Cox Duo Top Two on Breeders’ Cup Classic Morning Line

DEL MAR, CA – Leading older horse Knicks Go (Paynter) received the nod at 5-2 on the morning-line for Saturday's $6-million GI Breeders' Cup Classic as a field of nine was drawn during Monday's Rood & Riddle Breeders' Cup Post-Position Draw held in the Del Mar paddock.

The speedy 2021 GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. and GI Whitney S. winner, hero of last term's GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Keeneland, will be on the engine from post five in this first attempt at the 1 1/4-mile Classic distance.

Last year's outstanding trainer Brad Cox will also be very well-represented by the 3-1 second-choice in 'TDN Rising Star' Essential Quality (Tapit). The 2020 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner and champion 2-year-old colt is drawn one to the inside of his stablemate. The Godolphin homebred takes on his elders for the first time off a hard-fought score in the GI Runhappy Travers S. at Saratoga.

The Classic field also includes fellow leading sophomores–GI Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit (Protonico) (post eight; 4-1) and GI Pennsylvania Derby winner Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) (post three; 4-1).

Consisting of 14 races with purses and awards totaling more than $31 million, the two-day 38th Breeders' Cup World Championships feature 169 horses, including seven returning champions.

Saturday's loaded Breeders' Cup program also includes:

• Four-time GISW in 2021 Letruska (Super Saver) (post six; 8-5 favorite) meets GI Kentucky Oaks heroine and 'TDN Rising Star' Malathaat (Curlin) (post three) in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff.

'TDN Rising Star' Gamine (Into Mischief) is the 3-5 morning line favorite to repeat in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. The defending champion female sprinter is drawn in post five in the six-horse affair.

• Talented 'TDN Rising Star' and MGISW Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music) (post two) is the 6-5 morning-line favorite as he meets his elders for the first time GI Breeders' Cup Sprint.

• CHC Inc. and WinStar Farm's 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) (post five), a facile winner of Belmont's GII Kelso H. for Todd Pletcher, returns to Southern California as the overwhelming 4-5 morning-line favorite for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal), owned by the H.H. Aga Khan Studs and trained by Dermot Weld, is the 9-5 morning-line favorite and drawn one from the outside to defend her crown in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf.

• The G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret winner Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) (post three) makes the trip across the pond for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. He is the 3-1 morning-line favorite in the 14-horse field.

War Like Goddess (English Channel) (post seven) leads the way in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf off four straight wins, including Saratoga's GI Flower Bowl Invitational. The defending F/M champion Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is drawn wide in post 12.

• Defending GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint heroine Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead) is drawn on the rail to defend her title as she faces off against last year's speedy GII Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) (post three). The latter is the 7-2 morning-line favorite.

The Future Stars Friday program includes:

• A showdown of unbeaten 'TDN Rising Stars' and GISWs is on tap in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile between the rail-drawn 9-5 morning-line favorite Jack Christopher (Munnings) and Corniche (Quality Road), drawn widest of 12.

'TDN Rising Star' and MGISW Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) puts her perfect three-for-three record on the line in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. The 4-5 morning-line favorite is drawn widest of all in post six.

• Euro invader Dubawi Legend (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), runner-up in the G1 Darley Dewhurst S., will see them all from post 14 in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. He is the 4-1 morning-line favorite.

• The rail-drawn Bobby Flay homebred and GI Natalma S. runner-up Pizza Bianca (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) has been installed as the lukewarm 5-1 favorite in a completely wide-open renewal of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

• The unbeaten Wesley Ward-trained filly and three-time stakes winner Averly Jane (Midshipman) (post eight) headlines a full field of 12 set for the GII Juvenile Turf Sprint.

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Olympic Glory’s Grand Glory Upsets The Romanet

Deauville's G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet has a habit of producing shock winners and there was another to add to the list on Sunday as Grand Glory (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) got up late to deny last year's heroine Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in a thriller. Last seen enjoying a confidence-boosting success in the July 21 G3 Grand Prix de Vichy, Albert Frassetto, John d'Amato and Mike Pietrangelo's G3 Prix de Flore and Listed Prix Zarkava winner who was third in the 2019 G1 Prix de Diane was anchored in rear early by Cristian Demuro. Making her move wide on the home turn, the 23-1 shot needed all of the straight to get past the reigning GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf title-holder but managed it on the line to prevail by a short head, with the G1 Pretty Polly S. scorer Thundering Nights (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) 1 1/4 lengths away in third. “This is a dream really–these races personally I used to watch on TV and they were not for me, but here I am winning a group 1 in Deauville, it's such a thrill,” trainer Gianluca Bietolini said. “I knew I had the filly in great form and she was doing very well after Vichy with a much less complicated season this year than last. We made the right choices for her and she has come through this season more straightforwardly, so I felt it was a really good time to try her again in a group 1 race.”

Much water has flown under the bridge since Grand Glory was beaten a head and half a length when making the frame in the 2019 Diane and despite maintaining an admirable level of consistency, few would have predicted that the bay would make the requisite jump required to get to this esteemed level. Her efforts last season included the aforementioned wins in ParisLongchamp's Prix Zarkava and Saint-Cloud's Prix de Flore, a second to Ambition (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G2 Prix Corrida staged at Lyon-Parilly and a third behind Ebaiyra (Distorted Humor) in the 12 1/2-furlong G2 Prix de Pomone here. Third to Skalleti (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}) on her comeback in the 10-furlong G3 Prix Exbury on heavy ground back at Saint-Cloud Mar. 21, she was uncharacteristically disappointing when last of six in the G3 Prix Allez France at ParisLongchamp May 2 before finishing third in the latter venue's G3 La Coupe again over this trip June 13.

Buoyed by her success at Vichy, Grand Glory showed what a sudden uptick in self-belief can do as she mastered a strong field of fillies and mares including the ultimately disappointing 9-5 favourite Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) without a hint of fluke. Bietolini is considering the G1 Prix de l'Opera de Longchamp now Oct. 3. “It looks to me that she is back to the level of her Diane run as a 3-year-old, but she's not in the Arc and I wouldn't want to go there anyway,” he said. “The Opera is enough for us and maybe we'll have another great day there. She'll head to the farm after that.” James Fanshawe said of the runner-up, “She's run a great race and was beaten narrowly, but that's the game–you win and you lose so hats off to the winner. I'm very happy that she's come back to her best after Goodwood and we'll take it race-by-race with the plan to come back for the Opera and then go to the Breeders' Cup like last year.”

Grand Glory's dam Madonna Lily (Ire) (Daylami {Ire}), whose final foal is the useful 4-year-old gelding Bois d'Argent (GB) (Toronado {Ire}), is a daughter of the listed-placed Maria de La Luz (GB) (Machiavellian) who produced the GII Canadian S. winner Minakshi (Fr) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}). She is also the second dam of the Scandinavian juvenile champion and Listed Meydan Classic-placed Irish Trilogy (Ire) (Gregorian {Ire}) hailing from the family of the Australian group 1-winning mother and daughter Arapaho Miss (Aus) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) and the Preakness S. hero and champion sire Tom Rolfe (Ribot {GB}).

Sunday, Deauville, France
DARLEY PRIX JEAN ROMANET-G1, €250,000, Deauville, 8-22, 4yo/up, f/m, 10fT, 2:06.99, g/s.
1–GRAND GLORY (GB), 126, m, 5, by Olympic Glory (Ire)
     1st Dam: Madonna Lily (Ire), by Daylami (Ire)
     2nd Dam: Maria de La Luz (GB), by Machiavellian
     3rd Dam: Light of Hope, by Lyphard
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (€18,000 Ylg '17 AROCT). O-Albert Frassetto, John d'Amato & Mike Pietrangelo; B-Elevage Haras de Bourgeauville (GB); T-Gianluca Bietolini; J-Cristian Demuro. €142,850. Lifetime Record: 16-6-3-3, €447,190. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Audarya (Fr), 126, m, 5, Wootton Bassett (GB)–Green Bananas (Fr), by Green Tune. (€125,000 Ylg '17 AROYRG). O-Mrs A M Swinburn; B-SARL Haras d'Ecouves (FR); T-James Fanshawe. €57,150.
3–Thundering Nights (Ire), 126, f, 4, Night of Thunder (Ire)–Cape Castle (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire). (€17,000 RNA Wlg '17 GOFNOV; €19,000 RNA Ylg '18 TIRSEP). O-Shapoor Mistry; B-Manjri Farm (IRE); T-Joseph O'Brien. €28,575.
Margins: SHD, 1 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 23.20, 6.30, 3.50.
Also Ran: Ambition (GB), Cayenne Pepper (Ire), Ebaiyra, Lady Bowthorpe (GB), Insinuendo (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by TVG.

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Audarya Aiming For Consecutive Romanets

Breeders' Cup heroine Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) will line up in Sunday's G1 Prix Jean Romanet according to trainer James Fanshawe. The bay claimed last year's edition by a neck, before a third-place run in the G1 Prix de l'Opera at ParisLongchamp in October. Back on top in Keeneland's GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf in November, Audarya ran second after a stirring stretch battle to Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G1 Prince Of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot in June. She most recently ran below par with a fifth in the G1 Qatar Nassau S. at Goodwood on July 29.

“She's well, she'll be going to the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville at the weekend,” said Fanshawe. “She seems to have come out of Goodwood in good form and the plan is go for the race on Sunday now.”

“She's won on soft ground so I don't think we can say it's that,” added the trainer. “She was well afterwards and nothing came to light.

“It's just something we will draw a line under hopefully, she seems very well and in great form, we're really looking forward to running on Sunday.”

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Audarya Primed for Nassau Bid

With the major contests going the way of the 3-year-olds so far, it is up to Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) to attempt to bring that generation back into line a touch in Thursday's G1 Qatar Nassau S. at Goodwood. Improving markedly at this stage last term, Alison Swinburn's 5-year-old captured the G1 Prix Jean Romanet on soft ground at Deauville in August, was third to Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G1 Prix de l'Opera on heavy at ParisLongchamp in October before capturing the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf on firm going at Keeneland in November. Giving Love (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) a scare when 3/4-of-a-length second to that luminary in the G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot June 16, she sets a clear standard on that form. “Audarya ran really well at Royal Ascot and she's come out of the race in good form,” trainer James Fanshawe said.

“Six weeks is a nice gap between races when you are taking things step by step and we've had this race in mind for a while. She's got better as she's got older and she's doing everything right at home. It was fast ground at Keeneland and Royal Ascot, but she shouldn't have any problem on easier going because it was very testing last year when she won the Romanet and very soft when she ran so well in the Prix de l'Opera.”

Also flying the flag for the older fillies and mares is Lady Bowthorpe (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who like Audarya has gone from strength to strength since last summer and seeks a first top-level success after two fine efforts at this level in 2021. Runner-up to Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury May 15 and fourth when suffering a troubled trip in the G1 Falmouth S. at Newmarket July 9, she tries this 10-furlong trip for the first time having won over nine in the May 2 G2 Dahlia S. at Newmarket. “She's grown up as a 5-year-old mare and she's much more amenable now,” trainer William Jarvis said. “As a 3 and 4-year-old, we thought she was very much a soft-ground filly but her run in both the Dahlia Stakes at Newmarket and more recently in the Falmouth Stakes were on good-to-firm ground and I think she's pretty adaptable. She was very tired when she came out of the Lockinge Stakes, but we had a very good preparation between Ascot and Newmarket and she's really been pleasing me since the Falmouth.”

Aidan O'Brien puts forward two high-achieving 3-year-olds in the June 20 G1 Prix de Diane winner Joan of Arc (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Empress Josephine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who beat her stablemate in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas at The Curragh May 23. “We are lucky to have some great fillies and we try to keep them apart and give them their best chance by picking the races which will suit them best, but we have been aiming both of these fillies for this race,” he said. “Joan of Arc won the Prix de Diane and has been progressing lovely all season. Empress Josephine will be stepping up to a mile and a quarter. We went further with her in Gowran before she won the Guineas and then went back in trip. She's a full-sister to Minding, who got a mile and a quarter and got a mile and a half. It's possible she could leave that Gowran run behind her and get the trip, but she is a filly that's got plenty of speed.”

Shadwell's Zeyaadah (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) beat Mantonbury Stud's Technique (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) by a cosy head margin in the G3 Hoppings Fillies' S. over this trip at Newcastle June 25 and the former's trainer Roger Varian is hoping the ground continues to dry. “She'll need to step up on the Newcastle form to win a Nassau, but while she only won a head she was in command at the line there. Bar the Oaks, she's done nothing wrong in her career. There was only one winner that day and the rest were nowhere. I think she's a 10-furlong filly and I also think she's a better-ground filly now she's going up against better horses, although she's got soft-ground form. She's in good form and I think she's ready for this test.”

In the G2 Unibet Richmond S. for the 2-year-olds, Sheikh Rashid Dalmook Al Maktoum's June 17 G2 Norfolk S. winner Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}) bids to defy a penalty moving up from five to six furlongs. His defeat of Go Bears Go (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) was made to look even better after the runner-up captured the G2 Railway S. and there is no reason on pedigree and racing style that he will not be at least as effective over this trip. “He has a three-pound penalty for his Royal Ascot win, which is always tough but the horse is in great order,” trainer Richard Fahey commented. “The ground is drying up and should be beautiful by the Richmond Stakes, possibly just on the dead side but he should handle that. I have no worries about going up to six furlongs, in fact I think he'll be better for it.” Leora Judah's Asymmetric (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}) looks to add to Alan King's week to remember and has sound claims based on his second to Lusail (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) in the G2 July S. at Newmarket July 8, while Jassim bin Ali Al Attiyah's July 17 Weatherbys Super Sprint winner Gubbass (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) represents the Richard Hannon stable.

In the G3 John Pearce Racing Gordon S., the June 26 G1 Irish Derby third and July 14 G1 Grand Prix de Paris runner-up Wordsworth (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) takes the next step towards a G1 St Leger bid. He is joined by stablemate Sir Lucan (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), who beat him in the 13-furlong Listed Yeats S. at Navan May 15 but has been absent since. “I don't think you can readily rule out any of these, so it's a competitive group 3, albeit one lacking a stand-out,” Wordsworth's rider Ryan Moore commented. “That said, I think my mount Wordsworth is the one to beat in here, even if Sir Lucan got the better of him the last time they met at Navan back in May. Wordsworth has clearly improved since then, being placed in group 1 company on his last two starts and his Grand Prix de Paris second last time came in testing ground.”

Ballydoyle's duo encounter stiff opposition headed by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum's Third Realm (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), who beat Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in the May 8 Listed Lingfield Derby Trial before disappointing when over 11-lengths fifth behind that peer in the June 5 G1 Epsom Derby. Also down the field in the blue riband was Ahmad Al Shaikh's May 5 G3 Chester Vase winner Youth Spirit (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), while Godolphin's Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) is another intriguing candidate having returned to form when capturing the 13-furlong G3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket July 8.

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