More Than Looks flew home to deny Charlie Appleby a fifth straight FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar.
It was 2000 Guineas hero Notable Speech who was tasked with enhancing Appleby’s tremendous record in this race, and alongside Donnacha O’Brien’s Porta Fortuna, formed a strong European challenge.
Irish raider Porta Fortuna was short of room early as jockey Tom Marquand had to settle for a position in mid-pack, just ahead of Notable Speech, and met trouble throughout as the year’s leading filly at the distance failed to get involved.
However, a record-setting success looked possible for Appleby when William Buick pulled Notable Speech wide and turned on the son of Dubawi’s renowned after-burners entering the straight.
Notable Speech scorched home from a position in rear, but coming from even further back was More Than Looks, who powered his way to the front to give trainer Cherie DeVaux a first Breeders’ Cup victory.
The four-year-old winner reversed form with leading US contender Carl Spackler who did not figure at the business end, as Tim Yakteen’s Johannes held on for second, with Notable Speech third.
DeVaux said: “I really don’t know how to say it in words, this is just unbelievable.
“This is a horse we have had a lot of faith in from the beginning, things just haven’t gone to plan. The ownership group have been extremely patient with the plan we laid out for him and really all the credit goes to More Than Looks because he has been up against it all year and has answered every call and we’re here because of it.”
Buick said of Notable Speech: “I followed Umberto (Rispoli) on Johannes and had a pretty good trip.
“He ran a super race, it was his first time in a track like that.
“I thought it was between the two of us and then the winner arrived, showing that we had gone slow early.
“I’m extremely proud of the horse. To come here and leave with a winner (Rebel’s Romance in the Turf) is a credit to the whole team.”
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Rebel’s Romance produced a tremendous display at Del Mar to win the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf for a second time.
Charlie Appleby’s globetrotting star won this prize two years ago, but whereas James Doyle was in the saddle at Keeneland, it was William Buick who got his moment aboard the big-race favourite this time around in California.
Buick made a key early move to take Rebel’s Romance up with the pace, sitting hot on the heels of the leader Cabo Spirit.
Rounding the turn for home Buick asked his mount for maximum effort as he left his rivals flat-footed in the charge for the line before then holding on gamely as Japanese contender Rousham Park finished full of running, having been at the rear alongside Emily Upjohn through the early stages.
It was an 11th Breeders’ Cup win for Appleby who once again showed his prowess at this meeting, although there was to be no dream reunion for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori as the well-fancied Emily Upjohn failed to figure.
But much of the gloss was taken off the race with the death of Brian Meehan’s Royal Ascot winner Jayarebe, who collapsed on the track after crossing the line, suffering what veterinary officials said was believed to be a “cardiac event”.
AAEP on-call veterinarian Dr Al Ruggles told NBC Sports: “We offer our condolences obviously to all the connections. It’s suspected to be a cardiac event, they are unusual but can occur. If in fact that is it, post-mortems don’t help answer that question generally and they are almost impossible to predict. In a horse that is training well you wouldn’t know it.”
Of the globetrotting Rebel’s Romance, Appleby said: “First and foremost he’s very much a yard favourite and he’s built up this worldwide fanbase, most notable when he went to Hong Kong when everybody knew him.
William Buick celebrates aboard Rebel’s Romance (PA)
“Throughout the race I was pleased with where he was and pleased he made the move when he did. He’s a superstar, he really is. When you watch him run, you really feel it – you want him to win.
“To be campaigned at that level for the time he has takes a lot of guts.”
He went on: “He (Buick) was pretty confident we had got the job done, but he was idling because we’d been out there for so long.
“This fella owes us nothing. Obviously we would like to take him back to Dubai for the Sheema Classic, he’s a real star and draws all the media attention.
“With a horse like him he takes the pressure off you. When you roll a horse like him out you know you are going to get everything from him.
Like any athlete it takes a good one to knock him off his peg
“We planned to come back for the Turf last year, but he’d lost all of his mojo.
“We had to build him back up. Like any athlete it takes a good one to knock him off his peg.”
Emily Upjohn could never get in a blow under Frankie Dettori, finding little racing room, and John Gosden, who trains alongside his son, Thady, confirmed she had run her last race.
He said: “She hasn’t had a hard race, but that’s it now, she’s going into retirement.”
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Henri Matisse came out on top to land the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar.
Aidan O’Brien’s colt and his rivals were made to wait in the stalls after Aomori City broke through the starting gates and had to be reloaded.
When the field got away, the winner’s class showed as he overcame a wide passage to soar to success on a fruitful day for Ryan Moore and the Coolmore team.
Henri Matisse was O’Brien’s 20th Breeders’ Cup winner, equalling the record of the great D Wayne Lukas.
“It’s incredible, we all know what a special man he is. I’m honoured to be anywhere close to his record,” said O’Brien.
“I’m delighted for everybody. What can you say about Wayne? He rang me earlier in the week and he told me about this track, how to ride it and what to do and what not to do.
“He was saying about the Classic and how he thought we should ride our horse (City Of Troy). We feel very grateful and really privileged that he was so good to tell us everything – honoured really.
“I remember Wayne came down and told us what to do about the pony (when Giant’s Causeway ran in the 2000 Classic), then he said ‘I’ll come down and I’ll do it for you’.
“That was the Giant’s Causeway time and ever since he’s been such a help to us, we’re just so grateful to him. What a special man.”
Henri Matisse won his first three starts earlier in the year (Brian Lawless/PA)
Henri Matisse won his first three starts and then finished second in the National Stakes, prompting O’Brien to try him in blinkers in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.
The trainer said: “He went to the front in the National Stakes and dinked a bit. Then he had another legitimate excuse when I put blinkers on him.
“Ryan thought in France we did the wrong thing in putting blinkers on him, he was a little bit shy and he got a bad bump early and got a bit of a fright.
“He had to come through the bad ground and Ryan said to put a line through the run, there were a good few things went wrong.
“We always thought he was a very good horse, he’s another Wootton Bassett, an unbelievable talent.
Lake Victoria’s flawless record remains intact after she struck in the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar.
Aidan O’Brien’s Frankel two-year-old was ridden by Ryan Moore on an inside line in the opening stages of the one-mile contest, with the filly significantly tightened up for room on the first bend.
Lake Victoria appeared to briefly lose her balance, but Moore soon got her back on an even keel and was able to regain momentum on the rail.
In the straight she was switched out to find some racing room and when asked was easily able to pull away to a comprehensive success, extending her unbeaten run to five races and adding a third top-level success after victories in the Moyglare and Cheveley Park Stakes.
O’Brien was full of praise for Moore’s ride given the trouble Lake Victoria encountered in the initial exchanges.
He said: “Whether she got crowded or was bumped I’m not sure, but Ryan was further back than he wanted to be. He was in a terrible position but he gave her a brilliant ride
“The lads (Coolmore) decided to give her a bit more time (after the Cheveley Park) and come here and Ryan was very confident.
“Ryan says she will be a miler and we will train her for the Guineas. Hopefully she will get a mile and a quarter.
“We will let her thrive over the winter with the colts and then we will map out plans for all of them into the new year.”
Moore was in no doubt about Lake Victoria’s class before the race and felt she had stamped her authority in style.
He said: “She had very strong form, all she needed was normal racing luck she had her share of that and she was much the best.
“I had no concerns about the distance she had won over seven at the Curragh and to me there was no doubt that she would get the mile – she was way too good for them.
“Going forwardm she’s more of a miler and probably a Guineas filly.”
Reflecting on the incident on the first turn, Moore added: “She got pushed into the fence and that was that. They had gone pretty quick and by the end of the back (straight) most of them were done.
“She jumped very well but there were quite a lot of them wanted to lead, there wasn’t much space.”
Aidan O’Brien (right) celebrates with Derrick and Paul Smith (PA)
The filly is owned by the Coolmore triumvirate but runs in the colours of Michael Tabor, who is eager to see what the filly achieves in the future.
He said: “Something happened that I couldn’t quite see but she showed she is special under a great ride.
“She ranks very highly with some of our best fillies, only time will tell how good she is.”
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Magnum Force showed a superb turn of foot to take the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar.
The Ger Lyons-trained colt took a neat line to lose very little ground from stall four in the hands of Colin Keane.
In the straight he was tucked behind the leaders but accelerated to pull away and secure a comfortable success on the line.
Arizona Blaze ran on at the finish to take second for Adrian Murray, making it an Irish-trained first and second, with home runner Governor Sam taking third.
“I knew he’d need some luck in running and he got it,” said Keane.
“His last two runs in England were very good, albeit he was beaten and things didn’t really go to plan.
“We were well placed, he’s a horse with a lot of natural pace and thankfully I chose the right route in the straight.”
Lyons was delighted to see Magnum Force turnaround recent Doncaster form in the process of victory.
He said: “My horse had a late start to the season, he loves fast ground and when he ran at Doncaster, I vowed that if the horses that beat him were going to the Breeders’ Cup then we should.
“Hopefully we will get him home safe and sound, we’ll let him down and the sky will be the limit next year.”
Lyons was eager to praise Keane, who is set to be crowned Irish champion jockey for sixth time on Sunday.
He added: “Colin is the most underrated champion jockey on planet earth and I would like to see him on the big stage more.
“He’s had maybe three rides at the Breeders’ Cup and he’s won two. It’s about the time the world woke up to him.
“It’s fantastic, it’s a huge credit to the horse, a huge credit to my team. Big thanks to my owner, there’s plenty of us guys at home who can do this if we get the horses.
“The secret to training winners is getting the horses, it’s a simple as that. If a clown like me can train a winner at the Breeders’ Cup, anybody can!”
Magnum Force (third right) reversed Doncaster form at Del Mar (Mike Egerton/PA)
The Mick Appleby-trained Big Mojo had finished a length and a quarter ahead of Magnum Force in the Flying Childers at Doncaster last time, but was beaten into fourth.
Appleby said: “He had to go very hard to get a position but he battled away. The ground was a bit quick for him.”
Jockey Tom Marquand added: “He really needs six furlongs on a track like that.”
Archie Watson’s Flying Childers winner Aesterius was also in the line up but after racing prominently under James Doyle, he dropped back to finish sixth.
The rider said: “We got into a good position on the turn but he weakened in the straight.”
Aidan O’Brien’s pair of Whistlejacket and Ides Of March finished fifth and seventh respectively, with Shareholder coming home 12th for Karl Burke.
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Jayarebe can cap an excellent campaign when he bids to give Brian Meehan a third win in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar on Saturday.
The Zoffany colt has not let his connections down throughout a fantastic season that has seen him win three of his five starts and score in both the Hampton Court Stakes and at ParisLongchamp in the Prix Dollar on Arc weekend.
The Royal Ascot hero – who will again be ridden by Sean Levey – now heads to California looking to follow in the footsteps of Red Rocks (2006) and Dangerous Midge (2010), who have both won this event for the Manton handler in the past.
Jayarebe after winning the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)
Meehan said: “He’s an adaptable type of horse and Sean knows him so well. The trip’s good, and he will switch between 10 and 12 furlongs next year.
“This has been on Jayarebe’s radar since the spring and all his form is good, whether you look at the Dollar, the Hampton Court or the Feilden.
“The Breeders’ Cup is my favourite meeting and it’s wonderful to be back. To win a championship race on another continent is very special.”
Also with history in the Turf are John Gosden and Frankie Dettori, who teamed up to win this race with the great Enable in 2018 and are reunited Stateside with Emily Upjohn.
Frankie Dettori was reunited with Emily Upjohn on Wednesday (Neil Morrice/PA)
The evergreen Italian, who relocated to America at the end of the 2023 British Flat season, has ridden the daughter of Sea The Stars to both her previous Group One victories and is a fitting pilot for what could be her career swansong.
Aidan O’Brien won this event with Auguste Rodin 12 months ago and will saddle both Luxembourg and British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes runner-up Wingspan.
Meanwhile, Charlie Appleby’s globetrotting star Rebel’s Romance looks to recapture the title he won in 2022, having regained the winning thread at Cologne in the Preis Von Europa.
“Everybody knows about Rebel’s Romance, who always runs with his heart on his sleeve, and I was delighted with his run in Germany,” said the Moulton Paddocks handler.
Rebel’s Romance after his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (PA)
“He left there with credit, as they went hard, while the winner and second came from off the pace. He was just getting a bit tired in the last hundred yards, and William (Buick, jockey) said he will improve a ton.
“This horse has built up his own fan club, and it would be fantastic if he were to win it again.”
The Godolphin trainer also has a strong hand in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf with Cinderella’s Dream and Beautiful Love.
Both fillies have built up plenty of experience in America as part of Appleby’s satellite team and could give the handler his second victory in the race here at Del Mar, having saddled Wuheida to strike in 2017.
Trainer Charlie Appleby has a fine record at the Breeders’ Cup (Mike Egerton for The Jockey Club/PA)
“Cinderella’s Dream won a race which was strange to watch and then had a long ship to Woodbine, where she had a touch of colic and couldn’t run,” said Appleby.
“I toyed with running her in the Queen Elizabeth but decided against it and now she looks great, and ready to go.
“Beautiful Love won a Grade Three in the Big A and was unlucky on her second start. She deserves to be there.”
Soprano was a winner at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)
Other British interest is provided by George Boughey’s Royal Ascot heroine Soprano, who has remained in the States since picking up a silver medal in Keeneland’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup last month and now tries a mile and three furlongs for the first time in her career.
“She looks great and she has stayed out here since Keeneland when she was second in the QEII,” said Harry Herbert, managing director of owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.
“I think she will get the trip round here and Billy Loughnane is convinced she needs that trip now to be seen at her best effect, so let’s hope he is right. You never know until you try.”
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City Of Troy’s Del Mar date with destiny has finally arrived and on Saturday he will attempt to etch his name into the history books when lining up for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
It is a race courted by all associated with the son of Justify since he proved unstoppable at two and the momentum has continued to build and build throughout his three-year-old season, now reaching a crescendo in California ahead of the final start of the colt’s somewhat brilliant career.
The Classic has proven something of a holy grail for trainer Aidan O’Brien and his quest to get his hands on the dirt feature has seen him saddle some of Ballydoyle’s best in the $7million contest.
Rachel Richardson rides City Of Troy at Del Mar (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Giant’s Causeway has come closest to breaking O’Brien’s Classic curse when agonisingly denied by Tiznow in 2000, while the likes of Galileo, Hawk Wing and George Washington have all tried and failed when tasked with conquering America’s richest purse.
O’Brien now prepares to saddle the horse he regards as the best to have ever graced his hallowed Tipperary training grounds, as the imperious Derby, Eclipse and Juddmonte International winner tackles the dirt surface on which his Triple Crown-winning sire made his name.
He said: “There’s so many things that are going to be new and different to him. Obviously, we prepared him in Europe and he has an awful lot to overcome.
“Ryan (Moore, jockey) is vastly experienced now. Dreams don’t always come true, but we’re very happy with where we are and at the moment, we don’t think we could have done any more.
“Winning the Classic is more difficult than any other achievement in sport.”
In a truly international contest, Yoshito Yahagi will attempt to add the Classic to his decorated CV with leading Japanese contender Forever Young, the Saudi and UAE Derby scorer who went oh so close to plundering the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs earlier in the year.
Yahagi saddled a memorable Breeders’ Cup double the last time the festival was held at Del Mar, and his hopeful arrives on the back of a confidence-boosting win in the Japan Dirt Classic in early October.
“Everything has gone well since he has arrived at Del Mar, he settled in well and we’re very happy with how he has been training,” said Hiroshi Ando, racing manager to owner Susumu Fujita.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t get the result in the Kentucky Derby, we had no luck in that race but we had always planned to come back to the Breeders’ Cup after that run in the Kentucky Derby. We are on plan and he had a great win in his prep race to prepare for this.”
Forever Young is ready for his Breeders’ Cup assignment (Neil Morrice/PA)
Joining Forever Young among a three-strong raiding party from the Far East is last year’s runner-up Derma Sotogake and Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup silver medallist Ushba Tesoro, who was fifth at Santa Anita 12 months ago.
However, it is City Of Troy the Forever Young team fear, as their son of Real Steel bids for Classic glory from an inside draw.
“Obviously, number one is a very tough barrier number, but it is what it is, we have to go through it,” continued Ando.
The Forever Young team fear City Of Troy (Adam Davy/PA)
“There are three Japanese runners and they are all very talented, but also from Europe there is City Of Troy, who is an amazing horse.
“We have seen City Of Troy’s performances and he moves fantastically. He is an amazing horse, a champion horse – and we are very honoured to race against him, he is one of the best horses in the world and of course a very dangerous horse to us in this race.”
The Classic’s most successful trainer Bob Baffert has called on a familiar name and a rare European jockey to win the race in Frankie Dettori to partner his California Crown Stakes third Newgate.
However, America’s main hope is the Todd Pletcher-trained Fierceness, who claimed last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in emphatic style.
Fierceness is already a winner at the Breeders’ Cup (PA)
Owned by the Repole Stable operation of New York businessman Mike Repole, the colt has established himself as North America’s leading middle-distance performer on dirt thanks to success at Saratoga in the Jim Dandy and Travers Stakes.
“The time off since the Travers has done him well and we’re all very pleased with how he is heading into the race,” said Ed Rosen, general manager of Repole Stable.
“To use a cliche, you want to keep them happy and healthy once they have hit top form and Todd seems to be very happy with Fierceness since his most recent workouts.
“It’s very exciting and it’s been a build-up over time and now we are getting closer, you begin to get a little bit more nervous. When you compete in the Classic here, you need to be at your very best to win.”
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When it comes to the Breeders’ Cup Mile, Charlie Appleby has been an unstoppable force and he now goes for a record fourth straight success with 2000 Guineas hero Notable Speech at Del Mar on Saturday.
The Moulton Paddocks handler’s winning run began right here in the San Diego suburbs with Space Blues in 2021 and he has saddled Modern Games and Master Of The Seas to take home the prize for the last two years.
However, he now runs arguably his best contender yet in his Classic-winning son of Dubawi, who has shown his aptitude for a tight turning track when winning at Kempton in his early days and then his quality for red-hot assignments by scoring not only at Newmarket in the spring, but also in the Sussex Stakes.
Notable Speech (centre) made his first three appearances at Kempton (Steven Paston/PA)
Appleby said: “Notable Speech is in great form. If they go hard they will come back, but he’s one of those horses you would be comfortable about wherever he is during the race.
“He’s drawn six. I didn’t want to be any wider, but that gate still gives William (Buick, jockey) options. He’s an exciting horse and is, with his 2000 Guineas and Sussex Stakes wins, the highest-profile horse I’ve ever brought out here.”
Notable Speech was sunk by the ground in the Prix du Moulin last time out, with Appleby adding: “We know he doesn’t want soft ground, but he travelled and settled well and all the signs are good.”
The race lost some of its spice when Christopher Head’s Ramatuelle was ruled out of the race on Friday, but Notable Speech still faces a worthy adversary in Donnacha O’Brien’s Porta Fortuna.
Porta Fortuna (left) winning the Matron Stakes (Healy Racing/PA Wire)
Second in the 1000 Guineas before landing the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, she has since cemented herself as one of Europe’s leading performers at the distance by adding Group One victories in the Falmouth Stakes and Matron Stakes.
“She ran a belter in the Guineas first time out and after that, she hasn’t missed a beat since,” said O’Brien.
“We’ve had a great year with her, it’s great to bring her back here and hopefully we can finish the year on a high.
“She’s trained very well, we’re very happy with her, she’s healthy and happy and everything has gone to plan, so all is good so far.”
Porta Fortuna will be partnered by Tom Marquand and the trip to Del Mar represents a chance to go one better than when just touched off at Santa Anita 12 month’s ago.
O’Brien added: “We learned last year that she handles it very well, she handles the travel good and she’s travelled over well again this year.
“You can never be sure how they will cope with a long flight like that and adjusting over here, it can be very different for them, but she’s got a great temperament, so we’re lucky that way.”
Donnacha’s father Aidan O’Brien will not have a runner after Diego Velazquez was scratched. Chad Brown’s Carl Spackler and Tim Yakteen’s Johannes appear the pick of the US contingent, both arriving on a winning streak.
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There could be a fitting end to a fantastic season for Believing in the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, with George Boughey’s filly backed to “get her skates on” and finally get her moment in the sun in California.
The four-year-old has been a model of consistency for connections, only once outside the top four in a multitude of the year’s hottest sprint contests and winning twice along the way.
Ryan More was the man in the saddle when she struck at the Curragh in the summer and the 41-year-old’s big-match experience is backed to come to the fore when he climbs aboard his willing ally at Del Mar on Saturday.
Harry Herbert, managing director of owners Highclere Thoroughbred Racing, said: “Ryan is such a go-to man and has ridden some wonderful horses for us over the years. He knows this filly well and he knows the track well and he’s pleased to be riding her.
Believing winning at the Curragh (Niall Carson/PA)
“She gives you everything and you know when you ride Believing she absolutely leaves not an ounce in the tank. She’s like her father Mehmas and when you have a horse like that it’s exciting to come to a championship race knowing you will get everything she can give.”
This will be Believing’s 10th start of 2024, but Herbert is still backing the ultra-tough speedster to put her best foot forward.
He added: “Hopefully she’s ready to run well and she will have to get her skates on around here.
“She’s drawn well which is great and makes a big difference – if she can break well, she is drawn well and she seems to be in great form. She’s had a busy season, but she seems bright and George couldn’t be happier with her.”
It is Archie Watson’s Bradsell who has proved a thorn in Believing’s side, winning both the Nunthorpe and Flying Five Stakes with the Boughey-trained sprinter in second.
Bradsell has been better than ever this summer (Mike Egerton/PA)
A narrow defeat on testing ground in the Prix de l’Abbaye brought an end to Bradsell’s imperious winning run since returning from a career-threatening injury and he now searches for one last hurrah Stateside before a stallion career beckons.
Oliver St Lawrence, racing manager to Victorious Racing, said: “He didn’t really like the ground at Longchamp and he was very brave to run through that. We think he prefers a firmer surface and hopefully the surface should suit us out there.
“Obviously it’s not an ideal draw in 12, but hopefully he can get forward and the big American horse Cogburn (trained by Steven Asmussen, in nine) is also drawn a bit wide so hopefully they can get across and it does not impede him too much.
“He retires to the National Stud after this run and hopefully he can run one last big race and show us what he can do again.”
Also making his final career appearance is Big Evs, who is another having to combat being positioned out wide in stall 11.
Big Evs struck Breeders’ Cup gold at Santa Anita (PA)
He gave handler Mick Appleby one of the biggest days of his career when scorching to Juvenile Turf Sprint glory at Santa Anita last year, but will arguably need a career best to replicate Wesley Ward’s Golden Pal and bring the curtain down on his career in style with a Breeders’ Cup double.
“He’s got a tough ask being stuck out wide and hopefully he can break well like he normally does, otherwise I think he will be up against it from that draw,” said Appleby.
“He’s in good form and we know he can come round the bend well, I just hope he can jump well so he can get a decent position coming round the bend. We’ve freshened him up since York and he’s absolutely bouncing.
“It’s nice to go back to America and it will be nice to go out with a win, but as long as he comes back safe, that is always the main thing.”
Starlust could end Ralph Beckett and Rosa Ryan’s year on a real high (Mike Egerton/PA)
Ralph Beckett’s Starlust was third behind Big Evs at Santa Anita 12 months ago and could cap a phenomenal autumn for the Arc-winning handler and his jockey Rossa Ryan, while Charlie Appleby will saddle Star Of Mystery who has built up plenty of experience in the US this summer.
“Star of Mystery will need to break from the draw and then get the breaks in running,” said Appleby.
“She put up two good performances at Saratoga where on one occasion you couldn’t see her because she’s so small.
“She won easily on her second start and was probably an unlucky loser at Keeneland. I think she will be bang there.”
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Japanese expectations for Forever Young in the Breeders’ Cup Classic have been raised by the opinion of trainer Yoshito Yahagi that he has arrived in California on the back of a perfect preparation.
A winner of both the Saudi and UAE Derbys earlier in the year, the son of Real Steel was agonisingly denied in the Kentucky Derby in May, finishing third in a three-way photo finish behind Kenny McPeek’s Mystik Dan and fellow Classic contender, Chad Brown’s Sierra Leone.
That is his only reverse to date and a return to America has been on the cards ever since, tuning up for his Del Mar mission when thriving on home soil in the Japan Dirt Classic at the beginning of October.
Forever Young is one of three Japanese contenders in a truly international Classic, with Yahagi having happy memories of the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, winning both the Filly & Mare Turf with Loves Only You and the Distaff with the Oisin Murphy-ridden Marche Lorraine in 2021.
Speaking through an interpreter on Thursday, Yahagi – who also numbers the Saudi Cup and Dubai Turf on his list of international achievements, courtesy of Panthalassa – said: “I am very pleased with his condition and think he’s coming into the race off a perfect preparation.
“It’s opposite to what happened earlier in the year when he went to Saudi and then Dubai ahead of the Kentucky Derby. I think that was too much, but the way he has settled in here at Del Mar is very encouraging.
“I don’t know how he will handle the kickback which he will probably experience as he is a horse that gets stronger as the race progresses.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/88bca6f2-1876-4c39-bfaa-d087ef69f5c7.jpeg7701540Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-10-31 17:29:402024-10-31 17:29:40Yahagi has every faith Forever Young is ready for Classic battle
Charlie Appleby could be in possession of all the aces as Aomori City and Al Qudra go for Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf glory in Del Mar.
The Moulton Paddocks handler has an exceptional record at the Breeders’ Cup with his first victory at the Stateside event coming in 2013 in this event with Outstrip.
He has since got his hands on the one-mile contest a further twice with Line Of Duty striking in 2018 and Modern Games landing the spoils the last time the Breeders’ Cup visited Del Mar in 2021.
Modern Games’ success had a dash of controversy as he was scratched in error by the stewards after an incident at the start, before being reinstated to run for ‘purse only’ purposes and excluded from the betting.
Charlie Appleby has a fantastic record at the Breeders’ Cup (Mike Egerton/PA)
Modern Games returned to some boos from disgruntled patrons then, but Appleby is hoping one of his crack pair can spark a joyous return to the California track’s winner’s circle this time around.
“Aomori City and Al Qudra are hard to split on what they have achieved in the Juvenile Turf,” he said.
“Aomori won the Vintage (Stakes at Goodwood) and ran creditably on slower ground in the National Stakes (at the Curragh). He’s neat, he’s sharp and he fits in very well.”
Aomori City is the choice of William Buick, leaving former Godolphin number two James Doyle to once again don the white cap aboard Al Qudra.
The son of No Nay Never will try to reverse Woodbine form with Andrew Balding’s Summer Stakes scorer New Century, but the colt was somewhat unfortunate in running during that Canadian Grade One, with Appleby also able to take comfort from his charge’s two previous defeats of the Qatar Racing-owned son of Kameko.
“Al Qudra was beaten by a nice horse in Canada, which I felt was like his first start (as he had not run since July),” continued Appleby.
“He’s drawn in four and we’re happy with that. He’s trained well.”
Another British handler with two contenders is Hugo Palmer, who has taken both The Waco Kid and Seagulls Eleven on a transatlantic mission following some likeable displays this term.
Seagulls Eleven not only sports the colours of Brighton football club but will also carry the hopes of some of their star players, with the likes of James Milner and Danny Welbeck amongst the colt’s ownership.
“Seagulls Eleven always showed us a little bit more at home and is a bit more highly tried, but he’s actually only the winner of a novice race, despite being third in the National Stakes and second in the Superlative,” said Palmer.
Seagulls Eleven has performed with credit this season (David Davies for The Jockey Club/PA)
“He showed such incredible gate speed in the National Stakes and he’s definitely better on faster ground. He just bogged down in the Dewhurst on soft ground (fourth) and was possibly on the unfavourable bit of the track.”
Meanwhile, The Waco Kid landed the Group Three Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket when last seen and has built up plenty of experience this term.
“The Waco Kid has just improved all season and with every run has got better, which has been exciting,” continued Palmer.
“After his last run there were two Group Ones left in Europe and no Group Twos and if you add the value of the two Group Ones together and double it, you don’t get to the Breeders’ Cup (value), so it was relatively easy to persuade the owners to go to Del Mar.
“Both of the horses we brought out here I feel are crying out for the mile.”
Henri Matisse has won three times this season (Brian Lawless/PA)
This race has been won by Aidan O’Brien the last two years and it is Henri Matisse who is tasked with making it three in a row.
Deeply exciting when winning his first three, his form has somewhat tapered off of late, but that is not dissuading the master of Ballydoyle who is predicting a Stateside resurgence.
He said: “We think he’ll bounce back. The ground was a little bit soft in Longchamp and I put blinkers on him when I shouldn’t have.
“He was a little bit immature when he got to the front in the National Stakes and it was probably a kneejerk reaction to put blinkers on him that quick – I should have left them alone. He got tightened up early on at Longchamp and it frightened him a little bit, so I think it was more my fault than his.
“He came out of the race very well and that’s why we decided to come here – lovely ground and a flat track. We think it will do him good and we’ll learn a lot about him and he will learn a lot.
“He’s drawn wide, so I think Ryan will take his time on him, but he’s a horse who has shown he doesn’t mind coming from the back.”
Hopes of a European winner in the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf appear to rest firmly on the Ballydoyle handler’s shoulders with O’Brien responsible for leading fancy Lake Victoria and able second string Heavens Gate.
The former arrives unbeaten and having proven her versatility by winning Group Ones at both six and seven furlongs of late, she now bids for a third straight success at the highest level – this time at a mile.
Lake Victoria is unbeaten (Mike Egerton/PA)
O’Brien continued: “She’s very good. What she’s done this year has been exceptional.
“Ryan thought she could run in the Fillies’ Mile but the lads decided that if she was to go over a mile this year, this would be lovely for her. It’s a lovely, flat track, she’s a filly with a lot of class, so we’re looking forward to seeing her run.”
On Heavens Gate, he added: “She’s been working well and her last piece of work was very good.
“I remember when Ryan rode her first time at Navan, he said she felt like a filly that wanted seven furlongs or a mile.
“We never went to seven until the last day and then she won that. She’s a big, hardy filly and I’m very happy with her and she could run a big race.”
Wathnan Racing launch a two-pronged assault on the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint on Friday, as their leading hope Aesterius continues his rivalry with Big Mojo at Del Mar.
The Emir of Qatar’s racing operation will be represented by both Archie Watson’s Aesterius and Karl Burke’s Shareholder, with retained rider James Doyle pinning his colours to the mast of the Watson runner when choosing between the pair.
The hardy son of Mehmas has won four of his six starts and arrives on an upward trajectory after landing the Flying Childers at Doncaster in September.
That race was won last year by Big Evs before storming to glory at Santa Anita, and connections are hopeful Aesterius’ natural speed and banked experience can come to the fore.
“James has decided to ride Aesterius, it was not an easy decision at all actually,” said Richard Brown, the owners’ racing adviser.
“Luckily we had William Buick ready to ride whichever James didn’t and he took quite a long time making his mind up, but he had to in the end and decided on Aesterius.
“He’s had more runs and is coming into it on the back of a couple of stakes wins and is a pretty streetwise character, he’s got a great temperament for travelling, he breaks well and can travel well up on the pace and he’s also very fast. This should be right up his alley, hopefully.
Shareholder will always have a special place in the Wathnan affections, with the Norfolk Stakes hero a part of their fabulous four-timer at Royal Ascot.
Things did not go to plan for the Spigot Lodge inmate when upped in trip for the Prix Morny but freshened up since, and with the screw tightened on a recent away day at Southwell, he is backed to showcase the ability that saw him thrive in his first two outings.
“We didn’t have the smoothest passage into the Prix Morny, just a few niggly things,” continued Brown.
Shareholder (left) winning at Royal Ascot (John Walton/PA)
“The ground and the trip that day was wrong. I think five furlongs on rattling ground is exactly what he needs. He is very fast and will like the ground.
“It looks like a recovery mission on paper, but Karl and his team couldn’t be happier with the horse and the way he is training and I get the feeling Karl thinks he’s in the best shape he has had him in all year.
“They have both won juvenile Group Twos having been bought at the breeze-up sales and this has been the target for both of them, we’re excited about seeing them both run.”
Mick Appleby enjoyed one of the finest moments in his career when winning this race 12 months ago and now Big Mojo will attempt to provide the Rutland handler with a double in one of the Breeders’ Cup’s opening contests.
Like Big Evs, Big Mojo will carry the colours of Crystal Palace-supporting Paul Teasdale and he has plenty of history with big-race rival Aesterius having won the battle in the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood before going down by a neck in the rematch at Doncaster.
The duo will settle the scoreline in California, with Appleby buoyed by the way the son of Mohaather handled the bend in a pre-Breeders’ Cup gallop at Southwell.
“He’s ended up with a decent draw and hopefully he jumps well and can be up there just behind the leaders,” said Appleby.
“He worked well at Southwell and went round the bend really well. Tom (Marquand, jockey) was really happy with him and said he sort of switched onto the right lead coming round the bend, which is encouraging and he seemed to handle it well.
“He’s pretty quick and drawn three, I think that will be ideal for him. He’s in good order and I think he will go well.”
Aidan O’Brien saddles both Prix Morny scorer Whistlejacket (Ryan Moore) and the unexposed Ides Of March (Frankie Dettori), with Ger Lyons’ Flying Childers third Magnum Force and Adrian Murray’s Arizona Blaze other raiders from Ireland.
O’Brien said: “Whistlejacket is good, we’re happy. Ryan thought the last day (when second in the Middle Park Stakes) he maybe should have gone forward more urgently from the stalls and kept going, but he still ran well.
“We think he’s a quick horse and whether he finds it a little bit foreign, it’ll be very fast around here, but we think and hope he should run well.”
On Ides Of March, he added: “He’s a fast horse, we think he’s going to be a sprinter for next year. He probably doesn’t know as much about sprinting as Whistlejacket, but he’s going to learn a lot on Friday, so we think that will stand him in good stead for next year.”
Japan look to have a great chance of enhancing their Breeders’ Cup record with the unbeaten Ecoro Sieg, while the best of the home team could well be George Weaver’s Governor Sam who has won his last four.
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Saeed bin Suroor knows just how hard it is to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic and says City Of Troy will be a “real champion” if he can succeed in his quest to conquer the dirt at Del Mar.
Just like Aidan O’Brien, Bin Suroor has tried many times to get his hands on the showpiece event and similarly to the master of Ballydoyle, the Godolphin handler has come up short with some of the best he has ever trained.
Both have come closest to landing the prize in editions won by Tiznow, with O’Brien seeing Giant’s Causeway thwarted by a neck at Churchill Downs in 2000 and a year later it was Sakhee’s turn to fall agonisingly short as the Classic’s only dual winner held off Bin Suroor’s Arc hero by a nose.
Bin Suroor has also seen the top-class pair of Swain and Thunder Snow hit the frame in the 10-furlong event and feels those defeats prove not only how difficult the Classic is to win, but also how good City Of Troy will need to be to triumph in California.
As we approach the 40th Running of the Breeders' Cup, we've reached the top 5 #BreedersCup Moments!
Tiznow somehow understood that he was carrying the pride and will of an entire country upon his wide withers in the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) just 46 days after the… pic.twitter.com/cxUl7UbPl6
He said: “City Of Troy is a star and what he has done in Europe is amazing. I think everyone is looking forward to seeing him run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
“The quality of racing at the Breeders’ Cup is different class, the cream rises to the top and the quality of horses that head there from Europe and America to run in those races is amazing – if City Of Troy wins he will be a real champion.
“Sakhee, Swain and Thunder Snow all ran there and got beat and it shows you how tough this race is to win.”
Bin Suroor has won countless races on the dirt over the years and, although Sakhee was testing his credentials on dirt for the first time in his own Classic bid, the majority of his string would be proven on the surface before heading into uncharted territory.
Thunder Snow is another to tackle the Classic for Bin Suroor (John Walton/PA)
However, the four-time champion trainer has been impressed by what he has seen from the exceptional turf performer of his generation and is keen to see how City Of Troy will fare when the son of Justify tackles dirt for the very first time in his Stateside swansong.
“I’ve won the Dubai World Cup nine times and the majority of times these are turf horses, but you have to give them a chance,” explained Bin Suroor.
“Myself, I would run them in Group races on dirt before running in the big races and then you would know if they handle the dirt or not, but looking at City Of Troy’s pedigree he will be fine.
“His breeding is like a dirt horse, but his runs on turf have been brilliant. He is class on turf, but his breeding shows he could handle the dirt.
City Of Troy will bid for Breeders’ Cup Classic glory at Del Mar (John Walton/PA)
“For most horses you have to try them on dirt and see how they handle it, but for the majority of class horses they will handle it – if they are good enough, they can also do it in the dirt.”
If City Of Troy was to prosper in the Classic, then he will not only join an elite band of horses able to showcase their best on a variety of surfaces, but also cement his legacy as one of racing’s very best.
“Not always do you get horses who can run so well on both surfaces, maybe only a few like Thunder Snow who won the Dubai World Cup on the dirt and two Group Ones on turf in France,” explained Bin Suroor.
“Thunder Snow finished third at the Breeders’ Cup and it is always very tough racing, especially the Classic. People are looking forward to seeing how City Of Troy will do and it will be great if he could win.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/277862086-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-10-31 12:01:232024-10-31 12:01:23‘It will be great if he could win’ – Bin Suroor rooting for City Of Troy
It is a case of quality rather than quantity for Oisin Murphy as he heads to Del Mar looking to strike with New Century and Beautiful Love at the Breeders’ Cup.
The Irishman has enjoyed a fine 2024, riding over 200 winners worldwide and recently being crowned British champion jockey for the fourth time.
He now has the chance to add to his sole Breeders’ Cup success, which came aboard Japan’s Marche Lorraine in the Distaff in 2021, with two high-quality mounts.
Murphy’s first taste of the California turf will be aboard New Century for Andrew Balding and Qatar Racing, with the son of connections’ Classic hero Kameko already a winner at the highest level this term.
Arriving at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in top form after winning his last two, he was last seen landing the Grade One Summer Stakes in August but will have to overcome a wide draw in stall 11 if he is to secure a hat-trick.
Murphy said: “I’m really looking forward to New Century. He has been perfect since he arrived here and hopefully we can have a smooth few days leading up to the race.
“He’s drawn 11 which is a little bit high, but he’s the morning line favourite and hopefully he can run very well.”
Oisin Murphy will ride for Charlie Appleby at the Breeders’ Cup (Mike Egerton for the Jockey Club/PA)
Murphy will be seen in the royal blue of Godolphin on Saturday when he links up with Charlie Appleby’s Beautiful Love in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
The daughter of Siyouni has been part of the Moulton Paddock handler’s American satellite string this summer and that Stateside experience could prove a valuable asset.
“It’s great that Charlie Appleby has asked me to ride Beautiful Love and she obviously has plenty of experience in America now,” continued Murphy.
“She has some good form to her name and I’m looking forward to partnering her.”
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Ramatuelle will attempt to uphold family honour and emulate the great French mare Goldikova when she seeks Breeders’ Cup Mile glory in California on Saturday.
Trained by Freddy Head for the Wertheimer brothers, Goldikova made the eight-furlong contest her own, winning it for three straight years between 2008-2010 and ending her glorious career with a valiant third in the race at Churchill Downs in 2011.
Now Head’s son, Christopher, will seek to relive the French glory days at the Breeders’ Cup with his own special filly, who having excited at two has performed with credit in a host of big races this term before storming to victory in Prix de la Foret when last seen.
Ramatuelle, who is part-owned by NBA Hall of Famer Tony Parker, faces off against 2000 Guineas hero Notable Speech in a blockbuster clash at Del Mar, as the great French hope bids to end Charlie Appleby’s winning run in the event.
She returns to a mile after her emphatic victory over seven furlongs at ParisLongchamp on Arc day, with her handler confident of a bold bid after being handed an inside draw.
Head, whose father also rode the magnificent dual Mile winner Miesque, said: “Everything is all right with Ramatuelle. Her number in the draw is pretty OK because she has that turn of foot that can gain her any position and it was evident when she won the Foret.
“I’m confident about her stamina and we know she’s very good between seven furlongs and a mile.”
Head, who saw Blue Rose Cen and Big Rock moved by their owners for this season, added: “It’s been a strange season for me between owners and trainer, but my owners are making it easy for me to be a good trainer.
“I look back at Goldikova who was so perfect in every way and I’m very proud to train for the Wertheimers.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/d552f098-88c5-45ae-ad38-1a74b1e03b54.jpg8001600Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-10-29 17:39:292024-10-29 18:30:08Head has every reason to think Ramatuelle can add to family history
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