Across the pond

[BaroqueAgain1]

We may have a horse coming from across the Other Pond to run in the BC.

Breeders' Cup on horizon as Dubai star Real Steel strikes
Report: Japan, Sunday
Tokyo: Mainichi Okan (Grade 2) 1m1f | turf | 3yo+
A rare Japanese presence at the Breeders' Cup is a possibility after Real Steel (Yoshito Yahagi/Mirco Demuro) gained a first victory since last year's Dubai Turf success with a narrow win over Yasuda Kinen scorer Satono Aladdin.
Trainer Yoshito Yahagi revealed the five-year-old is likely to be aimed at the Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar on November 4 following his neck triumph in the 129m yen (£875,000) contest.
Read more: https://www.racingpost.com/news/interna ... kes/303771

[tachyon]

We may have a horse coming from across the Other Pond to run in the BC.

Breeders' Cup on horizon as Dubai star Real Steel strikes
Report: Japan, Sunday
Tokyo: Mainichi Okan (Grade 2) 1m1f | turf | 3yo+
A rare Japanese presence at the Breeders' Cup is a possibility after Real Steel (Yoshito Yahagi/Mirco Demuro) gained a first victory since last year's Dubai Turf success with a narrow win over Yasuda Kinen scorer Satono Aladdin.
Trainer Yoshito Yahagi revealed the five-year-old is likely to be aimed at the Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar on November 4 following his neck triumph in the 129m yen (£875,000) contest.
Read more: https://www.racingpost.com/news/interna ... kes/303771

Trainer Yoshito Yahagi commneted yesterday; ''Real Steel will be pointed to either the BC Mile or the Tenno Sho Autumn. I will have to talk to the owner.''

Of sidenotes;
1. Yoshito Yahagi is known as a trainer who is very keen to race his trainees overseas.
2. Jockey Mirco Demuro, one of the most predominant jockeys in JRA G1s along with Christophe Lemaire, has already been booked to ride Satono Crown in the Tenno Sho Autumn. Christophe Lemaire may still be booked to Soul Stirring, who finished 8th in the Mainichi Okan, for the Tenno Sho Autumn.

[Starine]

Sweet. Would love to see the classy Real Steel run in the BC Mile.

[ThreeMustangs]

Enable will race as a 4yo, with an Arc defense being her long-term goal.

[BaroqueAgain1]

It's possible that we could be treated to a showdown between the two best turf horses in the world next year at Royal Ascot.
That's IF Winx's connections follow their tentative plan to ship her to Ascot for the Royal meet, AND if Enable chooses to run there as well, AND if they both choose the same race (yeah, I know...a lot of IF's ).
It's a dream match up, so I'm asking the Racing Goddesses to bless the idea.

[lurkey mclurker]

I was skeptical about the BC for Real Steel...

G‏ @LongBallToNoOne 3h 3 hours ago

REAL STEEL to the 10/29 G1 2000m Tenno Sho next, jockey TBA.
Was thought given to a shot at USA Breeders Mile but opted for the Tenno Sho

[Sparrow Castle]

Redzel Captures World’s Richest Turf Race In The Everest

A six-furlong turf contest similar in concept to the Pegasus World Cup, the $7,774,000 Everest Stakes brought significant excitement to Royal Randwick in Australia. At the wire, it was a 5-year-old gelding named Redzel who would wear the crown.

Under the guide of Kerrin McEvoy, Redzel sat a stalking trip after a good break and took command 300 meters from the wire. Redzel had enough left in the tank to hold off Vega Magic by three-quarters of a length at the wire. Longshot Brave Smash was a close third, and Chautauqua had to settle for fourth.

“I could stand here all week and say black and blue how well he was going and all this plays into our hands,” trainer Paul Snowden told theage.com.au. “This is the third time we've done it [given Redzel a month between runs], this was the best and everyone wrote him off. At his first two runs back we thought with a month between [runs] he's a bit of a risk, but it was definitely not the case. This is the best he has been and you saw it there. I have never seen Dad so excited.”

Orphaned as a foal, Redzel is a son of prominent stallion Snitzel. He was purchased for AUS$120,000 at the 2014 Magic Millions Yearling sale by Chris and Michael Ward for their Triple Crown Syndications.

The horse was then syndicated to a group of 17 owners “from all walks of life,” according to dailytelegraph.com.au. They include Peter Piras, who has battled leukemia and undergone bone marrow treatments in recent years, and he insists that Redzel has helped him to stay strong through the fight. Another owner, John Medland, coached the NSW cricket team in the 1980s, and owner Abram Savage describes himself as a “simple concreter living the dream.”

https://www.paulickreport.com/news/thor ... e-everest/

[With Anticipation]

Racing unites in grief following death of stable groom Ken Dooley

Racing was trying to come to terms with the death of a member of its core workforce on Sunday after Ken Dooley, a groom who worked for trainer Amanda Perrett, died at Kempton in an incident that led to the abandonment of racing on Saturday night.

Dooley, who was in his 50s, is believed to have suffered a kick to the head in the racecourse stables shortly after two horses from the Perrett team had run on the all-weather card.

His was the second death on a racecourse this year following the stalls incident at Haydock in July which claimed the life of RaceTech stalls handler Stephen Yarborough.

https://www.racingpost.com/news/news/ke ... ncy/304648

[BaroqueAgain1]

Champions Day at Ascot is this coming Saturday, and those races may have an impact on our Breeders' Cup. Not just who wins, but who doesn't run. Hurricane Ophelia won't impact Ascot, but there are more storms predicted for the coming weekend.
Weather is toward the bottom of this article:
https://www.racingpost.com/news/champio ... day/304716
Highland Reel did not run in the Arc because of the soft ground, and I wonder if O'Brien will skip Ascot as well if the turf is soft-to-heavy. It's a very good chance then that we will see HR defending his 2016 win in the BC Turf, since Del Mar's turf is bound to be more to his liking.
IMHO, that wouldn't be Ballydoyle's ideal choice for HR. He already has the title of a BC Turf champ, but he doesn't have the Champions Stakes on his resume, which I'd guess Coolmore covets for their horse. He's five and I wouldn't be surprised if he's going to be retired at the end of this year, especially if he can go out with a top Group or Grade 1 victory.
He's been so good for years, and I'd think that such a fast, classy, SOUND son of Galileo will be in high demand.

[BaroqueAgain1]

The cards for the Champions Day races have been changing a bit, but obviously not finalized. For example, Idaho is listed in the field of the Long Distance Cup but, since he just ran yesterday at Woodbine, I'm pretty sure he's NOT running at Ascot.
https://www.racingpost.com/racecards/2/ascot/2017-10-21
I'm not sure when the post position draw is...maybe tomorrow?
One O'Brien horse (out of the possible herd he has entered ATM) who is missing from these races is Winter. That's a bit surprising; I thought the big grey filly would at least be in the F&M Stakes. Maybe her Arc run took a lot out of her and O'Brien needs to back off on her?

[Kennedy]

The cards for the Champions Day races have been changing a bit, but obviously not finalized. For example, Idaho is listed in the field of the Long Distance Cup but, since he just ran yesterday at Woodbine, I'm pretty sure he's NOT running at Ascot.
https://www.racingpost.com/racecards/2/ascot/2017-10-21
I'm not sure when the post position draw is...maybe tomorrow?
One O'Brien horse (out of the possible herd he has entered ATM) who is missing from these races is Winter. That's a bit surprising; I thought the big grey filly would at least be in the F&M Stakes. Maybe her Arc run took a lot out of her and O'Brien needs to back off on her?

I've heard that Winter is prepping for a tilt stateside at the BC. I would assume the FM Turf but you never know with O'Brien. Winter could conceivably try any number of races.

[BaroqueAgain1]

I think that we'll see more Coolmore horses at Del Mar than may have been originally planned. It looks like Ascot is going to be wet...maybe really wet...this weekend, so any of their runners who prefer firm ground (like Caravaggio? ) could have O'Brien considering California as an option.
If Winter targets the F&M Turf, I'm pretty sure she'll be a favorite.

[Kennedy]

I think that we'll see more Coolmore horses at Del Mar than may have been originally planned. It looks like Ascot is going to be wet...maybe really wet...this weekend, so any of their runners who prefer firm ground (like Caravaggio? ) could have O'Brien considering California as an option.
If Winter targets the F&M Turf, I'm pretty sure she'll be a favorite.

It could be quite a boon for the BC as far as European participation goes. As for Winter being favored....I think it may get billed as Lady Eli vs Winter but I doubt Winter will be favored unless the Coolmore boys ensure it themselves.

[BaroqueAgain1]

I had wondered if the impressive E P Taylor winner, Blond Me, might come to Del Mar, but it sounds like her trainer is considering Hong Kong instead.
https://www.racingpost.com/news/interna ... ess/304831

[BaroqueAgain1]

The weather may really be a factor for Champions Day at Ascot.
"Gusts are forecast to reach nearly 50mph with a risk of exceeding that figure. On the Beaufort scale, this registers in the strong to severe gale category, and is less than 10mph away from storm proportions. Heavy downpours are also forecast for good measure."
Read more: https://www.racingpost.com/news/champio ... ast/305108

[BaroqueAgain1]

It looks like post positions have been drawn for Champions Day, although changes will clearly be coming. There are quite a few cross-entered, like Churchill and Lancaster Bomber for both the QE II and the Champion Stakes. And Idaho is still in the Long Distance Cup.
https://www.racingpost.com/racecards/2/ascot/2017-10-21

[ThreeMustangs]

Churchill and Lancaster Bomber are running in the QEII. I think Churchill will like tne return to a mile.

[Sparrow Castle]

Champion Stakes Loses Ulysses to Breeders' Cup

Some classic confrontations are on tap for the season-topping but storm-threatened QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot Oct. 21 although the event lost a marquee name in Ulysses, who will head directly for the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar.

Champions Day includes four group 1 events and a group 2. Started in 2011, the program has evolved quickly into a major year-end target for UK racing. Championships are, in fact, on the line and this year's event is spiced by trainer Aidan O'Brien's chase after the late Bobby Frankel's record of 25 top-level victories in a season—a mark he seems well placed to surpass at Ascot.

The only cloud on the horizon is the weather. British Met Office issued warnings for wind gusts as high as 50 mph for race day, along with the chance of heavy rain. Ascot officials said they are prepared and hoping for the best.

The QIPCO Champion Stakes (G1), at 1 1/4 miles, attracted a field of 10 with some star 3-year-olds well favored. With potential favorite Ulysses surprisingly bypassing the race in favor of the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) Nov. 4, veteran multiple grade/group 1 winner Highland Reel is the main hope among older runners and nasty weather would not favor his cause.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing ... eeders-cup

[BaroqueAgain1]

The card:
https://www.racingpost.com/racecards/2/ascot/2017-10-21

A few thoughts;
I'm surprised that Caravaggio is still entered in the Sprint. IIRC, the big Scat Daddy colt runs his best on firm turf. Guess I thought O'Brien would swerve the Ascot races to find better ground at Del Mar for Caravaggio. He's up against a stout field and, as much as I love the nearly-black colt, I think I'm leaning toward Harry Angel or The Tin Man for the win.
While Highland Reel may like to hear his feet rattle, at least he has shown the ability to handle good-to-soft. His speed may let him go to the front and hold off closers who are fighting a surface that looks to be wet and soft.
Hydrangea is in the F&M race, but the other Flower Filly, Rhododendron, seems to be missing. Maybe she'll be joining Roly Poly on the flight to California?

[BaroqueAgain1]

We won't see Winter at Del Mar; the classy grey filly won't be running again this year.
https://www.paulickreport.com/news/thor ... -yet-2018/
I hope she runs next year. Since she's a bit larger than your average Galileo filly, she might do well if given more time to mature. And be even better as a four-year-old, which could be VERY good.