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Big Rock ‘Fresh’ For QEII Next Month

Big Rock (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) has exited the G1 Prix du Moulin in good order and will aim for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. on QIPCO British Champions Day, according to trainer Christopher Head.

Successful in a listed race in March, the Yeguada Centurion homebred added the G3 Prix la Force and G3 Prix de Guiche in successive months. He has finished second in his last three races, all at Group 1 level–the Prix du Jockey Club, the Prix Jacques le Marois, and the Prix du Moulin, the latter most recently in September.

“He's doing fine, he came out of the Prix du Moulin very well and he's aiming for the Queen Elizabeth II S.,” Head said.

“He has done some very nice work and everything's all right. He's a horse that has needed a bit of time between races and I'm very happy to have had that kind of break between the Moulin at Longchamp and the Queen Elizabeth S.

“We have him back fresh and everything, so I think he will be more than interesting for his next race. Heavy ground is not a problem, whatever the ground does, it is not a problem for him.”

Head also revealed plans for Infinity Nine Horses' 'TDN Rising Star' Ramatuelle (Justify), who is a multiple group winner and ran second in the G1 Prix Morny last month.

“The owners have decided that she has had a very nice 2-year-old season and they want to have a 100% chance with her at three,” Head explained of the G3 Prix du Bois and G2 Prix Robert Papin heroine.

“They have decided not to run her again this season, she will be back next year in spring.”

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Jockey Edgard Zayas Taking It To Another Level At Gulfstream, Beyond

It is hardly a revelation that Edgard Zayas is a highly skilled jockey, but the 30-year-old journeyman has been taking it to another level at Gulfstream Park and beyond this fall.

Zayas has won at least one race in his first 10 days of riding during the Sunshine Meet that began Sept. 1, while enjoying seven multi-win programs. The popular South Florida-based rider, who has been winning races at a 33-percent strike rate at Gulfstream, has also taken a few days off to ride at Kentucky Downs and Presque Isle Downs with continued success.

“I'm feeling good. I'm getting on nice horses and getting good opportunities. So far, we've started off this meet really good and we've been going out of town and winning too,” said Zayas, who rode three winners on Sunday's program.

Saffie Joseph Jr., who has collected the last seven training titles at Gulfstream Park while making his presence felt in major stakes elsewhere in the U.S. and Canada on a frequent basis, has greatly contributed to Zayas's heightened success. In addition to riding first call for Joseph at Gulfstream, Zayas has gone on the road to guide the Joseph-trained Accomplished Girl for a victory in the $300,000 Presque Isle Masters (G2) last week, as well as scoring aboard Saratoga Flash for the leading trainer in the $500,000 National Thoroughbred League Handicap Sept. 3 at Kentucky Downs.

Zayas and up-and-coming trainer Jose D'Angelo have been teaming for victories at a nearly 40-percent strike rate, as well.

“I'm really blessed to have the opportunities I'm getting from Saffie and Jose D'Angelo and all the other trainers, especially Saffie,” Zayas said. “Hopefully, we can keep it rolling. It's been great.”

Zayas is hoping to continue to build momentum into the Gulfstream's Championship Meet that gets under way Dec. 1.

“Hopefully, we'll keep the horses and keep it rolling. That's really important going into the Championship Meet. I feel this meet is more important than the summer because it carries on into the Championship Meet,” said Zayas, who finished fifth during last year's prestigious winter meet. “Hopefully, we can pick up some horses and get off to a good start in the Championship Meet. From there, if people see you're winning they'll start riding you.”

Zayas ventured to South Florida directly in Fall 2012 directly from attending Puerto Rico's jockey school and went on to record more than 200 victories the following year, including a Grade 1 score aboard Starship Truffles in the Princess Rooney at Calder Race Course. He's won 200 races or more in a year four more times while securing several riding titles at both Gulfstream and Calder [Gulfstream Park West].

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Official Artwork for 40th Breeders’ Cup Released

Breeders' Cup Limited on Tuesday unveiled the official artwork of the 2023 Breeders' Cup World Championships, set to be held Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, CA.

The two pieces of art, created by world-renowned artist Quang Ho, will be on the cover of both the Friday and Saturday official track programs and on tickets.

“I went out for some racing last spring and got to walk about the racetrack, with the facility's beautiful turquoise color and the mountain range behind it,” Ho said. “I spent a couple of days there walking around and seeing the horses up close, which is how the paddock inspiration came about. Where the racing scene was concerned, I could have taken it from so many different angles, but that iconic look of the mountain range behind the racetrack was looming in every race I watched.”

A native of Hue, Vietnam, Ho immigrated to the United States in 1975 at age 12 He has been featured in many solo art exhibits around the world and in addition to teaching art, he has won a number of prestigious art awards.

“We are honored to feature Quang Ho as this year's official Breeders' Cup artist,” Justin McDonald, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Breeders' Cup Limited, said. “Quang's vivid images of one of the world's most renowned racetracks will give our fans treasured mementos of two days of world-class racing as we celebrate our 40th running.”

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No Royal Runner In The Melbourne Cup, As Desert Hero Ruled Out

Group 3 winner and Classic-placed Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who races for The King and The Queen, will not travel to Australia and contest the G1 Melbourne Cup in November. Instead, he will be given a break and will return as a 4-year-old.

Trained by William Haggas, the son of Desert Breeze (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) won the G3 Gordon S. in August and was third to Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster on Sept. 16.

John Warren, racing adviser to the King and Queen, said, “After giving it plenty of thought we have decided that Desert Hero won't head to the Melbourne Cup this year.

“It is obviously a world-class race and it was very tempting, but he is still a young horse and we will give him more time to mature.

“He will now have a good break and William will work out a plan for next year.”

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