Wandering Eyes

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky—Strictly in terms of turf racing, we all know that the grass tends to be a little greener in Europe. But if the raiders played to their strengths at the 35th Breeders’ Cup, duly extending a prolific record in both the Mile and the Turf, it sure helps if you have an operation like Juddmonte seeding the herd. For if an unmistakable and effusive common denominator to Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) was one of the great international riders of the era, this was sooner about the man whose silks were worn by Frankie Dettori. Prince Khaled Abdullah has had too many great champions already for Enable to be described as a crowning achievement. As a fourth generation homebred, however, she is certainly an apt symbol of the immense resources—both financial and cerebral—he has invested in building some of the modern breed’s most important families. His legacy, in those terms, has been long assured. But longevity permits him to be assured, time and again, how valued is his contribution—and not only among the sundry expert eyes who represented him in the winner’s circle, but among all of us who have had our imagination captured, over the years, by the likes of Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), Dancing Brave (Lyphard) or (just as a reminder that his men know how to buy horses, as well as breed them) Arrogate (Unbridled’s Song). “The likes” of Frankel! A term to be used advisedly. Enable, however, added her name to the Juddmonte legends with a performance that, much like the one that secured her second Arc in Paris last month, owed everything to the fact that her courage is commensurate with her class. When Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) threw down the gauntlet at the top of the stretch, Enable tore off her gloves and hauled a flourishing rival nine lengths clear of their pursuers. The assumption was that Enable might actually improve for her Paris exertions, which followed an interrupted preparation. But the fact is that a lesser trainer might well have struggled to prevent her recoiling from a hard race when short of peak condition. Luckily John Gosden nowadays bestrides his profession in Europe, and his masterly handling of a filly sidelined by injury through two-thirds of the season represented an instructive finishing touch to a vintage season. The objective reality is that he has usurped Sir Michael Stoute as Newmarket’s premier trainer, but his neighbour has rallied competitively over the past couple of seasons and has shown undiminished sensitivity in his handling of Expert Eye. There had been times when this colt appeared to be something really out of the ordinary, notably in explosive performances at Goodwood as a 2-year-old and at Royal Ascot this summer. But there had also been occasions when he threatened never quite to fulfil his deepest potential. When he banged his head on the gate in the G1 Dewhurst S., for instance, there was no doubt parallel concussion between various foreheads and desks at Juddmonte. But while plenty of observers wrote off the colt off after his defeat at Newbury in the spring, it actually augured very well that he was able to run as well as he did after racing so freely early. Stoute has subsequently excelled in easing the pin back into the grenade—and in waiting, for its ultimate detonation, for a race that always promised to play to his strengths. Credit, also, to the Juddmonte team for acknowledging, with a half-sister to a Classic winner, the transformation achieved over the years by the extraordinary Rathbarry stallion Acclamation (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}). Every horse, of course, owes half its genes to its dam and the sheer depth of genetic quality vested in the Juddmonte broodmares goes an awfully long way. But while the firm has exciting young sires of its own, on both sides of the ocean, they have also permitted outside stallions to amplify what they can do with the right partners—whether a veteran who has earned his stripes, like Acclamation, or a rookie like Nathaniel, who has confounded the idiocies of fashion by producing Enable from his very first crop. Stoute’s dexterity was complemented by the superb timing of Dettori—who replicated his ambush of Lady Eli (Divine Park) on Queen’s Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in the Filly & Mare Turf two years ago. Up to that moment, it had begun to feel as though the raiders might have to start claiming credit for Chad Brown’s imported winners—whether bought at Tattersalls, or from a French stable. By thwarting Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) with Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}), Brown even reduced Charlie Appleby’s Breeders’ Cup record to three-for-six. The man’s obviously losing his touch, but Wild Illusion could not have represented him more honourably. And the same was true of Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) on behalf of Appleby’s Godolphin colleague Saeed bin Suroor when third in the Classic itself. Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy) did well to hold on for fifth, after again setting a manic early pace, but it was never happening for Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy), soon chased along on the inside and under a drive by halfway. He trailed in last, but the experiment will not have taken a cent off the value he had established, for his next career, in a series of lionhearted performances through a heavy campaign. It would be wrong, moreover, to treat his unpleasant experience here as a consideration when Europeans contemplate this race in future. As pertinent as anything, perhaps, is an interval of just two weeks since a gruelling race at Ascot and, while Magical deserves immense credit for running as well as she did on the same turnaround, perhaps Roaring Lion’s owners—who so generously underwrite the Ascot card—will ponder using their influence to do something about that. As it is, Thunder Snow and Mendelssohn both gave it their best shot after a contrastingly purposeful grounding in dirt racing. One way or another, however, it proved a frustrating meeting for the Ballydoyle cavalry. At Coolmore they have always grasped the dividends available by opening up a new market with success here; but the same is true of Juddmonte, whose Teddy Grimthorpe stressed that when you bring a horse here, you have to do it like you mean it—and not as some kind of whimsical afterthought. Grimthorpe also disclosed that the Breeders’ Cup is annually the first entry in the Prince’s diary. And that is something with which many of us can identify. 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Jomo shows his mojo again - even in the wet View the full article

Kellady suspended for three days View the full article

Pennywise right back in the money View the full article

Can't see them, press Refresh View the full article

Nova Vocal bounces back to smashing form View the full article

Lim's Rhythm finally flows into first win View the full article

Silver Way goes all the way at maiden win View the full article

Horses' body weights November 4 View the full article

Horses' test results November 3 View the full article

Track conditions and course scratchings November 4 View the full article

Monomoy Girl got a perfect stalking trip under Florent Geroux and took over for good around the far turn to defeat Wow Cat and nine other challengers in the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs. View the full article

Mr Havercamp provided his connections with another thrill at the 2018 Woodbine meet, winning the $175,000 Autumn Stakes (G2) Nov. 3. View the full article

JUVENILE Game Winner (Candy Ride {Arg}), who likely sewed up a divisional championship with an emphatic GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile score Friday, was no worse for wear Saturday, according to Bob Baffert assistant Jimmy Barnes. “He came out of the race in good shape and looked good [Saturday] morning,” said Barnes. “He just walked this morning and will walk again on Sunday. We ship on Monday.” Winning the Juvenile for a fourth time, Baffert indicated the three-time Grade I winner will be given some time off with a 2019 campaign in mind. “We’re going to freshen him up a little bit and get ready for the spring,” Baffert said. “He had a pretty rough [trip], but still won.” Baffert previously won the Juvenile with Vindication (2002), Midshipman (2008) and New Year’s Day (2013). “You can’t compare horses, but of all the Juvenile winners [race performance], he’s the best one,” he said. KRA Stud Farm’s Knicks Go (Paynter), runner up to Game Winner in the Juvenile, also exited the race in fine form, according to his trainer Ben Colebrook. “He ran his eyeballs out yesterday and he is fine this morning,” Colebrook said. “We are going to dodge Game Winner for a while. I don’t think [Bob] Baffert will be sending anybody to Tampa.” Colebrook winters his barn at Tampa Bay Downs and is eyeing that track’s series of 3-year-old stakes for Knicks Go in early 2019. Trainer Chad Brown, who annexed a pair of Breeders’ Cup wins this year, followed up on the head-scratching performances of Juvenile runners Complexity (Maclean’s Music) and Standard Deviation (Curlin), who finished 10th and 13th (last), respectively. Winner of the GI Champagne S. Oct. 6, Complexity set the pace before fading in the final quarter mile. Standard Deviation, a first out winner before finishing third in the Oct. 6 GI Breeders’ Futurity, never got involved. “I’m disappointed, obviously, that neither fired,” said Brown. “So far both are okay, physically. It’s back to the drawing board with them and neither will run again this year. We’ll take them to Florida.” JUVENILE FILLIES Jaywalk (Cross Traffic) came out of her front-running win in Friday’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies in good order. “She’s great, doing really good,” Servis said. “She’s bright-eyed; she ate up good.” In regards to her performance Friday, Servis added, “It was awful impressive. She’s got such a fast cruising speed. I didn’t expect her to be in front, because (trainer Tom] Amoss said he was going to send his horse [Serengeti Empress] no matter what. I told [jockey] Joel (Rosario], ‘Just sit off of Amoss. She’ll rate. She’ll do whatever you want her to do.’ When he came back, he said, ‘Two jumps out of the gate and I knew there’s wasn’t any sitting back. She took me there.’ Once she got in front, she just pricked her ears and relaxed.” Jaywalk ran 1 1/16m in 1:43.62, faster than Game Winner’s winning time of 1:43.67 in the Juvenile two races later. Servis won with his only Kentucky Derby starter, Smarty Jones in 2004, and his only Kentucky Oaks starter, Cathryn Sophia in 2016. Jaywalk is scheduled to fly to West Palm Beach, Florida Sunday. “She’ll stay at Palm Meadows [Training Center] for a week or so and then I think I’m going to send her to Ocala for 30 days and let her be a horse for a little bit.” Servis said. With next year’s Kentucky Oaks the first major goal, Servis said Jaywalk could take a similar path to Cathryn Sophia, who won the GII Forward Gal and GII Davona Dale S. at Gulfstream Park before finishing third in the GI Ashland S. at Keeneland. JUVENILE FILLIES TURF Newspaperofrecord (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who is campaigned under Seth Klarman’s Klaravich Stables banner, appears to be in good shape following her emphatic victory in Friday’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. The undefeated bay filly will be pointed toward a 2019 campaign. “She’s good so far,” Brown said. “It was great to win for Seth,” he added. “There’s no nicer guy. It was a big deal.” JUVENILE TURF SPRINT Bulletin (City Zip) is expected to be given some time off before returning for a 3-year-old campaign. Campaigned by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club and SF Racing, the chestnut kicked off his career with a win in Gulfstream’s Hollywood Beach S. Sept. 29. According to trainer Todd Pletcher, Bulletin’s future will be discussed with WinStar Farm President and Racing Manager Elliott Walden. “I would imagine he would get a little vacation at WinStar Farm,” Pletcher said Saturday morning. “We haven’t firmed anything up just yet. At some point switching him to dirt might be under consideration, but not any time in the near future.” View the full article

Accelerate rallied in the far turn, out-dueled Thunder Snow (IRE) in the stretch, and had enough to hold off a late move by Gunnevera to win the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs. View the full article

St. Elias Stable's Teresa Z stalked the early speed and made a strong move out of the final turn before gearing down for a six-length win in the $150,000 Turnback the Alarm Handicap (G3) Nov. 3 at Aqueduct Racetrack. View the full article

Heading into this year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Classic, a lot (maybe too much) had been made about John Sadler’s winless record at the Breeders’ Cup. However, with the help of his star 5-year-old Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky–Issues, Awesome Again), Sadler got the monkey off his back in style when the chestnut overcame his seemingly impossible post to score by 3/4 of a length over longshot Gunnevera (Dialed In). Breaking from the 14 hole, Accelerate was reserved off the early pace as Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy), who assumed his preferred spot at the head of affairs while prompted by McKinzie (Street Sense) and West Coast (Flatter), carved out fast opening fractions of :22.68, :46.46 and 1:10.61. Accelerate started to mount his challenge approaching the turn, and quickly spurted to the front as Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) loomed a threat, while the Baffert tandem retreated. Down the stretch, it appeared Accelerate was home free, but the early pace started to show its effect as closers Gunnevera and Yoshida (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) launched their bids, but it was Accelerate who proved gamest of all and gutted it out late to score by 3/4 of a length. Gunnevera held the edge over Thunder Snow, with Yoshida back in fourth. Final time for the Classic was 2:02.93. Lifetime Record: 22-10-5-5, $6,092,480. O-Hronis Racing; B-Mike Abraham; T-John Sadler. View the full article

Jockey Frankie Dettori was determined to find the best ground for Enable in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T). Little did the two-time Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner's connections know how that determination would add to her legacy. View the full article

Flying home to the finish on the outside, Roy H passed his rivals with ease and took home his second consecutive $2 million TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) title Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs. View the full article

Two-time Arc heroine Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire})–Concentric {GB}, by Sadler’s Wells) was trying to buck history in trying to add a GI Breeders’ Cup Turf victory to her illustrious French form. Backed down to 4-5 to get the job done, the graceful filly settled off the early pace set by Glorious Empire, who was tracked by Channel Maker through early splits of :24.65, 49.11 and 1:14.22. Ready to pounce in the stretch, Enable used the overland route, but found Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) with plenty left in the tank too. Both fillies appeared like they had a chance to win late as they slugged it out down the center of the course, however, it was Enable that had the most left at the end, handing the Coolmore representative a 3/4-length defeat. Juddmonte and Frankie Dettori also teamed up to win the GI Breeders’ Cup Mile earlier in the day with Expert Eye (GB). Final time for the Turf was 2:32.65. Lifetime Record: 11-10-0-1, $10,905,631. O/B- Juddmonte Farms; T-John Gosden. View the full article

Monomoy Girl got a perfect stalking trip under Florent Geroux and took over for good around the far turn to defeat Wow Cat and nine other challengers in the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Churchill Downs Nov. 3. View the full article

Monomoy Girl (3, f, Tapizar–Drumette, by Henny Hughes), who has crossed the wire in front in all six prior starts this term, made it seven straight with a rousing score in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs. Despite being DQ’d from the win in her latest in the Sept. 22 GI Cotillion S., Monomoy Girl was given plenty of support at the windows this time at 2-1 alongside the well-backed Abel Tasman (Quality Road). Close-up to Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d’Oro) through opening fractions of :23.39 and :47.57, Monomoy Girl overtook that rival at the quarter pole and was clear turning for home. In full flight in the lane, the chestnut proved best late, holding off the oncoming Wow Cat (Chi), who closed from last to just miss by a length. Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) rounded out the trifecta. Abel Tasman was up in contention early but faded late, finishing out of the money. Lifetime Record: 11-9-2-0; $3,054,750. O-Michael Dubb, Monomoy Stables, The Elkstone Group LLC, Bethlehem Stable. B-FpF LLC & Highfield Ranch; T-Brad Cox. View the full article

Owner Peter Brant completed a successful return to racing when his Sistercharlie rallied in deep stretch to win the $2 million Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs. View the full article

Expert Eye (GB) (3, c, Acclamation {GB}–Exemplify {GB}, by Dansili {GB}), who was not particularly prevalent in the early running of Saturday’s GI Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill, swept to the front in the late stages to collect his first taste of Grade I glory. Favored Oscar Performance missed the break and found himself unexpectedly near the back of the field as Analyze It (Point of Entry) assumed the front-running mantle. As Analyze It tussled with Mustashry (GB) (Tamayuz) through early fractions of :24.68, :49.85 and 1:15.00, 5-1 chance Expert Eye was content to linger near the back. Keeping a wide berth while moving closer to the front rank heading into the stretch, the Sir Michael Stoute runner appeared to idle for a moment as Analyze It and Catapult (Kitten’s Joy) exchanged blows on the front end, while Divisidero (Kitten’s Joy) loomed. However, the English bred turned on the boosters late and got up in the final strides to post a length score over Catapult, with Analyze It staying on for third. Divisdero was fourth. The final time for the 8-furlong test was 1:39.00. Lifetime Record: 10-5-2-1, $1,927,455. O/B-Juddmonte Farms; T-Sir Michael Stoute. View the full article

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Sunday’s Insights features a son of GISW Daisy Devine (Kafwain). 1.20 Naas, Mdn, €16,500, 2yo, 8fT TIGRAY (Tapit) is the second foal out of the GI Jenny Wiley S. heroine Daisy Devine (Kafwain) who was purchased by the Niarchos Family for $1.3 million at the 2013 Keeneland November Sale. Joseph O’Brien saddles the unraced grey colt, whose opponents include Ballydoyle’s Gentile Bellini (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the 2 million gns TATOCT son of the four-times Group 1-winning 1000 Guineas heroine Sky Lantern (Ire) (Red Clubs {Ire}), who was an encouraging fourth on debut at Leopardstown last month. View the full article