After a pair of fast-closing seconds to start his belated 2024 campaign, More Than Looks scored a new career high in Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Del Mar.

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.

The Coronation (G1) and Commonwealth Cup (G1) were the feature events on Day 4 of Royal Ascot, but the Albany (G3) winner arguably stole the show.

International participation during Breeders’ Cup Friday has come up strong. Horses representing England, Ireland, France, and Japan are among the entries.

The only Breeders’ Cup Challenge event at Newmarket Saturday was the Royal Lodge (G2), but the day’s top-level juvenile prizes, the Middle Park (G1) and Cheveley Park (G1) for fillies, also have implications for “Future Stars Friday” at Santa Anita.

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.