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Royer-Dupre Hoping Goldikova’s Conqueror Sweet Hearth Can Fire at Breeders’ Cup 21/10/09

Having saddled Lashkari to a 53/1 upset in the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Turf at Hollywood Park 25 years ago, French champion trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre is hopeful that Sweet Hearth can give him a second victory at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

The progressive three-year-old Touch Gold filly is set make her first appearance on an artificial surface in the seven-furlong $1 million (US) Grade One Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita on Friday, November 6.

After recording a cosy short-neck verdict in a mile Listed contest at Chantilly on September 4, Sweet Hearth went down by a short-head to stable companion Varenar in the Group One Prix de la Foret over seven furlongs at Longchamp on October 3, with last season’s Breeders’ Cup Mile heroine Goldikova a further half-length back in third.

Royer-Dupre revealed: “Sweet Hearth is on course for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. She has never worked on an artificial surface but seven furlongs looks to be her best trip - a mile is just a little too long.

“I don’t think that she will have a problem with Pro-Ride, it looks a very fair surface, and she will work on it when she gets out there.

“Coming second in the Prix de la Foret was not a surprise for me because I have liked her since she came to me this season and she just needed to learn to relax in her races. She is getting better and better with every race and I think that she can be a great filly.

“She goes there with a great chance - if she can beat Goldikova in the Prix de la Foret then I am sure that she can run well at the Breeders’ Cup. It’s a long trip out there because she has to go via Amsterdam, but, as long as she copes well with the journey, then she can be a factor at Santa Anita.”