The Clipper Logistics Group-owned 5-year-old mare Romantic Proposal (IRE) ran out a surprise winner of the Group 1 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes at The Curragh in County Kildare, Ireland, and earned an automatic berth into the $1 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.
In the second “Win and You're In” race on the card, the Jessica Harrington-trained Discoveries (IRE) secured an automatic entry into the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf with a victory in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, over 7 furlongs.
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 of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6.
The Eddie Lynam-trained Romantic Proposal (IRE) was sent off a 16-1 outsider for the G1 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes, having finished third in the Group 2 Paddy Power Sapphire Stakes over course and distance on her most recent start.
Ridden by Chris Hayes, Romantic Proposal (IRE) came with a strong late run to beat the Ado McGuinness-trained A Case Of You (IRE) by a half-length into second, with last year's winner and reigning Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint champion Glass Slippers (GB) in third, losing the place spot in the final yards. Dragon Symbol (GB), the 5-2 favorite, finished fourth.
Winning trainer Lynam, who enjoyed Group 1 success with top sprinters Sole Power (GB) and Slade Power (IRE) said: “She'd been progressive. We ran her over a mile first time out and she was placed, then we dropped her back to seven furlongs and she's just kept improving. I always believed the filly was capable of running a big race and she's done everything great. I think it's six years since I've had a Group 1 winner and it's nice to have another one.”
A daughter of Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Raven's Pass (USA) out of the Diktat (GB) mare Playwithmyheart (GB), Romantic Proposal (IRE) completed the 5 furlongs in a time of :59.77 on a course rated as good.
Discoveries Delivers in Moyglare Stud Stakes
Niarchos Family's 2-year-old filly Discoveries (IRE) stormed to success in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes to gain an automatic entry for the $1 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Trained by Jessica Harrington and ridden by Shane Foley, who teamed up to win the Group 1 Coolmore America “Justify” Matron Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday, Discoveries (IRE) was third behind Agartha (IRE) and Sunset Shiraz (IRE) in the Group 2 Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes in her last start. The same three fillies fought out the finish today, with Discoveries (IRE) staying on best of all to win by three-quarters of a length, with Agartha coming in second and Sunset Shiraz finishing third. A daughter of Mastercraftsman (IRE) out of the Rahy (USA) mare Alpha Lupi (IRE), Discoveries (IRE) completed the contest in 1:27.10.
Winning trainer Harrington said: “This filly was green first time she ran and then she won her maiden. We hoped she'd win the Alpha Centauri Debutante, but the ground came up soft that day and she goes on top of the ground.”
A full sister to Group 1-winning miler Alpha Centauri (IRE) and a half-sister to Group 1 winning-miler Alpine Star (IRE), Discoveries (IRE) will step up to that distance according to her trainer, though no immediate targets have been decided. Harrington said, “We think she'll improve again, but today is the day. She'll get a mile no doubt.”
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for both Romantic Proposal and Discoveries to start at Del Mar. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance of $40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.
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