The Breeders Cup Meeting in November is the biggest, and most exciting event of the year for some horse racing enthusiasts. With fourteen Grade 1 races spread out over Friday and Saturday, attracting the cream of the crop from all over the world, one can see why this would be the case. Traditionally, it can be a rewarding hunting ground for European Turf horses. We have always had an advantage over our US counterparts, who have more success on Dirt. This year, there was a lot of anger and disappointment for connections of many European entries due to the overly stringent pre-race veterinary examinations. The Jessica Harrington trained 2 year old Givemethebeatboys, who was a general 10-1 for Friday’s Juvenile Turf, had been declared lame by the local vets after undergoing a soundness examination while trotting over a series of pads and onto a sandy area. His trainer expressed her shock, anger and dismay, in a very professional manner, when revealing her disagreement with the decision. The Irish trainer drew attention to the uneven surface the horses were being examined on. The Aidan O’Brien trained pair River Tiber, and Bolshoi Ballet were also withdrawn by the vets, bringing the total to 16 over the two days. Hopefully an even trotting surface can be set up that suits all parties in time for next year.
The going on the Turf for this year’s 40th Breeders’ Cup Meeting was described as Firm on Friday, and the meeting has grown to unprecedented levels since Chief’s Crown won the inaugural race in 1984 (at the now defunct Hollywood Park).
It was a remarkable weekend for European trained horses with five of the seven Grade 1 Turf races going their way. The star performance of the weekend was put up by the John & Thady Gosden trained Inspiral on Saturday, when she recorded the fastest final two furlongs of the entire meeting on Turf. Total Performance Data have the superstar filly recording a final two furlongs of (21.99) seconds, over the 10 furlong trip under Frankie Dettori, while taking the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Grade 1 Turf for 3 year olds and over. The Aidan O’Brien trained Warm Heart appeared to have the race in safe keeping as she was driven into the lead inside the final furlong, before the daughter of Frankel found a devastating turn of foot to snatch the prize near the line. The combination of the step up in distance from a mile, faster surface and her tendency to exit slowly from the stalls, looked to be against her before the race. However, the way she finished off her race really opened up the possibilty of new opportunities for her next season, if connections decide to keep her in training.
The meeting started perfectly on Friday night for the European brigade when the Mick Appleby trained Big Evs landed the opening Grade 1 on the Turf under Tom Marquand. The son of Blue Point came home 1/2 length in front of the the Adrian Murray trained Valiant Force, while the Ralph Beckett trained Starlust filled the third spot, completing a European 1-2-3. It was Mick’s first Breeders’ Cup runner, who is more known for his winners on sand in the UK. It was a great example of how a small stable, with the right horse, can take on the best in the world. The Aidan O’Brien trained Unquestionable took the Grade 1 Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf for 2 year old colts and geldings over the mile under jockey Ryan Moore by 1 1/2 lengths from stablemate Mountain Bear. The Ballydoyle stable jockey was able to take the mount aboard the 6/4 favourite following the withdrawal of River Tiber. The son of Wootton Basset appreciated the step up to a mile, and was following up a fine second place finish behind impressive Lagardere winner Rosallion, and looks the type for next year’s French Guineas.
The Charlie Appleby trained 5 year old gelding Master Of The Seas overcame a wide draw in stall (13) when powering down the outside of the track to collar the Oisin Murphy ridden Mawj, right on the line. The decent early pace set by Win Carnelian proved just enough for William Buick’s mount to display his superiority over this field, which contained quite a few fillies and mares at the top of the market. The son of Dubawi posted an excellent final 2 furlong TPD time of (22.25). A trip to Gulfstream Park for the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational on January 27th could be next on the cards.
The general view before the $4 million Grade 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf over 12 furlongs was that this was one of the greatest fields ever assembled in the history of the race. The argument was that 5 of the top 28 horses in the world, according to the Longines World Best Racehorse Rankings (Mostahdaf, Auguste Rodin, Onesto, King Of Steel and Up To The Mark) were taking each other on. In the end, the race failed to live up to the hype, and demonstrated how race conditions on the day regularly outweigh most rigid handicap rating systems. Handicap rating system enthusiasts were adamant that Mostahdaf’s world handicap rating of (128) made him a superior horse to Auguste Rodin’s rating of (124). Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see the real Mostahdaf on Saturday night over a distance which has proven beyond his best in the past. In the end, it was the Aidan O’Brien trained 3yo Auguste Rodin who proved himself the most adaptable over middle distances, while recording his fifth career Group 1 victory by 3/4 length from the Todd Pletcher trained Up To The Mark. A deeper look into the race, beforehand, showed that the son of Deep Impact’s rivals had the most question marks to answer regarding Saturday’s conditions. The race itself proved a messy affair with a slow early pace being set by US trained Balladeer, resulting in many of the field racing keenly, including Mostahdaf and Auguste Rodin. From an early stage of the race, it looked like position was going to play a key role in the result. Backers of the favourite must have been worried with Ryan Moore’s position towards the rear of midfield. As the pace quickened over 2 furlongs out, however, the opposition spread out perfectly in front of Auguste Rodin. Ryan Moore decided to ride his mount for luck up the inside rail. The deciding factor in the race was the beautiful balance of the Ballydoyle colt, who travelled around the home turn with the grace of a ballet dancer. The majority of his opposition floundered, finding it too sharp. As soon as Balladeer came a single horse width off the rail, the Epsom Derby winner shot up his inside, and the race was all but over. It would appear unlikely that the 3yo colt will race again next season.
As always, with the BHA Official Formbook speed figures scale which I use, (117) represents Group 1 Par, and each step down the class ladder represents a drop of 2 points (equalling 2 lengths per mile). I will insert the speed figure after the horse’s name. On the European front, the David Loughnane trained filly Sparks Fly (122) proved the Staroftheclock of the entire week on Monday at Saint Cloud. It was a remarkable performance from the extremely likeable 3 year old. Laura Pearson’s mount took the Listed Prix Isola Bella for 3 year old and older Fillies and Mares over the mile by an outrageous 12 lengths on deteriorating Heavy ground. Laura made all aboard the 12/5 favourite, and she has been on board for her last six wins. It was the daughter of Muhaarar’s eighth victory of the season, and her performance marks her down as a Group 1 filly on the clock when encountering this type of ground. It has been an unbelievable rise in the rankings for owners Dave and Janet Lowe who have seen her handicap mark increase 43lbs from (59) to her current mark of (102). It would be another superb achievement if she could be successful in Group races going forward.
Newmarket staged a two day card on Friday and Saturday with ground conditions described as Heavy. The Group 3 Betfred St Simon Stakes over 12 furlongs on Friday was transferred from Newbury’s abandoned fixture the previous weekend. The William Haggas trained Hamish (111) took his record for the year to 4-4, all in Group 3 company, with a smooth 1 3/4 length victory over Al Qareem. The 7 year old gelding has proven remarkably consistent at his level, when conditions are right, despite training difficulties over the years. Romantic Style (110) took the Listed “Bosra Sham” Stakes for 2 year old fillies over 6 furlongs by 1 3/4 lengths from Adaay In Devon, and is improving nicely heading into next season. Saturday’s Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes over 7 furlongs for 2 year old colts and geldings was another race transferred from Newbury. The John & Thady Gosden trained Orne (93) took what appeared a weak looking event by 1 1/4 lengths from Witness Stand. The father and son training combination were also responsible for Regal Jubilee (111) continuing her progress up the ranks, when taking the Listed Montrose Stakes over the mile for 2 year old fillies by 2 lengths from Je Zous. The Cheveley Park owned filly can now be aimed at loftier targets in 2024.
My second favourite winner of the week (after Sparks Fly) was the James Fanshawe trained Willem Twee (111) who posted a career best effort on the clock, when taking a Class 3 Handicap at Kempton by 1 1/4 lengths from Gisburn. The likeable 4 year old has now won 4 of his last 7 races, and there should be more to come from him going forward.
Until the next instalment,
Stay Lucky,
Graham