Godolphin's Micheline, runner-up in the 2020 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana, is coming to Keeneland for another try over the turf course. The 4-year-old daughter of Bernardini out of 2007 Juddmonte Spinster (G1) winner Panty Raid is among the 10 fillies and mares entered for Sunday's $150,000 Rood & Riddle Dowager (G3).
Once again Micheline will have her special accommodations – a traveling stall of wood-lined farm gates with a fitted tarp for a ceiling – that is set up outside trainer Mike Stidham's barn. During her early training in Florida, Micheline was so claustrophobic that she was turned out in a paddock instead of residing in the barn. Before she relocated to Stidham's base at Fair Hill training center in Maryland, an outdoor stall was built.
“Whenever she leaves Fair Hill, her portable stall goes with her,” Stidham said. “She is happy and comfortable in that.”
The unique stabling is undeniably a success as Micheline has won five of 17 starts and earned $680,103. Except for her unplaced effort in Keeneland's Darley Alcibiades (G1) in 2019, Micheline has raced exclusively on turf.
In addition to being picky about her stabling, Micheline prefers a specific grass footing that is not too soft. In her most recent effort, she was a close sixth in the Kentucky Downs Ladies Marathon (L) last month but encountered slight interference in the race that compromised her chances.
“It all has to do with the race track,” Stidham said. “As long as the grass is firm, she will run her 'A' race. She tried to do that at Kentucky Downs but everywhere she went through the stretch, she got stopped and had nowhere to go. And she only got beat a couple of lengths.”
Florent Geroux, who rode her in the Queen Elizabeth II Presented by Dixiana, is back on board from post position six in the Rood & Riddle Dowager.
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