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Coolmore May Send Two-Time Breeders’ Cup Winner Golden Pal To Race In Australia

Coolmore-owned turf sprinter Golden Pal could go head to head with stablemate Home Affairs in Australia, according to JustHorseRacing. While there are not yet nominations out for the races that the pair could participate in, it would be a thrilling match up if the two run against each other.

Home Affairs, a son of I Am Invincible trained by Chris Waller, won the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington Racecourse a week before the 2021 Breeders' Cup World Championships.

Golden Pal, a 3-year-old son of Uncle Mo out of the top turf sprinting mare Lady Shipman, is a two-time Breeders' Cup winner trained by Wesley Ward.

“If they think Golden Pal is the best sprinter in the world, maybe we need to bring him here to Australia, so we may bring Golden Pal down to Australia in the autumn and try him in one or two of the sprint races down here,” Coolmore's Tom Magnier told JustHorseRacing. “There haven't been too many US sprinters come to Australia, so it's going to be something different that we are looking to do. Both horses will probably go to Ascot in the (UK) summer after that.”

Ambitious Schedule for Golden Pal to Include Trip to Australia

Coolmore and trainer Wesley Ward have started to put together a 2022 schedule for their star grass sprinter Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) and it's likely to include at least two trips abroad.

With an eye on showcasing the colt and future stallion to as many people as possible around the world, Coolmore is planning on running Golden Pal in the June 14 G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot, as well as a yet-to-be-determined race in Australia.

Golden Pal has raced twice in Europe, finishing second in the 2020 G2 Norfolk S. and seventh in the 2021 G1 Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe S. at York. A trip to Australia would be a first for this year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint winner.

“The Americans think he's the best sprinter in the world,” Coolmore's Tom Magnier told RSN. “If they think Golden Pal is the best sprinter in the world, maybe we need to bring him here to Australia.”

“We are planning a schedule for next year and it will include a trip to Australia at some stage,” Ward added. “They want to open up the Southern Hemisphere market for him so far as a stallion goes. We will look into whatever races are available. The race in Australia will probably be after the Breeders' Cup. It's hard to plan a year out with a racehorse. But we do want to race in the Southern Hemisphere with this horse. If the boys from down under get to see him race and see how great a racehorse he is, that would open up a lot of doors.”

Ward said Golden Pal will begin his year in the GII Shakertown S. at Keeneland, which will serve as a prep for the King's Stand.

“A win there would open things up for him if they decide to make him a stallion at Coolmore in Ireland,” Ward said. “It would show that he could do it over there in Europe. He hasn't done that yet. He was second as a 2-year-old at Royal Ascot and faltered this year at York, for whatever reason.”

Ward also said that Golden Pal could have a dirt race at some point during his 2022 campaign. He has raced just once on the dirt, winning a 4 1/2-furlong race last year at Keeneland.

“To me, he's equally as good on the dirt as he is on the grass, so we're also going to be looking at possibly running him on the dirt after Ascot,” Ward said. “If he shows on the dirt what he has showed on the grass, it opens up another market for him as a stallion.”

Golden Pal's 4-year-old campaign is also set to include a return appearance in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, which will be run at Keeneland.

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Breeders’ Cup Pledge Raises Over $140,000 For New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program

New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program announced today that early estimate of funds raised during its Breeders' Cup Pledge will be more than $140,000. This year's total was driven by a record eight horses with pledging connections—Knicks Go, Aloha West, Life Is Good, Golden Pal, Ce Ce, Corniche, Pizza Bianca and Twilight Gleaming (IRE)—winning their races on Future Stars Friday and Championship Saturday.

Additional pledges are still coming in and final donations are still being tallied. Now in its 12th year, the Pledge has raised more than $940,000, with 100 percent of funds going directly to support the program's rehabilitation, retraining and rehoming efforts.

“Eclipse and our partners consider Thoroughbred aftercare of paramount importance and it is our duty and pleasure to support New Vocations,” said Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. “It is with great pride that we're able to send a portion of Aloha West's purse winnings from his Breeders' Cup Sprint victory to support an organization that's always ready to help a rehoming or retraining prospect.

“The partnership that owns Aloha West is comprised of a healthy blend of veteran owners who understand the importance of aftercare and newcomers, as well,” he added. “To see these newcomers learning about aftercare and supporting the cause is gratifying and good for the sport.”

In addition to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, winning connections include Brad H. Cox (Knicks Go); China Horse Club, WinStar Farm and Todd Pletcher (Life Is Good); Coolmore (Golden Pal); Michael W. McCarthy (Ce Ce); Speedway Stables and Bob Baffert (Corniche); Bobby Flay (Pizza Bianca); and Stonestreet Stables (Twilight Gleaming). This year's pledge participants also include Al Shaqab Racing, Albaugh Family Stables, Jim Bakke, Richard Baltas, Bonne Chance Farm, Bing Bush & the Abbondanza Racing Partners, Cannon Thoroughbreds, Bradley Thoroughbreds, DJ Stable, Michael Dubb, Brad Grady, Hat Creek Racing, LNJ Foxwoods, Paulo H. Lobo, Madaket Stables, Kenny McPeek, Elizabeth M. Merryman, Peter Miller, MyRacehorse, Patricia's Hope LLC, Richard Ravin, Larry Rivelli, J. Kirk & Judy Robison, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, SF Racing, Joe Sharp, Siena Farm, Spendthrift Farm, St. Elias Stable, Starlight Racing, Stud RDI, Three Diamonds Farm, Treadway Racing Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and White Birch Farm.

“It was truly amazing to have eight pledged contenders win this year,” said Anna Ford, New Vocations Program Thoroughbred Program Director. “We were thrilled with the number of owners and trainers who joined the Pledge to support our aftercare efforts and mission to rehab, retrain and rehome these incredible equine athletes.”

For more information on the Pledge, please visit www.newvocations.org or e-mail Anna@horseadoption.com.

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Irad Ortiz, Jr. Voted Jockey Of The Week After Fourth Straight Shoemaker Award

Three-time Eclipse Award winner Irad Ortiz, Jr. travelled to the West Coast from his base in New York for the races at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club during Breeders' Cup week. He returned to New York having won four stakes at Del Mar and put an exclamation point on his outstanding week by winning a stakes race at Belmont Park on Sunday. His accomplishments earned Jockey of the Week Nov. 1 through Nov. 7. The award, which is voted on by a panel of racing experts, is for jockeys who are members of the Jockeys' Guild, the organization which represents more than 1050 active, retired and permanently disabled jockeys in the United States.

Breeders' Cup weekend began with “Future Stars Friday” with all stakes races dedicated to two-year-olds. Riding for trainer John Sadler, Ortiz, Jr. was aboard Big Switch in the Golden State Juvenile Fillies Presented by PNC. Off in post position six in the field of eight, Big Switch took command in upper stretch and drew off to a convincing 2-3/4 lengths victory in 1:22.39 for six furlongs.

”I didn't have to do much,” said Ortiz. “I had a good trip. She just ran and that's all there was to it.”

Trainer Wesley Ward and Ortiz, Jr. combined for the third straight year to win the G2 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. This year Ortiz, Jr. was aboard Twilight Gleaming (IRE). The fastest out of the gate, Twilight Gleaming (IRE) led all the way to win by a half-length over Go Bears Go covering the five furlongs on the turf in :56.24.

On Saturday, the duo of trainer Wesley Ward and Ortiz, Jr. struck again with Golden Pal in the G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint. Golden Pal went right to the lead and was never pressured, posting a 1-1/4-length win for the five furlongs on the turf in: 54.75.

“I was happy to get the lead easily and he responded to me when I asked him for the run down the stretch,” said Ortiz, Jr.

The next race saw Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher give a leg up to Ortiz, Jr. on Life Is Good in the G1 Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Life Is Good took command out of the gate and cruised to 5-3/4 lengths victory after a mild challenge from Ginobili.

“I had the perfect trip,” said Ortiz, Jr. “When we go to the quarter pole, he re-broke for me. What a nice horse to ride.”

Ortiz, Jr. was awarded the Bill Shoemaker Award for the fourth year in a row as Outstanding Jockey at the Breeders' Cup.

Back to Belmont Park on Sunday, Ortiz, Jr. was aboard Orglandes (FR) for trainer Chad Brown in the Zagora for fillies and mares three-years-old and up going 1-1/2 miles on the Widener turf. Off as the favorite in the field of seven, Orglandes (FR) got up right before the wire to win by a neck over Beautiful Love and Joel Rosario in 2:29.28. Ortiz, Jr. also collected the leading rider title at Belmont Park.

Ortiz, Jr. outpolled Mitchell Murrill with the most wins for the week, Jose L. Ortiz with two G1 Breeders' Cup victories, Joel Rosario with two G1 Breeders' Cup wins and Chantal Sutherland with nine wins for the week.

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