Lir Can Fly, But Can He Go The Mile?

LEXINGTON, KY–Tuesday brought about another bright but cool morning in Lexington, and the European Breeders’ Cup contingent-all bar the Ballydoyle brigade, which touched down in Lexington late on Monday evening and will be ensconced in quarantine until Thursday-had another opportunity to stretch their legs at Keeneland. The English and Irish Guineas winners Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) and Siskin (First Defence) were among those who took to the training track for the second straight day, with Kameko once again catching the eye in a light gallop just as dawn broke. Siskin once again displayed his well being by throwing in a periodic hop and swivelling his head to take in all the sights as he went about his work, but the Ger Lyons trainee looked a picture of good health and appears to have taken his travels well.

Five Europeans-GII Juvenile Turf Sprint entrant Ubettabelieveit (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) in addition to the fillies Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead), Miss Amulet (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire})) and One Master (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus})–tested the Keeneland turf course for the first time on Tuesday.

G1 Prince of Wales’s S. winner Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was a standout among the John Gosden trio as he took to the training track alongside stablemates Terebellum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Mehdaayih (GB) (Frankel {GB}), and the GI Turf contender traveled enthusiastically on the bridle without being overeager through an easy gallop. Trainer Ralph Beckett, having arrived in Lexington on Monday night, was aboard a pony to oversee his GI Juvenile Turf runners New Mandate (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) and Devilwala (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). The G2 Royal Lodge S. winner New Mandate galloped freely ahead of his barnmate Devilwala, who was fourth in the G1 Dewhurst S. last out. Both horses are campaigned by owners relatively new to the game: Marc Chan bought New Mandate from a partnership headed by Beckett and Alex Elliott after a handicap win at Sandown in August, while Devilwala is among a talented bunch of 2-year-olds for Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing.

New Mandate landed in gate two for Friday’s Juvenile Turf at Monday evening’s post position draw and Devilwala in 13, the only horse to the inside of Qatar Racing’s The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}). The Lir Jet’s trainer Michael Bell was on hand to supervise his first Breeders’ Cup starter on Tuesday, having landed the evening before, and he was philosophical about the draw.

“The draw could have been kinder, but people seem to say you’re better off drawn wide than out low. Time will tell,” he said. “I watched the [2015 Juvenile Turf] when Hit It A Bomb won here, and he won from post 14 and had a great ride from Ryan Moore, so we hope Oisin [Murphy] can do the same.”

The Lir Jet skipped over the training track for the second straight morning on Tuesday, and Bell said he is pleased with how the colt has taken his journey.

“He seems very happy in himself and he’s eating well, which is the most important thing when they’ve traveled, because it can be a bit disruptive for them,” the trainer said. “But he looks in very good form when he’s out on the track in the morning. We’ve kept him on the training track just to keep a lid on him but he couldn’t have traveled better.

It was somewhat serendipitous circumstances that saw The Lir Jet land in Bell’s yard earlier this year; the colt was bought privately by Bell’s son Nick from pinhooker Robson Aguiar after the breeze-up sales were delayed in the spring. Sheikh Fahad came calling after The Lir Jet set a five-furlong track record when winning at Yarmouth on debut two days after racing in Britain resumed on June 3, and the colt carried Qatar Racing’s colours when beating Wesley Ward’s Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) in the G2 Norfolk S. at Royal Ascot. The Lir Jet, from the first crop of Ballyhane Stud’s fellow Norfolk winner Prince of Lir, was somewhat unlucky to be beaten when second in the G2 Prix Robert Papin on July 19 and the G1 Phoenix S. on Aug. 9, and according to Bell didn’t quite handle the Newmarket dip when fifth in the G1 Middle Park S. on Sept. 26. He steps up to a mile for the first time on Friday.

“He was a bit unlucky in the photograph in the Papin when it was heads up, heads down; the dice didn’t roll the right way for him because he was in front just before and just after the line,” Bell said. “He ran in Ireland in the Phoenix S. and stayed on very well but got slightly hampered and finished off very well over six furlongs. He ran at Newmarket and was a bit unbalanced coming down the hill, so this flatter track will suit him better. But he finished off his race very well over six, so we’re hopeful he’ll get the mile.”

“It would be a fantastic achievement,” Bell said of a potential Breeders’ Cup win. “It’s not going to be easy; we’re under no pretensions that he’s a warm-order favourite. We’re taking a punt at the trip, but if he does stay he’ll be in the mix because he has the class and he can certainly run to a higher rating over a mile if he stays. But we’ll only find that out on Friday.”

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Breeders’ Cup: First Group Of European Challengers Step Out At Keeneland

The European Breeders' Cup challengers who arrived at Keenland on Friday night cleared quarantine Sunday at around 7 p.m. All European runners are now on site except for the Aidan O'Brien-trained team that is expected to arrive at the European quarantine barn around 8 o'clock tonight.

They will not been seen out on the track until Thursday once they have cleared quarantine.

On a very cold Monday morning, the Jessica Harrington-trained duo of Cayenne Pepper (IRE) (Filly & Mare Turf) and Oodnadatta (IRE) (Juvenile Fillies Turf) were the first horses onto the training track just after 6:30. Both trotted a full circuit before heading back to the barn.

Their work riders were happy with their horses and reported that they have settled into their new surroundings well. Harrington is due to be on site Wednesday morning.

English 2000 Guineas winner Kameko (Mile) headed the next group joined by the John Gosden trained trio of Lord North (IRE) (Turf), Mehdaayih (GB) (Turf) and Terebellum (IRE) (Filly & Mare Turf). The Gosden trio trotted one circuit before heading back to the barn.

Kameko trotted for one circuit and then did a light canter for one circuit. Maddy O'Meara, Kameko's regular work rider reported him to be in fine shape.

“He seems in really good form. He traveled over well and is settled. I think he was pleased to get out onto the training track for a leg stretch.”

James Fanshawe accompanied by his wife Jacko were at the training track to see Audarya (FR) (Filly & Mare Turf) exercise. She did a trot and a light canter by herself with her work rider Geoffrey De La Sayette reporting she “moved like a dream.”

Fanshawe, who is having his first Breeders Cup runner, said: “Flew over yesterday and it's great to be here. The filly looked great out on the track so I'm very pleased.”

Nazuna (IRE) (Juvenile Fillies Turf) spent plenty of time on the track trotting and did a very light canter.

Mighty Gurkha (Juvenile Turf Sprint) accompanied Cadillac (IRE) (Juvenile Turf) and Tarnawa (IRE) (Turf) onto the training track and did a nice canter covering a circuit under regular work rider Michael Murphy. “In great form, really pleased with that,” he said.

Tarnawa was slightly on her toes when first stepping on to the training track but soon became at ease and looked in great shape.

Ubettabelieveit (IRE) (Juvenile Turf Sprint) was ridden by his trainer Nigel Tinkler this morning and looked well. They trotted two circuits of the training track and did a very light canter.

“The horse is absolutely fine,” Tinkler said. “Rowan Scott, who rides him on Friday, is flying out today so he will have a sit on him tomorrow morning.”

Safe Voyage (IRE) (Mile) and Siskin (Mile) came out together both trotting a circuit of the training track before having a light canter.

John Quinn the trainer of Safe Voyage is traveling over with his son and assistant Sean and will be at the training track tomorrow morning.

Glass Slippers (GB) (Turf Sprint) was due to have a canter on the turf track but because of the frost in the ground rerouted to the training track. She did a light canter and Jimmy Gee, representing trainer Kevin Ryan, reported all to be well with the filly.

Jockey Mickael Barzalona was at the training track to watch his mount Sealiway (Juvenile Turf) exercise this morning.

Barzalona, who already has a Breeders' Cup victory to his name when partnering Talismanic to win the Turf in 2017, said: “I flew over on Friday and I'm delighted to be here. The weather is colder than I expected but its brilliant to be out at the training track to see Sealiway. I'm very much looking forward to riding him and the plan is to sit on him tomorrow or Wednesday.”

Japanese representatives Pingxiang (Dirt Mile) and Jasper Prince (Sprint) did two laps of the training track before heading back to their barn. Both horses are now very familiar with their surroundings and connections have been very pleased with their preparations.

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Euro Raiders Break The Ice At Keeneland

LEXINGTON, KY–With temperatures plunging into subzero depths overnight on Sunday, there was a truly wintery feel at Keeneland on Monday morning to coincide with the release from quarantine-a concept that many more of their human custodians can relate to in 2020–of most of the European Breeders’ Cup raiders. (Click here for a video of European Breeders’ Cup contenders training on Monday)

As tractors worked over the main dirt course attempting to thaw it, training was restricted in the early morning hours to Keeneland’s training track, and the Jessica Harrington-trained fillies Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Oodnadatta (Ire) (Australia {GB}) were the first to step onto the track at 6:30 a.m. for one lap at a trot. They were followed shortly thereafter by John Gosden’s trio of Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Mehdaayih (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Terebellum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who completed a similar exercise.

G1 2000 Guineas winner Kameko (Kitten’s Joy) appeared in rude health as he completed a lap each at a trot and a canter, and his work rider Maddy O’Meara said, “He seems in really good form. He traveled over well and is settled. I think he was pleased to get out onto the training track for a leg stretch.”

Kameko–who is now a stone’s throw from where he was born and raised at Calumet Farm bordering Keeneland and the sales pavilion where he was bought by Qatar Racing for $90,000 two years ago-is looking to continue his renaissance in the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile after breaking a string of fourth-place finishes in Group 1 company over the summer with a victory in Newmarket’s G2 Joel S. on Sept. 25.

Lord North, meanwhile, looks to return to the form that saw him win Royal Ascot’s G1 Prince of Wales’s S. in June in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf. The 4-year-old gelding ran a creditable third behind Ghaiyyath (Ire) and Magical (Ire)-and ahead of Kameko-in the G1 Juddmonte International on Aug. 19 before trailing in last over the soft going in the G1 Champion S. on Oct. 17.

Lord North’s challengers in the mile and a half Turf will include not only his stablemate Mehdaayih but also the Aga Khan’s progressive 4-year-old filly Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal), who has built on a trio of pattern-race wins last year at three to win back-to-back Group 1s at ParisLongchamp in the Prix Vermeille and Prix de l’Opera over a mile and a half and mile and a quarter, respectively, while giving weight to top 3-year-old fillies Alpine Star (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and Raabihah (Sea The Stars {Ire}). Tarnawa followed the Jessica Harrington-trained Cadillac (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) onto the training track shortly after 7 a.m. The latter was among a slew of contenders for the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf out stretching their legs, and those also included the Ralph Beckett-trained duo of New Mandate (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) and Devilwala (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). The former looks to build on a three-race win streak that includes the Listed Flying Scotsman S. and the G2 Royal Lodge S., while the latter comes into this off a respectable fourth in the soft-ground G1 Dewhurst S. at 100-1. Michael Bell, who brings Qatar Racing’s The Lir Jet (Ire) (Prince of Lir {Ire}), is looking for his first win at the Breeders’ Cup. That lean and leggy bay enjoyed a canter around the training track in the slipstream of Roy and Gretchen Jackson’s formidable mare One Master (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) just before 8 a.m.

The Frederic Rossi-trained Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) looks to make it back-to-back Group 1 wins in the Juvenile Turf off an eight-length score in the G1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere in what was one of the most eye-catching performances on Arc day, and his jockey Mickael Barzalona was on course to watch the colt train. Barzalona, who won the Breeders’ Cup Turf aboard Talismanic (Medaglia d’Oro) in 2017, said, “I flew over on Friday and I’m delighted to be here. The weather is colder than I expected but its brilliant to be out at the training track to see Sealiway. I’m very much looking forward to riding him and the plan is to sit on him tomorrow or Wednesday.”

The winner of the last three editions of the G1 Prix de la Foret on the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe card, the 6-year-old One Master just doesn’t seem to know how to run a bad race and was beaten a half-length in the G1 British Champions Sprint S. when backing up to six furlongs over the soft ground at Ascot on Oct. 17. She lines up on Saturday in the Mile, the race in which she was fifth, beaten a length, two years ago at Churchill Downs behind Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}).

One Master will have to contend with not only the 2000 Guineas winner Kameko in the Mile, but also this year’s winner of the Irish equivalent, Siskin (First Defence), who was fresh on the training track on Monday, shying slightly as he jogged past the assembled railbirds before settling into a professional canter. Juddmonte homebred Siskin-a talented by quirky individual who has some questions to answer after playing up in the stalls last out prior to finishing fourth in the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp-is a first Breeders’ Cup starter for trainer Ger Lyons. Mile contender Safe Voyage (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}), likewise, is a first runner at the meeting for trainer John Quinn, and the gelding is, remarkably, rounding into his best form at age seven with wins in this season’s G2 City of York S. and G2 Boomerang S. followed by a close third behind One Master in the Foret.

There are, then, quite a number of European raiders who will be writing exciting new chapters for their trainers should they emerge victorious, and another of those is the rapidly progressive Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). She is the first Breeders’ Cup starter for her Newmarket-based trainer James Fanshawe, and while many of the other European-based trainers will arrive in the Bluegrass over the coming days, Fanshawe and his wife Jacko were on hand to oversee their G1 Prix Jean Romanet winner’s exit from quarantine and subsequent canter on Monday morning.

Alison Swinburn’s Audarya was beaten a nose in her lone start at two and showed plenty of promise last year at three when winning twice at novice and handicap level and finishing second a further three times, including in the Listed Prix Coronation going a mile at Saint-Cloud. After a pair of off-the-board finishes over that same trip at listed level to start her current campaign in June, Audarya flourished when stepped up to a mile and a quarter, winning a Newcastle handicap prior to the Romanet at 48-1. She showed that effort was no fluke when finishing a length behind Tarnawa in third in the Prix de l’Opera.

“After she won the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville we thought ‘if she comes out of it in one piece we’ll go to the Prix de l’Opera and then the Breeders’ Cup,'” Fanshawe said of the filly’s path to Keeneland. “This season has been completely different with COVID disrupting everything, but her owner Alison Swinburn was also keen to go for it, and she’s got a lot of attributes that should suit the race.”

“She’s a very good-looking filly; from the moment she came in she was a very good-looking yearling and she always showed ability,” Fanshawe added. “She was a little bit quirky in some ways but she’s quite a big, rangy filly and she’s taken time to come to herself. She nearly won at two and at three she took a while to get going, and I think a lot of it comes down to the fact that she’s been much better going a little bit further than the mile; she likes a strongly run mile but she was a bit keen as a 3-year-old, so we went to a mile and a quarter then came back. And since we stepped her back up to a mile and a quarter for her prep race for Deauville she’s been more effective. And I think she’s got stronger as well.”

Fanshawe has been training for over 30 years and has orchestrated the careers of Group 1 winners like Soviet Song (Ire), The Tin Man (GB), Seal of Approval (GB) and Society Rock (Ire). He said he has always hoped to have a runner at the Breeders’ Cup, and a myriad of factors collided to make it happen with Audarya, including perhaps the later start to the racing season necessitated by COVID.

“I think anyone who trains racehorses would aspire to have a runner at the Breeders’ Cup,” he said, “It’s something you always have in the back of your mind, but it always comes quite late in our season and it’s not a meeting you can go to as an afterthought. We’d been thinking about it for a while and hopefully everything goes smoothly for her.

“Keeneland is more European; it has a similar climate to what we’d have at home this time of year. I had a walk of the course this morning and it looked in really good nick. In theory conditions should be good for the European horses, the weather and the track.”

Another British-based trainer already on hand was Nigel Tinkler, who put his GI Juvenile Turf Sprint contender Ubettabelieveit (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) through his paces himself. Tinkler, a former jumps jockey and successful trainer both on the flat and over jumps, like Fanshawe sends out his first Breeders’ Cup starter. Ubettabelieveit, the winner of the G2 Flying Childers S. over five furlongs at Doncaster on Sept. 11, is one of two representatives at the meeting for breeder Ringfort Stud in addition to GI Juvenile Fillies’ Turf contender Miss Amulet (Ire) (Sir Prancealot {Ire}), who was also on track on Monday. Both subsequent pattern-race winners that were bought for €35,000 and €1,000, respectively, as foals, the Ringfort-bred runners do, indeed, give smaller operators a reason to believe.

The last of the European contingent to arrive at Keeneland will be the Aidan O’Brien-trained runners, who were scheduled to touch down around 8 p.m. on Monday and will therefore not make an on-track appearance until Thursday.

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‘Ability To Switch Off,’ ‘Cruising Speed’ Should Benefit Classic Winner Kameko In Breeders’ Cup Mile

A Group 1 winner at two and winner of the G1 2,000 Guineas in 2020, 3-year-old Kameko will be making the trip across the Atlantic to contest the Breeders' Cup Mile at Keeneland. Trained by Andrew Balding, the son of Kitten's Joy will enter the Mile off a victory in the Group 2 Joel Stakes, held over a mile at Newmarket.

“The Joel Stakes was as good a performance as the Guineas, really,” Balding said in a Twitter video produced by At The Races. “To give them five pounds and a beating in good style, it again cemented to the world what a high-class achiever this horse is.”

For work rider, Joshua Bryan, the chance to send the horse to the United States for the Breeders' Cup has long been on his mind.

“He's got one strong burst where he could blow away a whole field in a matter of strides,” Bryan said. “I always thought he'd be a great horse in America. He's by Kitten's Joy, who is obviously great out there, and he's got that nice cruising speed to get him out of trouble in America. I think whatever surface out there he would thoroughly enjoy.”

Kameko was bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm, and commanded the bargain price of $90,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September sale from agent David Redvers on behalf of Qatar Racing. Now a four-time winner from nine starts with earnings over $500,000, the colt returns to his home state to take on the best in the world.

Kameko will have to overcome 2019 Mile winner Uni, as well as several horses who've had his measure earlier this season. Circus Maximus and Siskin both finished ahead of Kameko in the G1 Sussex Stakes over a mile, but with the potential for firmer ground at Keeneland next weekend, the classic winner's team is feeling confident.

“To this date he's been my favorite work horse,” said Bryan. “I've rode a lot of good horses here at Andrew's, but he has that ability to switch off. He's almost asleep in behind, and you don't need to move on him. He knows when he's gotta join, and all you have to do is just pull the rein a tiny bit to the right or left, wherever you're going, and he just takes off. It's a feeling you long for as a rider; it's incredible, really.”

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