The French-bred mare Audarya (11-1) upset heavy American favorite Rushing Fall (5-2) to win Saturday's Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf by a neck, providing the second European victory of the 2020 World Championships. The 4-year-old daughter of Wootton Bassett set a course record of 1:52.72 for 1 3/8 miles over Keeneland's “good” turf course, eclipsing the previous record of 1:53.01 set on July 11, 2020 by Speedy Solution.
It was the first Breeders' Cup entrant for ecstatic trainer James Fanshawe, the former assistant to stalwart Sir Michael Stoute. He'd traveled to the Breeders' Cup once before with Stoute, in 1986.
“First of all thanks to all the team at home,” Fanshawe said. “The (traveling crew) has looked after her superbly since she's been here. She's done everything right since she's been here. I just can't believe it, some race to win. I'm just so thrilled. PC gave her a superb ride. Breeders Cup has looked after us amazingly.”
Owner Allison Swinburn was unable to attend the race, but Fanshawe said she'd be celebrating at home.
Audarya was ridden to victory by Pierre-Charles Boudot, taking the place of regular rider Ioritz Mendizabaz, who was unable to compete due to not passing a test for COVID-19. It was also Boudot's first win in the Breeders' Cup.
“She did it well and she was very courageous,” said Boudot, who shares an agent with Mendizabal.
Starship Jubilee appeared to stumble at the start of the Filly & Mare Turf, losing rider Florent Geroux. The mare was corralled by outriders on the backstretch, and Geroux escaped from the incident uninjured.
Mean Mary was the quickest off the blocks, streaking to the front along with Cayenne Pepper. Boudot crafted a beautiful trip from the 11-post in the 14-horse field, pushing Audarya through the pack to make it to the rail by the first turn. She settled beautifully in mid-pack down the backstretch, tracking fractions of :23.50 and :47.44, before pulling Boudot up into fifth position before the final turn.
“I said to Pierre-Charles to get a bit of cover because she might be a bit keen, but the way he got to the rail from stall 11 was just incredible,” Fanshawe said.
Rushing Fall had been tracking the pace from third and challenged Mean Mary around the turn, taking over near the sixteenth pole. Boudot tipped Audarya out toward the center of the course and began asking the filly for run. While she didn't show a big turn of foot, Audarya kept inching into Rushing Fall's lead and was able to wear down the favorite to win by a neck on the wire. Rushing Fall held second by a head in her final career start, while Harvey's Lil Goil checked in third. Lady Prancealot finished fourth and Civil Union was fifth.
The remaining order of finish was: Sistercharlie, Mean Mary, Nay Lady Nay, My Sister Nat, Cayenne Pepper, Peaceful, Mucho Unusual, and Terebellum.
Bred in France by S.A.R.L. Haras D'Ecouves, Audarya is out of the Green Tune mare Green Bananas. The filly commanded $147,475 at the 2017 Arqana yearling sale, and has compiled a record of six wins from nine starts overall with earnings of $1,289,046.
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