Tag: Breeders’ Cup

River Tiber (IRE), winner of the Coventry Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot, heads into Group 1 company for the first time in the Sumbe Prix Morny (G1) at Deauville on Sunday. The winner of the 6-furlong straight course contest for 2-year-olds will be provided an automatic starting position into the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 80 Graded/Group stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Nov. 3-4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

The unbeaten River Tiber, a son of Wootton Bassett (GB), hasn't been seen since his Royal Ascot success on June 20 and his trainer Aidan O'Brien has warned that his exciting colt suffered a setback in the lead-up to the race.

O'Brien, who won this contest 12 months ago with Blackbeard (IRE) said: “The plan is to run River Tiber. He had a setback a couple of weeks ago so there will be a cloud over him when we do run him as we're a bit worried about his fitness, but the plan at the moment is to run. He had a hold-up and missed his second-last piece of work so he had that week off, but he did a piece of work this week so that gave him a chance to go.”

River Tiber is joined in the race by stable companions Edwardian and Johannes Brahms (GB), who was the runner-up as the favorite in the listed Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Christopher Head's Ramatuelle is one of two fillies in the race. She will look to add to her impressive victory in the Prix Robert Papin (G2) at Chantilly last time out, a race which she dominated to convincingly defeat another Aidan O'Brien horse in His Majesty (IRE) by 4 lengths.

Vandeek (GB) made it two-for-two when defying soft conditions to run away with the Markel Richmond Stakes (G2) at Goodwood 17 days ago, and connections are hoping this striking son of Havana Grey (GB) can handle this step up in grade.

Amo Racing, Mrs. Rachael O'Callaghan, and Giselle De Aguiar's Valiant Force caused one of the shocks of the season with a victory in the Norfolk Stakes (G2) at odds of 150-1. That victory earned him a guaranteed start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint via the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series. He will be one of two Amo Racing contenders in the race, with the owners also represented by Thunder Blue (GB) whose sole victory came in the Novice Stakes at Goodwood on June 11.

Jasour (GB), trained by Clive Cox, defied odds of 16-1 to impressively claim the Kingdom of Bahrain Stakes (G2) at Newmarket's July Festival over 6 furlongs. A run in the Prix Morny would represent a first taste of Group 1 action for Jasour, but with a Group 2 under his belt, Cox believes his charge has all the attributes to follow in the footsteps of his 2012 Prix Morny winner, Reckless Abandon (GB), and strike at the top table.

The second filly in the race is Sacred Angel (IRE) whose latest victory came at Ascot in the June 29 Bateaux London Princess Margaret Stakes (G3). That win gave her trainer Charlie Johnston a first Group level success.

Elite Status (GB), trained by Karl Burke, has course and distance form after winning the Prix de Cabourg (G3) on July 30. Burke won this race in 2017 with Unfortunately (IRE). Sajir (IRE), who finished second to Elite Status in the Prix de Cabourg, completes the field.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the Sumbe Prix Morny winner to start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita, which will be run at 5 furlongs. Breeders' Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of Oct. 23 to receive the rewards.

The post Royal Ascot Winner River Tiber Leads Nine Runners In ‘Win And You’re In’ Prix Morny appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Godolphin's Kentucky homebred Cody's Wish will return to one-turn racing this fall at the Belmont at the Big A meet after finishing third in the nine-furlong Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 5 at Saratoga Race Course. A potential landing spot for the 5-year-old bay could be the Grade 2, $250,000 Vosburgh for 3-year-olds and up sprinting seven furlongs on September 30, a “Win and You're In” for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Sprint in November at Santa Anita Park.

While the Vosburgh provides a berth into the Sprint, Michael Banahan, Director of Bloodstock for Godolphin, said Cody's Wish could use the Vosburgh as a steppingstone towards a try at a successful title defense in the Dirt Mile, which he won last year by a head over Cyberknife.

“We were hoping he would run better in the Whitney and it was a great opportunity to figure it out,” said Banahan. “So, we took our chance and obviously it didn't work out as well as we'd hoped for. But he's come out of the race well and we'll regroup and try and to make him a repeat winner in the Dirt Mile. I think we'll keep him in New York and potentially run him in the Vosburgh.”

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the son of Curlin raced beyond one mile for the first time since July 2021 in the Whitney and attempted his usual closing kick under regular pilot Junior Alvarado, but finished 10 lengths back of the victorious White Abarrio. That ended a six-race win streak that included his Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile coup at Keeneland, and additional Grade 1 scores in the Churchill Downs at its namesake track and the Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park, and last year's Forego at the Spa.

Earlier on the Whitney card, Godolphin sent out multiple graded stakes-winner Pretty Mischievous in the Grade 1 Test where she earned the victory after pacesetter Maple Leaf Mel led at each point of call before suffering an injury and falling just before the wire.

Trained by Brendan Walsh, Pretty Mischievous cut back from a win in the one-turn 1 1/16-mile Grade 1 Acorn presented by Great Jones Distilling Co. in June at Belmont and rallied strongly from four lengths off the pace in the Test to put her head down over Clearly Unhinged.

Banahan said while plans are still to be determined, the daughter of Into Mischief could look to a start in Parx Racing's Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion on September 23 next.

“She came out of the race very well and we found out in the race that the seven-furlong pace was a little too fast for her,” said Banahan. “She stayed on well in the race and came out of it well. Nothing is set in stone yet and we're guided by the filly, but we'll have a look at the Cotillion. It's a significant race and it's the last race at a distance for the 3-year-old fillies.”

Banahan added that Godolphin plans to send out both Matareya and Caramel Swirl in the Grade 1, $500,000 Ballerina Handicap on August 26, a “Win and You're In” for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

Matareya, a dual Grade 1-winner trained by Brad Cox, was last seen finishing third in the Grade 3 Chicago at Ellis Park, while Caramel Swirl, trained by Mott, has not been seen since finishing third in the Grade 2 Bed o' Roses on June 17 at Belmont.

“Matareya is in good shape and Brad is very happy with where she is at the moment,” said Banahan. “Caramel Swirl will probably run in there as well, so we'll see if one of them can win it.”

Matareya vies for her third career Grade 1 triumph after wins in the Acorn last year and Derby City Distaff in May at Churchill. Caramel Swirl is still in search of her first top-level score and will look to finish one better than her runner-up performance to subsequent Champion Female Sprinter Goodnight Olive in last year's Ballerina.

The post Cody’s Wish Will Return To One-Turn Races, Target Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Repeat appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable's 3-year-old Forte held onto the No. 1 position for the second straight week in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, while the first five spots in the poll remained the same. The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings are a weekly rating of the top 10 horses in contention for the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), which will be run Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

Forte, recent winner of the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) for trainer Todd Pletcher, received 294 votes, including 19 first place votes. C Two Racing Stable and Antonio Pagnano's 4-year-old White Abarrio, dominant winner of the Whitney Stakes (G1), is in second place with 226 votes.

Pin Oak Stud LLC's Geaux Rocket Ride, winner of the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1), is third with 222 votes. Mage, who won the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), is fourth with 211 votes, and Blue Rose Farm's Arcangelo, the Belmont Stakes (G1) winner, is fifth with 193 votes.

Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman's Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G1) winner Defunded is sixth with 109 votes. Lucky Seven Stable's Rattle N Roll, runner-up in the Stephen Foster Stakes (G1), is seventh with 106 votes.

Jeff Drown's 4-year-old Zandon, who finished second in the Whitney, ranks eighth with 71 votes. Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector, who earlier this season won the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes presented by Baccarat (G1), is ninth with 66 votes.

Joining the top 10 for the first time is Godolphin's 5-year-old Proxy, winner of the Oaklawn Handicap (G2) and the July 22 Monmouth Cup Stakes (G3). Trained by Mike Stidham, Proxy is 10^th with 56 votes.

The Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings are determined by a panel of leading Thoroughbred racing media, horseplayers, and members of the Breeders' Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel. Rankings will be announced each week through Oct. 10. A list of voting members can be found here.

 In the Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings, each voter rates horses on a 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 system in descending order.

Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings – Aug. 15, 2023*

 Horses also receiving first-place votes this week were Ushba Tesoro (JPN) (2) and King of Steel (1).

*Note – The Breeders' Cup Classic Rankings have no bearing on qualification or selection into the Breeders' Cup Classic.

The 2023 Longines Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be run at 1 1/4 miles on the main track at Santa Anita, is limited to 14 starters. The race will be broadcast live on NBC and Peacock.

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