Five-year-old gelding Al Muthan, at 80-1, came flying on the far outside to defeat previously unbeaten Charles Dickens by a neck in Saturday's R1.5-million L'Ormarins King's Plate (G1) going one mile at Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town.
With thevictory, Al Muthana, ridden by Bernard Fayd'herbe, earned an automatic berth into the $2-million FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) later this year at Santa Anita through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In.
One race prior to the King's Plate, Make It Snappy held off defending winner Captain's Ransom to capture the R1-million Cartier Paddock Stakes (G1) and earned a free berth into the $2-million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1).
Al Muthana, a son of Deep Field out of El Daana, by Redoute's Choice, trained by Ricky Maingard for a partnership, won his second Group 1 stakes race, and his eighth triumph in 18 starts. Al Muthana completed the mile in 1:38.22 over a course listed as good.
In the 1 1/8-mile Cartier Paddock Stakes, Hollywood Syndicate's 5-2 Make It Snappy, ridden by Luyolo Mxothwa, led wire to wire, defeating seven rivals, while holding off 4-5 favorite Captain's Ransom, the 2021-2022 Equus Horse of the Year, by a neck.
Trained by Brett Crawford, Make it Snappy, a 3-year-old daughter of Dynasty out of Icy Winter Air, by Western Winter, completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:52.07.
Make It Snappy won her fourth consecutive race and improved her record to four wins in five starts. In her previous start, she captured the Group 1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas at Kenilworth on Dec. 3.
Now in its 17th season, the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race in the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held at Santa Anita in Arcadia, California, on Nov. 3-4.
As a part of the benefits of the Challenge series, the Breeders' Cup will pay the pre-entry and entry fees for the winners of Saturday's races to start in the World Championships. Breeders' Cup will also provide a $40,000 travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the Championships. The Challenge winners must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 23 to receive the rewards.
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