Tag Archive for: Breeders’ Cup Festival

More agony for Rosallion in Moulin as Sahlan prevails

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Rosallion’s wait for a first victory of the season continues, as Francis-Henri Graffard’s Sahlan produced a career best to win the Qatar Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.

It has been a trying summer for Richard Hannon’s stable star who has had made the podium in the Lockinge, Queen Anne and Sussex Stakes before finishing a close-up fourth in the City of York last month.

Sent to ParisLongchamp, the scene of his Group One triumph as a juvenile, his luck was fancied to change and he finishing strongly in the hands of Sean Levey.

However, this time he had to give way to one of the home contingent, as Francis-Henri Graffard’s contender – who was down the field in the French 2000 Guineas earlier in the summer and was supplemented earlier in the week – stepped up markedly on his Group Three victory at Deauville last month to strike.

Sahlan held a narrow advantage over Rosallion on the line, with The Lion In Winter filling the third position for Aidan O’Brien. The winner could now head to the Breeders’ Cup.

Graffard, who is enjoying a dream season in his homeland, told Sky Sports Racing: “You have to thank the owners for respecting my opinion and trusting me to take on a big challenge.

“I said to Sheikh Joaan (of Al Shaqab Racing) I didn’t have many options for the horse, I think he’s in very good form, he can quicken, it’s a big gamble, but if we’re in the first five, we have nothing to lose.

“He believed in me and it’s paid off nicely. I always liked this horse, he’s been beaten but in the Poule d’Essai we had a lot of excuses and I couldn’t blame the horse. He was sick when he was beaten in the Listed race and then he won a Group Three comfortably.

“I had the support, and I’m very happy. I don’t think I will run him again on soft ground here. If he’s well, we might look to the Breeders’ Cup Mile but he’s a horse we will likely keep as a four-year-old. That’s the softest ground we would look to run him on.”

Hannon could not hide his frustration that his pride and joy had been touched off once more.

“It’s extremely disappointing and hard to take,” he said.

“Really, Rosallion is tough. He’s the best horse in the race. Nobody did anything wrong. He will end up winning one, everybody agrees on that. In fact, he hasn’t really been beaten, has he?”

Wayne Lordan rode The Lion In Winter and said: “He enjoyed getting a lead today and he enjoyed (being) on the turn. I thought he ran a very good race and I’m very pleased with him.”

Big targets on the horizon for Sprint Cup hero Mojo

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Qipco Champions Day at Ascot and a second trip to the Breeders’ Cup are among the options under consideration for Big Mojo after he provided trainer Mick Appleby with a first domestic Group One success in the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock.

The Rutland handler has saddled only one previous top-level winner, with the similarly named Big Evs claiming a thrilling victory at the Breeders’ Cup two years ago.

Big Mojo emulated his former stablemate by winning the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood last summer before performing creditably at the Breeders’ Cup himself, while this season he had won Ascot’s Pavilion Stakes and come within a neck of a Group One triumph in the July Cup at Newmarket.

Having subsequently finished only fifth in the King George Stakes at Goodwood, the Mohaather colt was a 16-1 shot for his latest big-race test on Merseyside – but with stands’ rail to help, he roared back to form under a power-packed drive from William Buick to record a one-and-a-quarter-length victory.

Appleby said: “That was absolutely great, he did it so well. Everything went to plan and it took William half the track to pull him up!

“I think it does mean more to win a Group One here (in Britain). He’s a very good horse, obviously we were disappointed at Goodwood but we put it down to the softer ground.

“There were a lot of question marks next to his name, but he was in great form at home and we were coming here quite optimistic, to be fair

“We always had faith in the horse and he’s definitely up there with Big Evs.”

Big Mojo was a decisive winner at Haydock
Big Mojo was a decisive winner at Haydock (Martin Rickett/PA)

Both Big Evs and Big Mojo are part-owned by Paul Teasdale, who is clearly keen on a return to California in early November.

He said: “We knew he would give us a big run. I said to William going out ‘we just need another July Cup performance’ as we were only inches away from winning that day. We knew he was capable and we knew this was a Group One horse and it was just a case of getting it right on the day.

“He came fourth at the Breeders’ Cup last year and we wouldn’t be scared to go back. We think he’s equally good at five or six furlongs and he handled Del Mar really well last year.

“We’ve got an entry at Ascot on Champions Day and we might even consider the Prix de l’Abbaye. Let’s enjoy today and we’ll think about it.”

Buick was riding for the first time and said: “It was a brilliant spare ride to get, it all came together and we got the job done.

“It’s beautiful ground and I think middle to stands’ side is where you want to be. The race panned out well, but he put in a big performance I thought. He was very smooth and really I had no moment of worry. Once I gave him the get-go, he just got on with it and saw it out well.

“I’m delighted for Mick and the owners. They’re great people and these are the days we all do it for.”

James Owen hoping Wimbledon Hawkeye can be Breeders’ Cup ace

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Wimbledon Hawkeye will head straight for the Breeders’ Cup following his lucrative success in America last weekend.

Although James Owen’s charge had previously failed to get his head in front since winning the Royal Lodge as a two-year-old, he has been placed in a number of high-profile races this season including the Craven Stakes, the Dante, the Princess of Wales’s Stakes and the Gordon Stakes.

The Kameko colt travelled to Kentucky Downs as a leading contender for the $2million Nashville Derby and claimed a thrilling victory in the hands of Frankie Dettori, who Owen hopes will be on board again at Del Mar on November 1.

“It was perfect, a great result. I’m proud of the horse and proud of the team that took him over. It was great prize-money and we had a great time,” said the Newmarket handler.

“He’s won prize-money every time he’s ran, so he’s a great horse for us to have. The international scene was what we wanted to get on and that was a great start for us.

“He’s come out of the race really well and we’re looking forward to going back to America for the Breeders’ Cup Turf. He’ll go straight there, he’s been busy, so he’s got a nice break now until that.

“An extra furlong is going to help him and quick ground obviously suits. It’s going to be a strong race against older horses, but he deserves his chance in it now. He travelled well, Frankie really liked him and hopefully he’ll be keen to ride him again.

“We’re nine weeks away, so it’s hard to say for sure, but I’m sure he’ll be available.”

Jim Goldie favouring Ascot date for American Affair

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Jim Goldie is leaning towards Champions Day at Ascot over the Breeders’ Cup for his stable star American Affair.

The King Charles III Stakes victor was one of the most popular winners at Royal Ascot and had Goldie dreaming of a trip to America.

However, a setback in the days after Ascot put plans on hold for the five-year-old and he is still only in light work, which makes Goldie think he should target just one race.

“We’re still in pre-season mode with him, if that makes sense, we’re planning towards October time so we’ve eight to 10 weeks,” said Goldie.

“We haven’t made a final decision about America yet, but I think it’s more likely that we go to Ascot with him as I don’t want to do both as that would mean rushing him.

“Obviously the Ascot race is six furlongs and he might just be a five-furlong specialist, but if he’s not that’s another string to his bow.”

Goldie finished second in the 2012 British Champions Sprint with Hawkeyethenoo while Jack Dexter was beaten just a neck the following year, so the handler is eager to finally secure the title.

“The point about Ascot is I’ve seen it, been there and done it but not quite won it! I’ve come close a few times and we’ve had horses run well there whereas going halfway around the world, it could be too firm for him,” he said.

“The option is there next year if we need it. We know how his form is stacking up as the horse we beat easy twice this year (Jm Jungle) is now going for the Nunthorpe after winning at Goodwood.

“I do like Champions Day. Jack Dexter won the race after Frankel there but nobody remembers as everyone was still talking about Frankel!

“I had it in my head we were going to America but I wanted a prep-race and I could only see two. The Ayr Gold Cup or Ascot, and Ascot was only 10 days or so before.

“I spoke to Tadhg O’Shea who rides all over the world and he said you want to ideally get them over there in plenty of time to acclimatise, so it then became one or the other so that’s where we are. I’d think it’s Ascot but I’ll sit on the fence as long as I can.”

Goldie focusing on Breeders’ Cup date with American Affair

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Jim Goldie is “reasonably confident” American Affair will still make the Breeders’ Cup after he was forced to rule his stable star out of the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes at York.

The five-year-old was one of the most popular winners at Royal Ascot when he powered through the field under Paul Mulrennan to win the King Charles III Stakes having triumphed in a handicap earlier in the season.

However, having had a routine flu vaccination, Goldie noticed his stable star was lame behind and a bone scan showed an issue that will prevent him from running next month.

“We’re hoping it’s not the end of his season,” said Goldie.

“We thought, just to clear the decks, if we took him out of the Nunthorpe now we wouldn’t try to rush him back. We don’t think it’s that serious, but if you get a warning, you heed it.

“It was after his routine vaccine for equine flu, sometimes it sets off an allergic reaction, that’s the whole idea of it. Basically he went lame behind on us, but he came sound quite quick.

“Obviously something was going on, so we decided to bone scan him and it highlighted some issues. If you scan most horses in training you’ll find something, but we’re just being careful.

“The Breeders’ Cup isn’t until November 1, I’ve taken advice from various vets that I work with and they think he can make that. I’m reasonably confident we’ll get him there.”