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Racing News |
Ballydoyle and Godolphin Teams Unveil Breeders’ Cup Plans
29/10/09
Trainer Aidan O’Brien and Simon Crisford, Racing Manager for the Maktoum family’s Godolphin operation, today revealed their plans for the Breeders’ Cup 2009 at a press event held at Epsom Downs racecourse in the UK.
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The three-year-old colt, victorious in two Group One contests over a mile this season, will be returning to 10 furlongs for the first time since chasing home Sea The Stars in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown in July, when he lines up at Santa Anita on Saturday, November 7.
O’Brien revealed: "The horses have not had an easy season and Rip Van Winkle has not had an easy season with plenty of setbacks, holdups and tough races. But we are looking forward to the Breeders’ Cup.
"Rip Van Winkle is a great horse because he has been swimming against the tide all year and he has had no clear run at any race. He has had loads of problems.
"We think he is a great horse and if people only knew the half of what he had to go through this year. Mentally and physically, most horses would have fallen away. It’s amazing that he has stood his ground and kept doing it."
O’Brien believes that Rip Van Winkle’s combination of speed and strength at the end of his races will see the colt through in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
He continued: "He’s only a three-year-old and didn’t have it easy but we’re looking forward to him in the Classic, he’s a real crack miler and full of determination and strength at the end. He has never been on a synthetic surface but he is a good mover and fast ground is his forte. The season has been long and hard but he is one of those horses with real mile pace and he is not wilting at the end.
"Sea The Stars travels like a dream, better than any horse at the two furlong marker, but if you look at the Eclipse, Rip might have been travelling better than him. He has always been an exciting horse.
"It’s a great race and very important for a stallion, such is its prestige, so we are just delighted to have him going there.
"The plan is for the horses to leave on Sunday. They will probably do a little bit of work before then but once they arrive at Santa Anita, they will just canter on the track. There will be nothing strenuous."
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O’Brien has a top-class reserve for the Classic in Mastercraftsman. The Irish 2,000 Guineas winner is more likely to contest the $2 million (US) Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile after proving he handles a synthetic surface with victory in the Group Three Diamond Stakes at Dundalk on October 2.
The Ballydoyle trainer said: "We know what Mastercraftsman can do over a mile on turf. It’s just to give him another dimension. We know he acted on the Polytrack at Dundalk and we are not sure he really gets the trip of the Classic, even though he won over it at Dundalk. He is a horse with a lot of speed and the American horses jump and go fast, so he may not quite get home over the longer trip.
"Even though he coasted home and won very easy at Dundalk, Johnny (Murtagh) wouldn’t have been sure that he stayed the trip because he was just coasting the last furlong.
"It’s not definite that he goes for the Dirt Mile but we had to make a preference for him and we chose the mile as first preference, so if all is well with Rip then there is a big chance that he will run in the shorter race.
"His best run ever was over six furlongs at The Curragh last season. He is a horse that likes a high tempo in a race, he gets into a rhythm."
Alfred Nobel is on course for a tilt at the $2 million (US) Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, alongside Dewhurst Stakes winner Beethoven, while Lillie Langtry heads to the Breeders’ Cup Fillies’ Juvenile Turf and Viscount Nelson takes his chance in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
O’Brien revealed: "Alfred Nobel raced in the National Stakes on atrocious ground. We were working the horses on that ground too and minding them, so they were not quite ready to do themselves justice, but they did come out of their races well.
"He likes to be held up and he won his race very easy on his side at Newmarket last time and obviously there was no pace there. He came out of the race very well and is a horse with loads of speed, like Johannesburg who won the Juvenile, he had loads of speed too. You need speed for that race and if he got a nice, reasonable draw, we would be very hopeful. I think Johnny will ride him.
"Beethoven is a very tough horse, he is like his dad (Oratorio), he is getting better with every run. H e travelled with the pace in the Dewhurst and quickened really well - the visor obviously helped.
"Everybody crabs the Dewhurst form but that’s wrong. For us, it was the most solid Dewhurst in years. The second and third both came from the back but Beethoven sat up with the pace all the way. He wanted a strong run race and fast ground and that brought out the toughness in him. Joseph (O’Brien’s son) rides him every day and he always thought he would love the Polytrack.
"Lillie Langtry is very well. We were delighted with her at Newmarket last time. The season has been long for her but we are happy with her. The trip will suit her as will the ground. This mile is as far as she has ran, she has only been over seven furlongs but she always ran like a filly who would not mind further.
"Viscount Nelson was second in the Champagne Stakes and we are very happy with him. He will like going the trip and the fast ground. He’s a great traveller who doesn’t do a lot when he gets to the front. We hope he will run a big race, we have given him plenty of time since his last run. “
O’Brien looks to Man Of Iron, successful at Dundalk last time, in the $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon over a mile and three quarters.
He said: "Man Of Iron has progressed with every run. He won at Dundalk last time after being fourth behind Mastercraftsman and won a handicap there the time before. He’s a half-brother to a Belmont winner by Giant’s Causeway. He’s progressing very well and we’re happy with him. We can’t be sure about the trip but we’re hopeful.”
Godolphin is also set to be well represented at Santa Anita on November 6 and 7.
Godolphin has Seventh Street entered in the $1 million (US) Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, alongside Sara Louise, who defeated Rachel Alexandra in the Pocahontas Stakes last season.
Simon Crisford commented: “It was a really good effort when Sara Louise was second in a Grade Two at Belmont. She is a sweet but very small filly and definitely belongs in this competition. We are happy with her and Frankie Dettori will ride her.
“Seventh Street was second in a Grade One at Belmont and belongs in this grade. She has an each-way chance. Both fillies go there with a bit of a squeak and the seven furlong trip should play to their strengths.”
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There are two possible Godolphin starters in the $2 million (US) TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile - Delegator & Gladiatorus.
Crisford continued: "Delegator is a real nice horse whose previous form is very good. Next year he will come into his own over shorter but the trip and track and the way race will be set up might suit.
"Gladiatorus didn't have to be at his best to win in Italy but won well enough and we were pleased with that.
"There were high expectations after his wins in Dubai but he didn't like running on straight tracks and horses don't always run up to top form. I think going left handed will help - a two-turn mile is what he wants.
"Frankie will be on Delegator and Ahmed will ride Gladiatorus. I am interested to see Delegator on this track over a mile. He has a nice finishing kick but the way he has been training and racing, the mile might just be stretching him."
Crisford went on to explain that Music Note and Cocoa Beach are both set to their chances in the $2 million (US) Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic: "Zenyatta was just too good in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic last season but Cocoa Beach and Music Note both ran very well.
"They are both in good form. Music Note won the Beldame Stakes and is a real tough, good filly when she turns up in peak form. She is a top notch filly so hopefully has a real strong chance.
"Cocoa Beach is an honest, tough Chilean-bred filly who did well last year in the US. She has not done quite as well this year but is coming to hand.
"She was only beaten a length and a half by Zenyatta on the surface at Santa Anita in the Grade One Lady's Secret on October 10."
St Leger winner Mastery is being aimed at the $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon.
Simon Crisford explained: “He takes his races really well and although he is not very big, he tries hard and takes his racing in his stride. He is in super condition and ran on the all-weather at Kempton earlier in the year. The track at Santa Anita should play to his strengths, he stays well and goes there with a real chance.
“It was a hard run in the St Leger and he needed his time out after. This race is the obvious target for him. He stays in training next year and is also entered in the Japan Cup after the Breeders’ Cup.”
Of Godolphin's other entries, Crisford said: "Gayego goes in the Breeders' Cup Sprint and is a real nice horse. He is a course and distance winner who finishes his races really well and has a bit of a chance.
"We are still undecided about Regal Ransom and Girolamo in the Classic. We need to see them work on the surface a little bit more before we decide what we are doing there.
"Regal Ransom is coming into the race fresh after a hard campaign earlier in the year in Dubai.
"We were hoping for a better run than we got in the Kentucky Derby, but he is fresh and well now
"Girolamo is a horse going places, but we do need to see him on the surface before making a decision.
"The older he gets the better he will be and he will be much better next year.
"He is just finding an extra gear and going forward. I think he probably stays quite well so the distance should suit him.
"Pyro and Midshipman are in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. Pyro won a Grade One at Saratoga on dirt and whether or not he will like the surface, we will find out. He has more of a dirt horse than synthetic but he is fresh and in good form.
"Midshipman had a setback in Dubai and has had a very quiet year. He is a topnotch horse and we are looking for a strong run.
"Ahmed Ajtebi will ride Buzzword in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. He is super tough and takes his racing very well. California racing should suit an the track will play to his strengths. He ran really well in the Dewhurst - he doesn't quit.
"Vale Of York heads to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and we think he will handle the trip and the surface. He is super tough and ne ver shirks . California racing seems a good idea for him and if he runs well he will go to Dubai. He ran well in the Royal Lodge and deserves his chance."
