All Braced for Champions Day Cont
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SATURDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2019 ALL BRACED FOR GOFFS RELEASES BREEDING STOCK SALE CATALOGUE CHAMPIONS DAY The Goffs November Breeding Stock Sale has solidified its status as a Classic-producing sale, having handled the transactions of the dams of Romanised (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in its more recent history, and the catalogue for the latest edition of the sale at the Kills Paddocks on Nov. 21 and 22 is online. Flourishing broodmare sire Galileo (Ire) has 19 fillies and mares catalogued, and those are joined by stock by the likes of Danehill Dancer (Ire) and his own sire, Danehill; Dansili (GB), Dark Angel (Ire), Dubawi (Ire), Green Desert, Invincible Spirit (Ire), Montjeu (Ire), Oasis Dream (GB), Pivotal (GB), Sadler=s Wells, Sea The Stars (Ire) and Shamardal. Buyers will also have the opportunity to secure mares carrying to the first crops of the likes of Saxon Warrior (Jpn), Sioux Nation, U S Navy Flag and Zoustar (Aus). Stradivarius winning on Champions Day last year | Racing Post Cont. p6 By Tom Frary Ascot=s preparation for the latest QIPCO British Champions Day has proven particularly difficult in light of the frequent deluges, but on Saturday all that will fade into memory as the amassed throng anticipate five division clashes from six furlongs to almost two miles. Since this concept was born at Newmarket in 1997, it is fair to say that the moniker has not always delivered what it promises with it being so close to the hallowed G1 Prix de l=Arc de Triomphe and staged so often on rain-eased autumn ground. Moving to its current base in 2011, it was blessed with the perfect launch as Frankel (GB) ran amok and his subsequent G1 QIPCO Champion S. swansong in 2012 bestowed even more initial grandeur on the project. Subsequently the fixture has proven more an end-of-season celebration than a consistent coronation of the principals of the various distance categories, Snowflakes, a full-sister to Winter, is catalogued for Goffs | Racing Post but even so that is more than welcome for its many followers. This year, the fact that there is only one of the leading seven European turf performers on World Rankings in attendance is IN TDN AMERICA TODAY due to either retirement or the star turns of the grass being HOLLENDORFER BANNED FROM BREEDERS’ CUP targeted elsewhere. Officials at Breeders’ Cup Ltd. announced Friday that they will uphold The Stronach Group’s ban on the conditioner running horses Cont. p2 in his own name during the Breeders’ Cup meeting at Santa Anita Nov. 1 and 2. Click or tap here to go straight to TDN America. TDN EUROPE • PAGE 2 OF 13 • THETDN.COM SATURDAY • 19 OCTOBER 2019 All Braced For Champions Day cont. from p1 end of last year, keeps delivering in 2018 and arrives at the QEII with confidence at an all-time high after wins in Saint-Cloud=s It seems that in 2019 QIPCO Champions Day has lost out to Mar. 10 Listed Prix Altipan and Mar. 30 G3 Prix Edmond Blanc, ParisLongchamp, but there are nonetheless reasons to be the May 30 G3 Badener Meile and the G2 Prix Daniel cheerful looking ahead to what has quickly become a national Wildenstein at ParisLongchamp on Arc Saturday. Jockey Pierre- institution. The one top-10 horse in the Longines Best Racehorse Charles Boudot is just about the hottest property in his Rankings to race on Saturday belongs, unsurprisingly, to profession at the moment and the sensation of Arc weekend has Godolphin. In a year that has poured good fortune on the the potential to enhance his reputation here also. operation at most turns, >TDN Rising Star= Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi Graffard, whose Channel (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) and Watch Me {Ire}) has surged back on to the main stage with an emphatic (Fr) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) have provided Group 1 glory for the five-length success under a penalty in Newmarket=s G2 Joel S. stable this season, is hopeful The Revenant can hold his own. Sept. 27. That demonstrative AEverything is good and I am very performance matched his happy with the horse=s condition,@ previous effort all the way he said. AWe know the ground will back in October when not be a problem for him and we are getting within two lengths of looking forward to the race. It is a Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) step up, but we don=t have much in Moonee Valley=s option and we are very happy to be G1 Cox Plate. running in this race.@ Few if any of Saturday=s Boudot will hope to get the ball protagonists throughout the rolling in the first race with Lael card could hope to get so Stable=s dual G1 Prix de la Foret close to the Australian heroine One Master (GB) (Fastnet legend, so the G1 Queen Rock {Aus}) in the G1 QIPCO British Elizabeth II S. is at his mercy Champions Sprint S., whose three on form at least. However, outings in October throughout her as all are aware, these races Benbatl | Racing Post career have yielded three wins. are never won on paper and Reverting to six furlongs for the first opponents of Saeed bin Suroor=s great hope would point to the time since the G3 Ballyogan S. last June, the William Haggas- fact that he came to this venue as favourite for last year=s trained mare has underfoot conditions to help her keep tabs on G1 Queen Anne S. at the Royal meeting and trailed in 10th. One the fast Group 1 sprint winners Advertise (GB) (Showcasing major obstacle to the 5-year-old is the testing ground and it {GB}) and Hello Youmzain (Fr) (Kodiac {GB}) and the Irish could even lead to his withdrawal according to his trainer. fairytale prospect Make a Challenge (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). ABenbatl won nicely at Newmarket on his latest start and has AI think she=ll enjoy the ground and she seems very well since done well since. I have been pleased with his work but we know winning the Foret,@ Haggas said of One Master. AWe=re coming that he doesn=t like heavy ground--he ran on it once at Haydock back in trip, but if they go hard and fade hopefully she=ll be and didn=t enjoy it at all,@ he said of one of only two Godolphin finishing strongly. The 13-day gap between her races is not ideal, runners on the card, both of whom represent the Bin Suroor but she=s had only four runs and likes soft ground.@ stable. AWe have declared him and will check the ground at Of all the underdogs on the card, Make a Challenge would Ascot on Saturday.@ have been the most unlikely less than a month ago as he ran As October draws on and the nights draw in, soft ground respectably but was beaten in The Curragh=s ABold Lad@ H. but becomes almost an inevitability but brilliance on easy conditions he has subsequently jumped up the ratings with two dynamic is still brilliance in its own right and anything can happen with it wins to force the hand of connections. The latest of those came riding like this. While Asoft@ is seen often even during the by 4 1/2 lengths in Sunday=s Listed Waterford Testimonial S. also summer in Europe, this kind of surface is for the specialists. One at The Curragh and he will again be partnered by Joe Doyle who who fits into that niche is The Revenant (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), had retired from the saddle in the summer. who has been shown the way with genuine guile this term by trainer Francis-Henri Graffard. Al Asayl=s 4-year-old, who has turned a corner since a much-needed gelding operation at the Cont. p3 TDN EUROPE • PAGE 3 OF 13 • THETDN.COM SATURDAY • 19 OCTOBER 2019 Champions Day cont. AI=m excited and nervous. We=ll see how we go,@ trainer Denis Hogan said of the remarkably progressive 4-year-old, whose handicap mark has risen from 66 to 111 this season. AIt=s a big ask and a step up in class, but he deserves to be there. I=m happy with the ground, the draw and the jockey and I=m very Vice President, International Operations Gary King happy with the horse.@ Twitter: @garykingTDN Commercial concerns aside, the clash between Stradivarius [email protected] (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) and Kew Gardens (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in + 1.732.320.0975 the G2 QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup is the race of the day with Bjorn Nielsen=s all-conquering chestnut having to International Editor cope with unfavourable ground again. It failed to hinder his Kelsey Riley progress at the Royal meeting and at Goodwood, but this time Twitter: @kelseynrileyTDN he faces a rival whose every step in his career so far seems to [email protected] have led to this moment. Successful in last year=s G1 St Leger European Editor and G1 Grand Prix de Paris, Kew Gardens was on course for a Emma Berry meeting with the Gosden staying supremo in the G1 Gold Cup Twitter: @collingsberry before injury intervened and his staying power remains [email protected] unknown. His effort when second after a lengthy lay-off in the G1 Irish St Leger at The Curragh Sept. 15 was highly creditable Associate International Editor and jockey Donnacha O=Brien is exuding confidence.