Tarnawa A ‘Definite Possibility’ To Defend Her Title In Breeders’ Cup Turf

Last year's Breeders' Cup Turf winner Tarnawa may return stateside to defend her title at Del Mar in November, reports the Racing Post. The 5-year-old Shamardal mare ran most recently in Sunday's Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and was defeated just three-quarters of a length by 72-1 longshot Torquator Tasso over heavy ground at Longchamp.

In her other two starts this season, Tarnawa won the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes and ran second to St Mark's Basilica in the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes.

Trainer Dermot Weld said there was a “definite possibility” Tarnawa will make her next start in the Breeders' Cup Turf, racing against males again.

“She tried hard and we've got no excuses but you saw the stamina of Tarnawa, not the speed, which was nullified on the testing ground,” Weld explained. “If we hadn't had so much rain on Saturday night, we'd have won.”

Read more at the Racing Post.

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Breeders’ Cup Still Under Consideration For Tarnawa

Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf heroine Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) has exited Sunday's G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in good order after running second to Torquator Tasso (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), and her connections are still considering at run at the Breeders' Cup at Del Mar in November. The Dermot Weld trainee opened her campaign with a 6 1/2-length win in the G3 Ballyroan S. at Leopardstown on Aug. 5 and was second to St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G1 Irish Champion S. there on Sept. 11.

“Tarnawa is tired, but you'd have to be so proud of the effort she has put in,” said Dermot Weld's son and assistant Kris of His Highness The Aga Khan's homebred. “She was in the form of her life, we knew that, and she represented us so well.

“Torquator Tasso's form was very good and was there for all to see. He wasn't running just because it was the Arc, and it was a very good renewal of the race. We'll see how she comes out of the race, and the Breeders' Cup is a distinct possibility, having won it last year. We'll take it one day at a time, and there is no talk about next year yet.”

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Soumillon To Ride Tarnawa In Arc

Christophe Soumillon will be reunited with the Aga Khan's Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 3. Soumillon, the Aga Khan's retained rider in France, was aboard Tarnawa for wins in last year's G1 Prix Vermeille and G1 Prix de l'Opera, but was replaced last minute by Colin Keane for Tarnawa's victory in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland after testing positive for Covid-19. Keane was in the saddle for Tarnawa's comeback score in the G3 Ballyroan S. on Aug. 5 and for her second-place finish to St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the G1 Irish Champion S. on Sept. 11.

Trainer Dermot Weld told the Irish Times, “Christophe Soumillon will ride Tarnawa in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He knows the filly well and he is His Highness's retained jockey in France.”

Tarnawa is the general 11-4 favourite for the Arc ahead of G1 Derby winner Adayar (GB) (Frankel {GB}) at 4-1.

In other Arc news, last year's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) has been named an intended runner. The 3-year-old has not been seen since finishing second to St Mark's Basilica in the Prix du Jockey Club on June 6.

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Glass Slippers Tries For Second Flying Five Stakes Win At The Curragh

Irish Champions Weekend concludes at The Curragh on Sunday with two Breeders' Cup Challenge “Win and You're In” races headlining the card. The winner of the Group 1 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes will receive an automatic starting position into the $1 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, and the winner of the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes earns a free spot into the $1 million Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

The Breeders' Cup Challenge is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into corresponding races of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held at Del Mar racetrack in Del Mar, California, on Nov. 5-6.

Last year the Bearstone Stud-owned Glass Slippers (GB) earned an automatic berth in the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint with a victory in the G1 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five Stakes, before following up with success in the Breeders' Cup at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

This year, the Kevin Ryan-trained mare, a 5-year-old daughter of Dream Ahead, faces 12 rivals in the five-furlong contest. Tom Eaves, who has ridden the mare in 17 of her 18 starts, will again be in the saddle.

Heading the opposition is the King Power Racing owned 3-year-old filly Winter Power (IRE), who earned an automatic entry into the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint with a victory in the Group 1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York last month.

Trained in Yorkshire, England, by Tim Easterby, the daughter of Bungle Inthejungle (GB) has won six of her last eight starts and will be ridden by former British champion jockey Silvestre De Sousa.

The Archie Watson-trained Dragon Symbol (GB), was first past the post in the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup, but was placed second behind the Wesley Ward-trained Campanelle (IRE) following a Stewards' Enquiry, and is another strong contender from Britain.

The 3-year-old was third behind Winter Power in the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes last time out and jockey Oisin Murphy believes the undulating track will suit. Murphy said: “He's been knocking on the door in Group 1 company all season and we're trying to find the key; so hopefully the stiff nature of The Curragh's five furlongs will help. Hopefully, it will bring him and Winter Power closer together. He's in very good shape.”

The Irish-trained contenders include the Jack Davison-trained Mooneista (IRE) who defeated Gustavus Weston (IRE) and Romantic Proposal (IRE) in the Group 2 Paddy Power Sapphire Stakes over course and distance in July.

Homeless Songs out to Preserve Unbeaten Record in Moyglare Stud Stakes

Impressive Leopardstown maiden winner Homeless Songs (IRE) faces seven juvenile fillies as she bids to make it two wins from two starts in the G1 Moyglare Stud Stakes.

Owned by the race sponsors Moyglare Stud Farms and trained by Dermot Weld ― who enjoyed a breakthrough Breeders' Cup success with Tarnawa (IRE) at Keeneland last year ― the daughter of Frankel (GB) defeated subsequent stakes winner Agartha (IRE) by two lengths on debut.

Since finishing second behind Homeless Songs in July, the Joseph O'Brien-trained Agartha (IRE) has gone on to win the Group 3 Frank Conroy Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown and the Group 2 Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes over course and distance last month. The second, third, and seventh-placed horses that day ― Sunset Shiraz (IRE), Discoveries (IRE), and Concert Hall (IRE) ― all take her on again here.

Ireland's champion trainer Aidan O'Brien has won the seven-furlong contest a record nine times and fields two this year with Prettiest (USA), a daughter of Dubawi (IRE), and the mount of Ryan Moore, and Concert Hall, who will be ridden by Seamie Heffernan.

The eight-runner field is completed by the Ger Lyons trained Caidre Go Deo (FR) and big-priced outsider Missing Matron (IRE), trained by Jim Bolger.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders' Cup will pay the entry fees for the winners of the Challenge Series winners to start at this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will be run 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. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program by the Championships' pre-entry deadline of Oct. 25 to receive the rewards.

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