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Racing News |
Rip Heads to Breeders’ Cup After QEII Win
26/09/09
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Rip Van Winkle followed in the steps of some equine greats by winning today’s Group One Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot and his next stop is set to be Santa Anita on November 7.
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Although the winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes automatically receives a place in the $2 million (US) TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile, Rip Van Winkle is set to line up in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.
The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes was one of three races at Ascot today that form part of 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.
Hibaayeb, winner of today’s Group One Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile, now has an automatic place in the $1 million (US) Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf, while today’s Group Two Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes winner Joshua Tree, also trained by Aidan O’Brien, qualifies for the $1 million (US) Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita
There are 11 Challenge races held in Europe this year, with three still to take place after today - the Group Three Diamond Stakes at Dundalk on October 2 (winner earns a place in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon), the Group One Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp on October 4 (winner receives a place in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint) and the Group One Emirates Airline Champion Stakes at Newmarket on October 17, for which the victor is guaranteed a place in the 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
Rip Van Winkle, winner of the Group One Sussex Stakes on his previous start, battled impressively under Johnny Murtagh to beat Zacinto by a length and a quarter in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
“Rip Van Winkle is not just a good horse, he’s a great horse. He’s brave, he stays and his biggest asset is his class and early speed,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien. “We didn’t run a pacemaker today because he would have had to have been a Group One sprinter to have led them and we don’t have a horse fast enough to do that so it was brilliant that it worked out today with Aqlaam going on. Johnny rode a masterful race on him.
“We’ll really look forward to the Breeders’ Cup Classic with him because he’s a horse that cruises and stays. His preparation was interrupted coming into this and hopefully we’ll get a smooth run through to the Classic.
“Mastercraftsman could also go for the Classic, that will be the owners’ decision, and he may run on Friday at Dundalk in the Group Three Diamond Stakes (part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge). We may also take Septimus out to America and the two-year-old Viscount Nelson, but again it will be the lads’ decision.”
Jockey Johnny Murtagh added: “I think the Breeders’ Cup Classic will be the ideal race for Rip Van Winkle. He’ll love the track at Santa Anita, the distance is right and he has the tactical speed to go round there.”
Meanwhile trainer Clive Brittain will discuss with Habaayib’s Dubai-based owner Mohammed Al Nabouda about sending the Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile heroine to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf.
The Singspiel filly was breaking her maiden in today’s Group One contest, having finished a close second in Doncaster’s Group Two May Hill Stakes on her previous start.
“I’ll talk to the owners and if they want to take her to America I’ll see how the filly is, she’ll tell us whether she wants to go,” said Brittain. “She’s gone from one step to the next and never stopped improving. Whatever she does this year, I think the Oaks could be on the cards for her next season.
“We got mugged on the line on her first start in a maiden at Folkestone and I knew she’d improved again but we got caught on the line once again at Doncaster, at least it worked out today.”
Earlier, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Joshua Tree earned a starting position in the $1 million (US) Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf when winning the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes.
The Montjeu colt had won a maiden at Gowran Park on his debut and today held off Waseet to score by a length an a quarter.
Asked about the possibility of Joshua Tree going to Santa Anita, O’Brien said: “All the races like that are under consideration and come into the equation but we won’t be in a hurry with him. He’s a lovely-moving horse and appreciated the decent ground and pace today.”
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
