September 10, 2020 C OUNTDOWN TO THE BREEDERS’ CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS NEWSLETTER Advisory: This is the third of nine weekly news releases focusing on the horses and races leading to the 37th Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7 at Keeneland. For more information, please visit BreedersCup.com. The Breeders’ Cup will be televised live on NBC and NBCSN. You can follow all the contenders’ activity leading up to the Breeders’ Cup with Equibase’s free “Road to the Breeders’ Cup” Virtual Stable notification service. Ghaiyyath, Magical Clash with Turf Bid on the line in Irish Champion A scintillating matchup between GHAIYYATH (IRE) and MAGICAL (IRE) is ontap Saturday at Leopardstown in the 1 ¼-mile, $1.408 million “Win and You’re In” Irish Champion Stakes (G1), with an automatic starting berth into the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) lying in the balance. Ireland takes center stage this weekend, as Leopardstown, just south of Dublin, and The Curragh, in County Kildare, will offer five “Win and You’re In” contests for Breeders’ Cup turf races, while stateside Kentucky Downs will offer one as well. Godolphin’s Ghaiyyath is widely considered the best turf horse in the world off a 4-for-4 campaign for trainer Charlie Appleby, which includes a trio of Group 1 wins in the Coronation at Newmarket in June, the Coral-Eclipse over Enable (GB) at Sandown in July, and the Juddmonte International over Magical at York Aug. 19. The International was a “Win and You’re In” for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), but Appleby is likely to keep Ghaiyyath, a 5-year-old son of Dubawi (IRE) who is 9-for-12 lifetime, on the turf. 9 . 1 0 . 2 0 PAGE 1 Photo of Ghaiyyath following Juddmonte International win is courtesy of York Racecourse “If we’re lucky enough to win -- or run a very big race -- in the Irish Champion Stakes, one could then decide whether to go to Ascot for the (Oct. 17) Champion Stakes (G1) or whether you would potentially look at a Breeders’ Cup,” Appleby said. "We've got the Arc, we've got Champions Day at Ascot and we've got Breeders' Cup in the picture as well,” Appleby said. “We will do what's right for the horse. The signs are good so far." Trainer Aidan O’Brien has won the Irish Champion nine times and sends three starters against Ghaiyaath, though it’s Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier’s and Michael Tabor’s MAGICAL who is far and away the most accomplished. The 5-year-old daughter of Galileo (IRE) has been an all-world performer throughout her career and was second to Enable in the Turf at Churchill Downs in 2018. Since then Magical, who is 11-for-24 lifetime, has won five Group 1’s, including last year’s Irish Champion, and a win could once again propel her to the Turf at Keenland. O’Brien also has entered the 4-year-old JAPAN (GB), the 2019 Juddmonte International winner, who will try to improve upon his third-place finish behind Enable and stablemate Sovereign (IRE) in the “Win and You’re In” George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Ascot on July 25, and the 3-year-old ARMORY (IRE), winner of the Royal Whip Stakes (G3) at The Curragh on Aug. 14. France will be represented in the Champion Stakes by White Birch Farm’s 4-year-old SOTTSASS (FR), winner of the Prix Ganay (G1) at Chantilly in June, and second by a neck last out in the Prix Gontaut-Biron Hong Kong Jockey Club (G3) at Deauville on Aug. 14 for 9 . 1 0 . 2 0 PAGE 2 trainer Jean-Claude Rouget. The field is completed by Zhang Yuesheng’s 4-year-old LEO DE FURY (IRE), trained by Jessica Harrington, who won the Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes (G2) at about 1 ¼ miles in June. Earlier on the card, the $394,492 Coolmore America ‘Justify’ Matron (G1) will award an automatic starting berth into the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1). Run at 1-mile, the Matron drew 11 starters, and is led by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs. John Magnier’s FANCY BLUE (IRE), a 3-year-old daughter of Deep Impact (JPN) who is 4-for-5 lifetime for trainer Donnacha O’Brien, which includes the Nassau (G1) at Glorious Goodwood July 30. Tabor, Smith and Magnier’s PEACEFUL (IRE), for Donnacha O’Brien’s father, Aidan, will have a big say, as the 3-year-old daughter of Galileo (IRE) won the Irish 1,000 Guineas (G1) at The Curragh in June and is 2-for-5 lifetime. A strong challenge should also come from the Niarchos Family’s 3-year-old ALBIGNA (IRE), winner of last year’s Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac (G1) at ParisLongchamp, and recently second in the Snow Fairy Fillies (G3) at The Curragh on Aug. 25. An automatic starting berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) is on the line in the $169,068 “Win and You’re In” KPMG Champions Juvenile (G2). Run at 1-mile, the race attracted 10 starters, including the Jessica Harrington-trained CADILLAC (IRE), who broke his maiden by 9 lengths over the Leopardstown course in July and was second in the Aug. 22 Futurity Stakes (G2) at The Curragh as the 4-5 favorite. VAN GOGH (IRE), trained by Aidan O’Brien, finished second by a neck in the 7-furlong Japan Racing Association Tyros Stakes (G3) over the course on Aug. 6. Two Turf Bids Up for Grabs at The Curragh The “Win and You’re In” action shifts to The Curragh Sunday, with a berth into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint available in the $450,847 Derrinstown Stud Flying Five (G1). Run at five furlongs, the Derrinstown Stud could see as many as 17 starters, with Bearstone Stud Limited’s GLASS SLIPPERS (GB) trading as a tepid favorite among European punters. The 4- year-old daughter of Dream Ahead was second to superstar Battaash (IRE) in Glorious Goodwood’s July 31 King George (G2) for trainer Kevin Prendergast and is 5-for-14 lifetime. Mrs. Anne Elliot’s QUE AMORO (IRE) is also taking action for trainer Michael Dods after running second to Battaash in York’s Aug. 21 Coolmore Nunthorpe (G1), which was also a “Win and You’re In” for the Turf Sprint. A’ALI (IRE), winner of the Sapphire Stakes (G2) over the course, and recently fourth in the Coolmore Nunthorpe, KURIOS (GB), LOPE Y FERNANDEZ (IRE), MAKE A CHALLENGE (IRE), and SONAIYLA (IRE) could also start in the “Win and You’re In” Derrinstown Stud Flying Five. The $450,847 Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1), run at 7 furlongs, will award an automatic starting berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. An overflow field of 18 could meet the starter with ANGLE PALM (GB), AUNTY BRIDY (IRE), DIVINELY (IRE), MORE BEAUTIFUL, MOTHER 9 . 1 0 . 2 0 PAGE 3 EARTH (IRE), TERESA MENDOZA (IRE), and THUNDER BEAUTY (IRE) among the possible starters. Turf Sprint Bid on the Line at Kentucky Downs Kentucky Downs carries the “Win and You’re In” torch stateside this weekend, as the $700,000 Runhappy Turf Sprint (G3) will award an automatic starting berth into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (G1). Run at 6 furlongs, the Turf Sprint drew an overflow field of 16, with a maximum of 12 to meet the starter. Breeze Easy’s IMPRIMIS has been one of the better turf sprinters in the country the past few seasons for trainer Joe Orseno. The 6-year-old son of Broken Vow is 7-for-14 lifetime and enters off a much-the-best win, only to be disqualified and placed second for stretch interference, in Saratoga’s Aug. 8 Troy (G3). Imprimis was fourth in the Turf Sprint last year before running sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita. West Point Thoroughbreds’ KATHAKA will be a stretch danger for trainer Graham Motion, as the 5-year-old son of Jimmy Creed was second, beaten a neck, in Belmont Park’s Jaipur (G1) June 20, in what was his first start in almost 13 months. Susan and Jim Hill’s TOTALLY BOSS won the Turf Sprint over Imprimis last year for trainer Rusty Arnold and figures a leading contender again. Trainer Wesley Ward’s BOUND FOR NOWHERE has run well in several graded stakes, while McShane Racing’s STUBBINS, fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint last year for trainer Doug O’Neill, will also have a major say. AMERICAN ANTHEM, ARCHIDUST, BOMBARD, BON RAISON, FRONT RUN THE FED, RENAISANCE FROLIC, RICHIESINTHEHOUSE are also entered for the “Win and You’re In” Runhappy Turf Sprint, while TIGER BLOOD, FAST BOAT, HOLLIS, and ADMIRAL LYNCH are on the also-eligible list. *** News and Notes Simply Ravishing Dominates P.G. Johnson, Eyes Dirt Path to Breeders’ Cup Harold Lerner, Magdalena Racing, and Nehoc Stable’s SIMPLY RAVISHING took the off-the- turf $93,000 P.G. Johnson at Saratoga Sept. 3 and could use the race as a springboard to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies later this fall. The 2-year-old daughter of Laoban broke her maiden in her debut on turf at Saratoga Aug. 2 for trainer Kenny McPeek but showed no issues with the surface switch, while getting the seven furlongs in a swift 1:21.85 over a fast main track. The New York-bred was a $50,000 yearling purchase and has co-owner Harold Lerner looking towards the future.