The 2017 Cheltenham Festival is one that will live long in the memories of the Irish contingent who descended upon Prestbury Park last week. Irish dominance was reflected in the 19-9 Betbright Cup victory over their British counterparts, including success for the County Kildare trainer Jessica Harrington with Sizing John in the week’s showpiece on Friday.

On the international scene, there was an equally dominant display at Fairview on Friday in the East Cape Sprint Cup. Trainer Tara Laing sent three runners to her local track in Port Elizabeth for the Listed affair, taking on six further competitors. With none of her three runners occupying favouritism, nor second favouritism in the market, Tara would have been hoping for one of her runners to upset the odds and land the winning prize in the R150,000 valued race. The result however was far better than what Tara may have anticipated. The three stablemates, all running for the same owner, came home first, second and third. It was the least fancied Normanz who seized victory by over a length, leading for most of the race from Tar Heel, who in turn finished two lengths up on the fast finishing Sir Duke.

Mayfair Speculators, the owners of the three aforementioned runners at Fairview, were again in the places the following day at Turffontein for the feature race of the day, the Listed Drum Star Handicap. Their six-year-old gelding, Master Switch, got up on the line to snatch an unlikely looking third. Victory went to the 40/1 outsider, The Elmo Effect, off bottom weight, who found another gear entering the final two furlongs to see off the well fancied Arctica by nearly a length. A drop in trip did the trick for The Elmo Effect, who had previously been contesting races over a few furlongs further.

A few hours earlier, in Australia, the world’s highest rated mare was once again making headlines. Winx brushed aside her opposition in the China Horse Club George Ryder over seven and a half furlongs. The highly impressive five-year-old has now racked up 16 consecutive victories, and 11 Group 1’s. The European options are still very much on the table for the mighty mare.

Although Winx was the day’s star performer, the feature race of the day at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney was the Longines Golden Slipper, a Group 1 event which offers AU$3.5million in prize money. 16 runners went to post in what appeared to be an open contest of two-year-old Australian colts and fillies. Top British jockeys Ryan Moore and William Buick were drafted in for rides in the race, however neither threatened the places. The aptly named filly, She Will Reign, was a very impressive winner in the hands of Ben Melham, victorious by over two lengths. Fillies Frolic and Tulip occupied the places, following a placings reversal between the third and fourth finishers. The Golden Slipper is the world’s most valuable race two-year-olds race and it’s only natural to now expect future successes from the incredibly fast finishing She Will Reign. Highlights of the event will be broadcast in Eurosport’s Horse Excellence show.

Plenty more international action is on offer this week, with HBA delivering racing from South Africa, Japan, Singapore and the USA. This Saturday sees the finale of the Dubai World Cup Carnival. Across the nine races, 13 countries are represented by equine stars, all competing for a share of the US$30million in prize money on offer. The world’s best horse, Arrogate, is a very strong favourite for the day’s showpiece, the US$10million Dubai World Cup. After consecutive successes in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Pegasus World Cup Invitational, this race may seem like somewhat of a formality to the Juddmonte star without California Chrome in opposition.