John Gosden | Horse Racing Free Tips

Gosden Chasing Firmer Ground With Three Breeders’ Cup Entrants

Trainer John Gosden attended the very first Breeders' Cup World Championships, held at Hollywood Park in 1984, and came away victorious by saddling the filly Royal Heroine to defeat nine male rivals in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Mile. Though Gosden has been based in Europe since 1989, the trainer regularly tries to make it back to the United States for the World Championships event.

He has won a total of five Breeders' Cup races, most recently the Turf with the great racemare Enable, recently retired to stud.

“It's such a wonderful international event,” Gosden said on Wednesday's Breeders' Cup teleconference. “I've been a passionate believer in it since we started at Hollywood Park. I remember we ran out of programs and food, but it was a great day. The Breeders' Cup is at the end of our year in Europe, of course, so you have to be careful you have your horse still fresh enough.”

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Gosden will not be making the trip to Keeneland for the 2020 edition. He will, however, send three top horses and staff, along with stable jockey Frankie Dettori.

“Mr. Dettori, he likes to play trainer too, so he can do both jobs,” Gosden quipped.

Gosden plans to start two horses in the Breeders' Cup Turf and one in the Filly & Mare Turf, he explained on Wednesday's call.

Lord North, winner of the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot this June, will head to the Turf, along with stablemate Mehdaayih. The latter, a 4-year-old daughter of Frankel, did not get into the main body of the field for the Filly & Mare Turf, and so is expected to take on males in the 1 1/2-mile Turf instead.

Lord North, a 4-year-old son of Dubawi, was most recently seen finishing 10th over unforgiving ground in the G1 QIPCO Champion Stakes on Oct. 17.

“Well his last race was unfortunately run on a quagmire,” Gosden said. “He was in the same race as (Aidan O'Brien trainee and fellow BC Turf hopeful) Magical, and she also found the track too deep. It was the deepest ground I've ever seen, and it was drying out ground, so it was sticky, and he couldn't handle that.”

Mehdaayih was a Group 2 winner in 2019 but has had just two starts in 2020, most recently finishing fourth in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, also on Oct. 17.

“She's a high class runner, and very fresh after just two starts this year,” said Gosden. “She's what you might call a wildcard.”

In the Filly & Mare Turf, Gosden will enter G1 Queen Anne Stakes runner-up Terebellum. The 4-year-old filly by Sea the Stars was most recently fifth in the G1 Sun Chariot Stakes on Oct. 3, and will also be seeking firmer ground.

“She likes what we call good, good to firm going,” Gosden explained. “Keeneland's would be like that, usually… she'd be very happy on the surface if it doesn't ride at all loose.”

All three of Gosden's Breeders' Cup hopefuls will fly to the United States on Friday, with staff flying the day ahead of the horses.

“Everyone's gone out of their way to make it feasible for us,” Gosden said. “It's a strange world we're living in now, but we just have to get on with it.”

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Baffert Big Guns, Tiz The Law, Swiss Skydiver, Magical Among 200+ Horses Entered for Breeders’ Cup

Eclipse Award winner Maximum Security (New Year’s Day), GI Kentucky Derby hero Authentic (Into Mischief), GI Belmont S. victor Tiz the Law (Constitution), Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), who beat the boys in the GI Preakness S. and European star mare Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) are among the over 200 horses entered for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships to be held at Keeneland Race Course Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6 and 7.

Maximum Security makes his first appearance at the Breeders’ Cup and is one of an imposing trio in the $6-million GI Breeders’ Cup Classic for trainer Bob Baffert. Winner of the GI TVG Pacific Classic in August, the Gary and Mary West runner was second to stablemate and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Improbable (City Zip) in the GI Awesome Again S. Authentic will try to become the first 3-year-old to win the featured event since the Baffert-trained Arrogate (Unbridled’s Song) in 2016 and makes his first appearance since finishing second to Swiss Skydiver at Old Hilltop Oct. 3. The latter was also entered for the Classic by trainer Ken McPeek, but has a first preference for the GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) looks to double up in the latter event, having defeated her elders two years ago. She faces a maximum field of 11, though Harvey’s Lil Goil (American Pharoah), last-out winner of the GI Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on the grass, has a first preference for the GI Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

Of the 11 pre-entered horses for the $4-million GI Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, six are from overseas, headed by Ballydoyle’s outstanding mare Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Trainer Aidan O’Brien is also set to be represented by G1 Grand Prix de Paris winner Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), while John Gosden also has a pair entered, including G1 Prince of Wales’s S. hero Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). Mehdaayih (GB) (Frankel {GB}) holds an entry for the turf, but is cross-entered with a first preference against her peers in the Filly & Mare Turf.

The GI FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile also has significant European flair, with five overseas-based runners among the main body of 14 and another two among the four horses that were not selected into the field. European 3-year-old form is represented by G1 Irish 2000 Guineas hero Siskin (First Defence) as well as Kameko (Kitten’s Joy), victorious in the G1 English 2000 Guineas in his first start of the season in June and a latest winner of the G2 Shadwell Joel S. over a mile Sept. 25. The home team is headed by defending champion Uni (GB) (More Than Ready), one of three entered by trainer Chad Brown, who will also send out Digital Age (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Raging Bull (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), both Grade I winners this season.

Championship Saturday kicks off with the GI Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint for which ‘Rising Star’ Gamine (Into Mischief) figures to go favored cutting back to one turn. Top 3-year-old filly sprinter Frank’s Rockette (Into Mischief) is likely to pass the Filly & Mare Sprint in favor of a start against the boys in the six-furlong GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint. There she will likely face Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}), who also has a second preference in the GI Dirt Mile.

The ‘Future Stars Friday’ program features five championship events restricted to juveniles. Jackie’s Warrior (Maclean’s Music) will start a warm favorite in the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, while the 2-year-old filly counterpart feels a more wide-open affair, with the unbeaten Dayoutoftheoffice (Into Mischief) opposing GI Darley Alcibiades S. winner Simply Ravishing (Laoban) and the West Coast-based ‘Rising Star’ Princess Noor (Not This Time). Full fields are anticipated for the GI Juvenile Turf, GI Juvenile Fillies Turf and GII Juvenile Turf Sprint.

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Without Parole Retired To Newsells Park Stud In England For 2021

Without Parole, winner of the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes, has been retired and will return to the U.K. to commence stud duties at Newsells Park Stud for the 2021 season, it has been announced.

Bred by John and Tanya Gunther, the son of Frankel was unbeaten in his first four starts culminating in his impressive victory at Royal Ascot, where he justified favoritism to beat the likes of Gustav Klimt and Irish 2000 Guineas winner, Romanised. His winning time that day was the second fastest ever recorded at Ascot, faster than Kingman and Without Parole's own sire Frankel. A subsequent switch to Chad Brown in the U.S., saw Without Parole consistently perform at the very highest level over a mile with placings in the Breeders' Cup Mile, Shadwell Turf Mile and Shoemaker Mile.

Commenting on his retirement to Newsells Park Stud, general manager Julian Dollar said, “We're delighted to be standing Without Parole at Newsells Park. It's no secret that we, like virtually every other global stallion operation, chased this horse hard after his impressive win at Royal Ascot and its fitting he should now retire to the Stud where he was born and raised. Without Parole is a beautiful horse with an athletic physique and superb conformation. As his race record states, he's an out and out miler who possesses a great turn of foot. Importantly, he has a potent, proven sire's pedigree which should offer breeders plenty of options. He'll certainly be heavily supported by Newsells Park and of course his Eclipse-award winning breeders, John and Tanya Gunther.”

Commenting on his retirement to stud, John Gunther said: “Without Parole has given me the most memorable and exciting day of my life with his victory in the St. James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. It was my biggest dream come true and I continue to be overwhelmed by the heart and perseverance he has shown with his racing pursuits in America. He has raced in 12 consecutive Grade 1s and faced myriad traffic obstructions, at times unsuitable turf conditions and he just never gives up, as demonstrated again by his third place finish in the prestigious Shadwell Turf Mile. I love this horse and can't wait to breed to him.”

Commenting on Without Parole, John Gosden said: “He was a very sound and tough colt and an incredibly good natured horse to train. He won the St James's Palace in courageous style off a strong pace and he showed great speed in the Breeders' Cup Mile.”

Commenting on Without Parole, Chad Brown said: “When Without Parole came to me last year, he immediately showed himself to be a class horse with tremendous ability. I thought so highly of him that I paired him up with Bricks and Mortar, who of course went on to win the Breeders' Cup Turf and be awarded Horse of The Year honors. Without Parole ran huge in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Mile to be third off of a six month lay-off and it has been hugely frustrating that he hasn't added another Group 1 to his resume. He has run some incredibly good races again this year, just not had the necessary racing luck.”

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Stars Line Up for QIPCO British Champions Day

Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) might be retired to the Juddmonte paddocks, but there will still be plenty of equine stars spread across five group races on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday, as fields were drawn on Thursday morning.

2019 G1 QIPCO Champion S. winner Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is aiming for her second consecutive Champion S. score, and the Coolmore runner has been in prime form of late, with three Group 1 wins this season, her only loss a second to formidable frontrunner Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Juddmonte International S. in August. The 5-year-old mare leads the Ballydoyle trio of MG1SW Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and G1 Derby scorer Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). She defeated Ghaiyyath in the G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown on Sept. 12. Last year’s G1 Champion S. runner-up Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) earned a brace of Group 1 wins in Australia this spring, and he ran second to the re-opposing Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) in the G1 Prince of Wales’s S. at Royal Ascot in June. The durable chestnut was first past the post at the listed level at Ayr on Sept. 19 for William Haggas. Besides Lord North, John Gosden sends out G1 Prix du Jockey Club winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), who landed the G2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville on Aug. 15.

The G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. lost some of its lustre with the absence of 2020 G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas hero Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) and MG1SW Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), but that has put the focus even more firmly on fledgling miler wunderkind Palace Pier (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum’s undefeated colt stunned in the G1 St James’s Palace S. in June and backed up those claims in heavy ground in the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in August. This year’s G1 Queen Anne S. hero Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), one of three from Ballydoyle, ran second in the G1 Sussex S. in July before taking third to Palace Pier in the Prix Jacques le Marois. The Flaxman Stables/Coolmore partners colourbearer was most recently third in the G1 Prix du Moulin at ParisLongchamp on Sept. 6. Shadwell’s Oct. 3 G1 Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot S. heroine Nazeef (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Oct. 3 G2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein victor The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) could also both provide stiff challenges on Saturday.

If Hollie Doyle triumphs aboard 4-year-old filly Dame Malliot (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S., it would be one of the stories of the weekend, as it would be Doyle’s first win out of the top drawer. Ed Vaughan’s dual Group 2 winner ran third in both the G1 Preis von Europa in August and the Sept. 13 G1 Qatar Prix Vermeille and is a solid chance. She faces ace sophomores Wonderful Tonight (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}), who won the G1 Qatar Prix de Royallieu for David Menuisier on Oct. 3, and Ger Lyons’s G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks heroine Even So (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) among others.

Despite the absence of Shadwell’s grey speedball Battaash (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), quality is rampant throughout the 17-strong G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint S. field. Lael Stable’s One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) will try to go one better than in 2019 and enters off her third straight G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret victory. However, the 6-year-old mare is not the only entrant coming in off a Group 1 victory, as Roger Teal trainee Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}) resurfaces after a score in the G1 July Cup S. on July 11 and a wind operation. Dream of Dreams (Ire) (Dream Ahead), the top-rated horse in the field, bettered Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) by 1 1/4 lengths in Haydock’s G1 Betfair Sprint Cup S. on Sept. 5. Andrew Balding saddles the progressive Happy Power (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) looking for the colt’s fourth-straight win, building on the back of scores in the Aug. 30 G3 Supreme S. and Newmarket’s G2 Challenge S. on Oct. 9.

A baker’s dozen step up for the opening race, with 2018 winner Stradivarius (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) out to regain his crown in the G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup. The game Bjorn Nielsen runner was second last term to Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Twice a winner at the highest level in 2020, he was last in action when seventh in the G1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The chestnut faces two-time G1 Irish St Leger heroine Search For a Song (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for Moyglare Stud, 2019 G1 Irish Derby winner Sovereign (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})-one of three for Aidan O’Brien, 2020 Irish St. Leger bridesmaid Fujaira Prince (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}), and G2 Doncaster Cup S. hero Spanish Mission (Noble Mission {GB}) for Team Valor and Gary Barber.

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