Japan's hope, Shin Emperor.

In the end, Delacroix jockey Christophe Soumillon got the job done. Taking the lead in the lane, Delacroix held off Anmaat by 3/4 length with Shin Emperor, finishing sixth of eight.

The victory earned a "Win and You're In" spot in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf, but O'Brien hinted Delacroix might be too valuable to risk another trip to the races.

...

The Group 1 Coolmore America "Justify" Matron Stakes, a "Win and You're In" for the Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, turned into a sprint to the finish between Wathnan Racing-owned Fallen Angel and Coolmore's Exactly. The outcome was in doubt until the final strides when Fallen Angel edged ahead to win by 1/2 length.

The Group 2 KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes was an all-O'Brien affair, with the Aidan O'Brien charge Benvenuto Cellini drawing away easily in the final furlong to win by 5 lengths, earning a "Win and You're In" spot in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Aidan's sons, Joseph Patrick and Donnacha, had the second-through-fourth finishers.

As the action shifted to The Curragh on Sunday, Coolmore's stock took a knock as Al Riffa emerged from the back of the field in the Group 1 Comer Group International Irish St. Leger and soldiered on to a 4-length victory over Amiloc. Coolmore's Illinois had enough with a half mile left in the 1 3/4-mile Classic and finished seventh.

The Coolmore "lads" were foiled again in the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National for 2-year-olds as Zavateri won a stretch battle with the favorite, the O'Brien-trained Gstaad, by a head. O'Brien also had the third and fourth placings with Italy and Dorset.

It wasn't a total wash. Earlier on the program, O'Brien saddled the first, second and fourth in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes for 2-year-old fillies, a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Precise took that ticket by 3/4 length over stablemate Beautify.

Arizona Blaze earned the day's second Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" event, the Group 1 Bar One Flying Five Stakes at 5 furlongs.

England

Coolmore and O'Brien notched another major accomplishment at Doncaster as Scandinavia won a tough stretch battle with Rahiebb in the Group 1 Betfred St Leger, scoring by a neck.

Coolmore also was third and fourth with Stay True and dual Derby winner Lambourn. While Scandinavia looks to be a contender for the big British staying races next year, O'Brien said the Justify colt is entered in the Melbourne Cup and there's "every chance" he might take a swing at that.

...

France

Across the Channel, Japanese Derby winner Croix du Nord got a perfect run, albeit behind a slow early pace, in Sunday's Group 3 Prix du Prince d'Orange at Longchamp, took the lead at mid-stretch and just did survive a late effort by Daryz, carrying the late Aga Khan's green silks.

Croix du Nord, a Kitasan Black colt, won for the fourth time in five starts. Japan, after decades of trying, still seeks its first win in the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Croix du Nord now is among the favorites to end that vexing hoodoo.

Australia

Mr Brightside was allowed to get away with a dawdling pace on the lead in Saturday's Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington. Then, when the running started with about 400 meters left in the 1,600-meter race, he had plenty left and ran home first by 1 1/2 lengths over Aeliana, with the favorite, Via Sistina, relegated to third.

It was a third straight win in the Makybe Diva for the 8-year-old, partnered on each occasion by Craig Williams.

Meanwhile, back in North America ...

Turf Mile

Notable Speech overcame a troubled start to win Saturday's $1 million Grade I Rogers Woodbine Mile by 1 3/4 lengths, earning a "Win and You're In" spot in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar.

The 4-year-old Dubawi colt will be the third Godolphin runner in four years to go from a Woodbine win to a shot at the Breeders' Cup. The last two, Modern Games in 2022 and Master of the Seas in 2023, converted that double.

Notable Speech scored his first win of the season, and jockey William Buick and assistant trainer Alex Merriam said he's as good as he was last year when he won the English 2,000 Guineas and finished third, 3/4-length back, in the Breeders' Cup.

The rest, as briefly as possible:

Filly & Mare Turf

Whiskey Decision won Sunday's $150,000 Athenia Stakes at Aqueduct by 1 1/2 lengths over Edict. No Show Sammy took Saturday's $100,000 All Along Stakes at Laurel Park by a nose.

...

Turf Sprint

Luna Louska won Saturday's $150,000 Floral Park Stakes for fillies and mares at Aqueduct by 1 3/4 lengths over Love Appeals. Had to Have Him took Saturday's $100,000 Laurel Dash by 2 lengths. Toupie was best in Saturday's $100,000 Sensible Lady Turf Dash for distaffers at Laurel Park.

Distaff

Royal Spa won Saturday's $400,000 Grade II Fasig-Tipton Locust Grove Stakes at Churchill Downs by 1 1/4 lengths over Alpine Princess. Caitlinhergrtness, the 2024 King's Plate winner, returned to the all-weather for an impressive victory in Saturday's $150,000 (Canadian) Grade III Ontario Matron.

Sprint

Bentornato, making his first start since finishing second in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Sprint, won Saturday's $300,000 Louisville Thoroughbred Society at Churchill Downs. Simcoe landed Saturday's $180,000 (Canadian) Grade III Branded Cities Vigil Stakes at Woodbine.

Filly & Mare Sprint

Positano Sunset won Saturday's $300,000 Open Mind Stakes at Churchill Downs by a neck.

Juvenile

Spice Runner, second to Comport in their last start at Ellis Park going 7 furlongs, turned the tables in Saturday's $300,000 Grade III Iroquois at Churchill Downs, winning by a head over that rival. The race was the first in the 2025-26 "Road to the Kentucky Derby."

Juvenile Turf

Argos got to the lead with a wide stretch move in Saturday's $500,000 (Canadian) Grade I Summer Stakes at Woodbine and held off Godolphin raider Wild Desert by a head. The race was a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Juvenile Fillies

Taken by the Wind won Saturday's $300,000 Grade III Pocahontas at Churchill Downs by 5 1/4 lengths and remains undefeated after two starts.

Juvenile Fillies Turf

Corsia Veloce earned a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" spot with a victory in Saturday's $500,000 (Canadian) Grade I Johnny Walker Natalma Stakes at Woodbine.