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Racing News |
Breeders’ Cup Classic Under Consideration for Sea The Stars
04/10/09
Sea The Stars was already assured his place in the history books as he headed to Paris, France, ahead of today’s Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe but, after a stunning victory in the 4 million euros Group One Longchamp contest, he ranks as one of the all-time greats in European racing.
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It was his sixth Group One success in as many months and connections will take their time before deciding whether a bid for win number seven could come in the $5 million (US) Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on November 7.
“It’s wonderful that it’s over and a great relief," said Sea The Stars’ trainer John Oxx. “He did enough when he hit the front and he's a great, great horse to keep on winning. This horse has the gears and if a horse has speed and gears, he'll get himself out of trouble.
"He’s done a lot this year and we take it race by race with him. We will let the dust settle and now is not the time to make a decision about the Breeders’ Cup which is on November 7.
“We will see how the horse is and then decide. To have got as far as the Arc is a lot to be thankful for. I can’t see him staying in training next year, but we haven’t discussed it."
Sea The Stars became the first horse ever to win the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. He triumphed over 18 rivals by at least two lengths.
Winning rider Mick Kinane added: “He exceptional - he’s just a phenomenal, rare horse. They were going a nice pace and I knew I would need a bit of luck in the straight, no matter what happened, but I knew I had the pace to go anywhere I wanted.”
Fourth-placed Conduit could head for the $3 million (US) Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf, a race he won 12 months ago.
“The champion beat everyone again but we are delighted with his run and the Breeders' Cup will be on the agenda again, provided he comes out of this alright,” said Conduit’s trainer Sir Michael Stoute.
GALLERY TAKES ABBAYE
Progressive three-year-old Total Gallery earned a place at Santa Anita next month with a victory in the five-furlong Prix de l’Abbaye earlier on the Longchamp card under Johnny Murtagh.
The Group One contest is the penultimate European leg of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge, with the winner guaranteed a starting position in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
There are 11 European races in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge, an international series of 63 races whose winners earn qualifying positions into a corresponding race at the World Championships, following the payment of applicable entry fees on October 26.
The final European Breeders’ Cup Challenge race is the Group One Emirates Airline Champion Stakes at Newmarket on October 17, for which the victor is guaranteed a place in the $3 million (US) Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf.
For the full schedule of the Breeders' Cup Challenge races, please visit http://www.breederscup.com/content.aspx?id=40070
Total Gallery, whose sire Namid won the Prix de l’Abbaye in 2000, may not run again this year according to trainer Stan Moore but the seemingly unlucky runner-up Fleeting Spirit is set to contest the Breeders’ Cup Sprint on Polytrack at Santa Anita.
Moore said of the winner: “He's a top-notch horse and has just improved and improved all year, but we thought the ground might have been too quick for him. He’s proved there that he’s a pretty awesome horse. Johnny (Murtagh) said that Total Gallery is the best sprinter he's ridden since his sire Namid and that he’ll be an awesome horse next year.
“He’s a horse who has the world as his oyster but that will probably be it for him this season.”
Fleeting Spirit’s part-owner, British Horseracing Authority chairman Paul Roy, commented: “She had a nightmare run and too much to do. I didn’t think she would make the ground up but there we go.
“She’s so game and is likely to stay in training next year. Now I’d like to take on the boys in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
“I think she’s the best sprinter in the world and it would be good to prove it in the World Championships.”
SHALANAYA AND POUNCED COULD BE HEADING TO BREEDERS’ CUP
An unforgettable weekend for the Aga Khan continued when the Mikel Delzangles-trained Shalanaya won the Group One Qatar Petroleum Prix de l’Opera and the winner could head for Breeders’ Cup Filly And Mare Turf.
“I hesitated for a long time before running the filly in this race as I was afraid she would lack experience against more exposed rivals,” said Delzangles. “The Breeders' Cup Filly And Mare Turf would be a possibility but we will see.”
Newmarket trainer John Gosden, who won last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf with Donativum, could be represented in this year’s running with Pounced after the Rahy colt finished runner-up to Siyouni in the Group One Jean-Luc Lagardere.
“The winner looks extremely good and the race was run in a very fast time, especially given that they went no pace early on,” said Gosden. “I’ve freshened him up for the end of the season and he has some smart entries. He’s in the Group One Dewhurst Stakes and is also Breeders’ Cup eligible and I wouldn’t be frightened about giving that a try.”
About Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup administers the Breeders' Cup World Championships; Thoroughbred racing's year-end Championships consisting of 14 races and $25.5 million in purses, which makes it the richest event in sports. At last year's Breeders' Cup, more than $100 million in winning wagers were returned to fans at betting locations around the globe. The Breeders' Cup also administers the Breeders' Cup Challenge qualifying series, and the Breeders' Cup Stakes Program. Breeders' Cup has offices in Lexington, Kentucky, and in New York City. Breeders' Cup press releases appear on the Breeders' Cup Web site, www.breederscup.com. You may follow the Breeders' Cup on Twitter at http://twitter.com/BreedersCup
