winter break | Horse Racing Free Tips

Blue Rose Cen Will Skip The Breeders’ Cup In Favour Of A Winter Break Before A 2024 Campaign

Multiple Group 1 winner Blue Rose Cen (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}), who won the G1 Prix de l'Opera and booked her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf as a result, will skip that engagement and is being freshened prior to being prepared for a 4-year-old campaign, Jour de Galop reported on Friday.

The Yeguada Centurion homebred is trained by Christopher Head. In 2022, she won the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac, and then completed a rare triple when adding the G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and G1 Prix de Diane. After two unplaced runs at the highest level, she won the Opera by a neck and is currently on break at Haras de l'Hotellerie according to Head.

“Blue Rose Cen achieved a magnificent season,” he told the JDG. “You have to know how to respect the horses and, moreover, she will be seen again on the track as a 4-year-old. She went to take a month-and-a-half vacation, with the idea that it would be profitable for next year.

“We had thought about running in the Breeders' Cup last year and we skipped it because she had walked on a rock. Finally, when we see what she achieved this year, it was perhaps a blessing in disguise. We do not have a set programme for next year for her.”

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No Royal Runner In The Melbourne Cup, As Desert Hero Ruled Out

Group 3 winner and Classic-placed Desert Hero (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), who races for The King and The Queen, will not travel to Australia and contest the G1 Melbourne Cup in November. Instead, he will be given a break and will return as a 4-year-old.

Trained by William Haggas, the son of Desert Breeze (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) won the G3 Gordon S. in August and was third to Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) in the G1 St Leger at Doncaster on Sept. 16.

John Warren, racing adviser to the King and Queen, said, “After giving it plenty of thought we have decided that Desert Hero won't head to the Melbourne Cup this year.

“It is obviously a world-class race and it was very tempting, but he is still a young horse and we will give him more time to mature.

“He will now have a good break and William will work out a plan for next year.”

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Gregory To Be Rested, But Will Return For 4-Year-Old Campaign

Wathnan Racing's Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}), who won the G2 Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot, is headed for some time off, with connections opting for a 4-year-old staying campaign, according to racing advisor Richard Brown.

The John and Thady Gosden trainee won his first three starts, before running third in the G2 Great Voltigeur S. and fifth in the G1 St Leger, both times to Heart's Cry (Jpn) colt Continuous (Jpn).

“I think he's going to be better on top of the ground and he still ran an admirable race,” said Brown, reflecting on the colt's St Leger performance.

“He's a big colt and by the far the biggest, most scopey horse in that field and he's only going to get better from three to four. He still ran with credit, but we'll put him away now and we'll look at turning him into a Cup horse next year.”

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Minzaal Benched, Commonwealth Cup Next

G1 Middle Park S. third Minzaal (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}), who won the G2 Gimcrack S. in late August for Shadwell and trainer Owen Burrows, will not be seen the rest of the year and instead will be pointed at the G1 Commonwealth Cup S. at Royal Ascot next June. A winner at second asking at Salisbury on Aug. 9, the bay quickly added the Gimcrack 12 days later and was not disgraced when third in the Middle Park on Sept. 26.

“Minzaal ran well in the Middle Park and he has come out of it fine, but that is him done for the season,” said Burrows. “He will be heading back up to Shadwell shortly for the winter. He is still very exciting and we will look forward to taking on the winner [Supremacy (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) again next year. I don’t think we will be looking to go any further than six with him and the Commonwealth Cup will be the first aim.”

“We would give him a run before Ascot, as it is always hard to go Ascot in a normal year first time out. As long as he is well, we will try to find a prep race for him. Where we start before that, I’m not sure yet, but the [G3] Pavilion [S.] at Ascot is an obvious one then there is also the [G2] Sandy Lane [S.] The ground will be a factor, but it’s a long way off.”

“Mehmas was taken off to stud at two, but I can’t see any reason why this lad won’t train on. He is as chilled as you like. He is not small and I look forward to how he does over the winter. Hopefully he will come back a stronger horse next year. He is bang up there with the best of them.”

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