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Racing News |
Abdullah Plans Strong Challenge for Santa Anita
18/09/09
Prince Khalid Abdullah, through his Juddmonte Farms, is no stranger to Breeders’ Cup success and, following on from the victories of Banks Hill (2001) and Intercontinental (2005), the Saudi owner could bid for a third success in the 10-furlong $2 million Grade One Emirates Airline Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita this year with his outstanding home-bred Midday.
The three-year-old daughter of Oasis Dream, trained by Henry Cecil, was beaten a head in the Group One Oaks at Epsom in June before going on to be third in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh the following month.
She gained a deserved success at the highest level when taking the 10-furlong Group One Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, beating fellow Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf hopeful Rainbow View by two and a quarter lengths.
“Midday may go for the Filly & Mare Turf and we will make a final decision after she has run in the Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp on October 4.” revealed Abdullah’s European racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe.
“Her victory in the Nassau Stakes was especially sweet, particularly on that ground, but she’s acted on a faster surface earlier in the season and going to Santa Anita wouldn’t be a problem. “
Grimthorpe also announced possible Breeders’ Cup plans for several other horses owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah.
Midday’s stable companion Father Time could be aimed at the $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon, having been fourth in the final British Classic of the season, the extended 14-furlong Group One St Leger at Doncaster on September 12. The three-year-old Dansili colt had previously recorded a four-length verdict in the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes over 12 furlongs at Royal Ascot in June.
Grimthorpe added: “Father Time could go for the Breeders’ Cup Marathon. He stayed most of the St Leger trip and I would be hopeful that he could get a mile and six furlongs around Santa Anita.
“I think that the St Leger was a very good, competitive race this year and he seems to have come back fine.”
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Spanish Moon, a five-year-old by El Prado, has already proven himself as one of the world’s top middle distance performers, following a close second in the Group One Dubai Sheema Classic at Nad Al Sheba in March with a brace of victories in France, including a decisive success in the Group Two 12-furlong Prix Foy at Longchamp on September 13.
Grimthorpe continued: “Spanish Moon also has the Breeders’ Cup as an option. We are thinking about the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (October 4) at the moment and there’s also the Pattinson Canadian International (October 17), which could lead to the Breeders’ Cup Turf. There is also Hong Kong to think about.
“The idea is to have him on song for the top international races and the Breeders’ Cup obviously comes into the equation. I thought he ran really well in the Prix Foy considering that was his first appearance since the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (June 28) and he was a bit rusty - that run should bring him on a ton.”
Lightly-raced Zacinto, who is also trained by four-time Breeders’ Cup winner Stoute, may book his ticket for Santa Anita if he performs well in either the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on September 26 or the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes at Newmarket on October 17. Both Group One contests are part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.
Another son of Dansili, the three-year-old was narrowly denied by subsequent Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up Westphalia in the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster in September last year. He was second in Group Two company on his latest appearance in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood at the end of August.
Grimthorpe commented: “We haven’t decided whether Zacinto is going to Ascot or Newmarket at the moment. They are both part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge but we would see how he goes in either race before deciding whether to let him run at Santa Anita. It’s doubtful at the moment that he will go for the Breeders’ Cup but it’s certainly possible.”
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge is 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.
There are 11 Challenge races held in Europe this year, with the next events taking place at Ascot on Saturday, September 26. The three Ascot contests are the Group Two Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (winner receives a place in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf), the Group One Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile (winner receives a place in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf) and the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, one of Europe’s premier all-aged mile contests, for which the victor will be guaranteed a place in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile.
For the full schedule of the Breeders' Cup Challenge races, please visit http://www.breederscup.com/content.aspx?id=40070
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
