Did you know: Road to Kentucky Derby veterans win in Europe, Japan

May 18, 2026 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Satono Voyage wins the Cattleya S. at Tokyo

Satono Voyage kicked off the Japan Road with a popular victory in the Cattleya S. (Photo by Tomoya Moriuchi/Horsephotos.com)

While the international avenues to the Kentucky Derby (G1), the Euro/Mideast Road and Japan Road, offer select invitations to Churchill Downs, their respective scoring races have significance far beyond the Run for the Roses.

Indeed, veterans of the Euro/Mideast and Japan Roads are worth following on their home circuits. Horses that we saw in last fall’s points races have recently added to their resumes, including a pair of English and French classic winners.

Unbeaten Bow Echo takes 2000 Guineas (G1)

Last seen landing the Sept. 27 Royal Lodge (G2), the Euro/Mideast Road opener, Bow Echo extended his unbeaten streak in the 2000 Guineas (G1) on May 2 at Newmarket. That first British classic of the season, often held on the first Saturday in May, was his target all along.

Like the Royal Lodge, the Guineas is contested over Newmarket’s “Rowley Mile.” The straight course gets its nickname from the 17th-century horse Old Rowley, the beloved favorite of King Charles II (who reigned from 1660-85).

Bow Echo blitzed up the stands’ side to defeat Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) hero Gstaad, with an eight-length gap to third. Trained by George Boughey and ridden by young Billy Loughnane, an emerging superstar in the jockey ranks, Bow Echo is pointing for the June 16 St James’s Palace (G1) at Royal Ascot.

Note that a few other Royal Lodge alumni have made their presence felt, including Ancient Egypt, who sustained his only loss when a subpar seventh that day. The son of unbeaten phenom Frankel recently returned triumphant in the May 1 Newmarket S. for trainer Charlie Johnston, stamping himself as a candidate for the June 6 Epsom Derby (G1).

Hawk Mountain wins Prix de Guiche (G3)

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Hawk Mountain won two Euro/Mideast Road events last season, the Sept. 27 Beresford (G2) at the Curragh and the Oct. 25 Futurity Trophy (G1) at Doncaster. Picking up right where he left off, he scored another front-running victory in the May 4 Prix de Guiche (G3) at Chantilly.

Hawk Mountain resurfaced in that spot because it is a stepping stone to the “French Derby,” the Prix du Jockey Club (G1), on May 31. He’s now gained experience over the Chantilly course, famous for its backdrop of the historic chateau.

Benvenuto Cellini strengthens Epsom Derby favoritism at Chester

Another O’Brien trainee, Benvenuto Cellini, was favored over Hawk Mountain in the Futurity Trophy, but the heavy going blunted his acceleration, and he ended up third. Back in much better conditions in the May 6 Chester Vase (G3), Benvenuto Cellini dominated by 4 1/4 lengths.

By Frankel and out of the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) winner Newspaperofrecord, the chestnut with the rakish blaze confirmed his early favoritism for the Epsom Derby. He was part of a banner week for O’Brien at Chester, the world’s oldest operating racecourse dating back to the mid-16th century, in a town still girded by its ancient Roman walls.

Note that stablemate Action, who placed in last year’s Futurity Trophy and Royal Lodge, just finished second in another major classic trial, the May 14 Dante (G2) at York. The Dante winner, Juddmonte’s Item, was entered in the Futurity Trophy but scratched due to the heavy ground.

Rayif turns tables on Puerto Rico in French classic

O’Brien’s Puerto Rico won the Oct. 5 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1), the Euro/Mideast Road event staged in France, leaving favored Rayif back in third. But the tables were turned in their rematch in the first French classic of the season, the May 10 Poule d’Essai des Poulains (G1), back at ParisLongchamp.

An Aga Khan Studs homebred trained by Francis-Henri Graffard, Rayif drove to a one-length decision in a bunched-up finish for the minor awards. Puerto Rico was a close fourth, just edged in a three-way tussle for second. Both are penciled in for the St James’s Palace, and a clash with the top two from Newmarket’s Guineas, Bow Echo and Gstaad.

Satono Voyage rebounds in Hyogo Championship

The winner of the Japan Road opener, Satono Voyage, recently regained winning form at Sonoda.

The son of leading sire Into Mischief captured the Nov. 29 Cattleya S. at Tokyo, but connections suspected that 1600 meters (a “metric mile”) was his limit. The stamina doubt was reinforced when Satono Voyage switched to the Euro/Mideast Road for the Feb. 14 Saudi Derby (G3). Although it was also a 1600-meter event like the Cattleya, the long stretch at King Abdulaziz Racecourse made it a sterner test, and Satono Voyage didn’t quite stay the trip in third.

Freshened for his Japanese homecoming, Satono Voyage reverted to 1400 meters (about seven furlongs) for the May 6 Hyogo Championship. He justified favoritism, if only by a half-length. Watch Satono Voyage (no. 1) rally just outside of the filly Tokai Ma Cherie (no. 9). She was also racing for the first time since the Saudi Derby, where she finished 12th.

Satono Voyage’s success was a harbinger for the Saudi Derby runner-up, the Steve Asmussen-trained Obliteration, who made a winning comeback in the Chick Lang S. on Preakness Day.

Don Erectus wins at Tokyo

Don Erectus was runner-up in three Japan Road races – the Cattleya to Satono Voyage, the Hyacinth S., and the Fukuryu S. finale to Danon Bourbon, who advanced to the Kentucky Derby and finished an admirable fifth.

One week after Danon Bourbon’s bold bid at Churchill Downs, Don Erectus won over a metric mile at Tokyo. His May 9 victory came in an open allowance for three-year-olds, where he stalked and pounced by 3 1/2 lengths.

Another Fukuryu alum, fourth-placer Itterasshai, had already wheeled back to dominate an allowance over the same Nakayama track and about 1 1/8-mile trip April 19.

Don Erectus technically topped the Japan Road leaderboard, collecting 40 points like Fukuryu hero Danon Bourbon but winning the tiebreak by earnings. When the connections of Don Erectus did not want to pursue a U.S. campaign, the Japan Road invitation went to Danon Bourbon.

While Don Erectus and Satono Voyage are expected to race later in the summer, Danon Bourbon has unfortunately been sidelined by injury. He was diagnosed with a knee chip coming out of the Derby and underwent surgery back home in Japan. We’ll look forward to his return to action in 2027!

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