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.

Three Breeders’ Cup Challenge events are on tap at Saturday’s kickoff of Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown.

Champion miler Palace Pier overcame a couple of different challenges to score a rare repeat in Sunday’s Prix Jacques le Marois (G1) at Deauville, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).

Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) shocker Order of Australia will try to earn a return ticket in Wednesday’s “Win and You’re In” Sussex S. (G1), but star sophomore Poetic Flare is the odds-on favorite at Glorious Goodwood.

The 2021 Royal Ascot meeting in England opened with a bang on Tuesday as Palace Pier, Oxted, and Poetic Flare posted Group 1 wins.

Royal Ascot’s glittering five-day stand begins Tuesday. Three Group 1s are on tap, beginning with the Queen Anne S. (G1) that serves as a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1), and a couple of American sprinters are taking on defending champ Battaash in the King’s Stand S. (G1).