Europe enjoyed one of its most successful Breeders’ Cup days on Saturday, winning four of the nine championship races, and at least three of those winners are likely to stay in training next year.
Order Of Australia, who was a revelation dropping back in trip as he became Aidan O’Brien’s first winner of the Mile (spearheading a remarkable 1-2-3 for the master of Ballydoyle), could be out to take high order among the elite over the distance next year, and another campaign is also to be discussed for Glass Slippers, Europe’s first winner of the Turf Sprint.
Asked whether the 4-year-old Dream Ahead filly would be back to defend her title in 2021, British trainer Kevin Ryan, for whom this was a first BC victory, told reporters, “Why not? [Owner-breeders] Terry and Margaret [Holdcroft] are going to keep her in training. We don’t get a lot of time with these horses. If everything goes right, we’d love to come back.”
In fact it was a night of firsts for Europe. Jockeys Tom Eaves (Glass Slippers), Colin Keane (Tarnawa in the Longines Turf) and Pierre-Charlies Boudot (Audarya in the Filly & Mare Turf and then Order of Australia) joined Ryan by landing their inaugural BC wins, and trainers Dermot Weld (Tarnawa) and James Fanshawe (Audarya) did the same.
The Aga Khan’s Tarnawa is not considered likely to run again, but that’s certainly not the case for Audarya. Owner Alison Swinburn is eager to keep the 4-year-old in training, subject to discussions with trainer James Fanshawe (who was collecting a first BC victory with his first ever runner).
Audarya showed grit and determination when coming out on top in a prolonged battle with Rushing Fall. The daughter of Wootton Bassett had already enjoyed success at top level this year in the Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville in August.
Swinburn, widow of former three-time Derby-winning jockey Walter, told Great British Racing International on Sunday, “Last night was one of the most exciting, most thrilling, amazing nights of my life. We were screaming her home. I’ve never been prouder.”
She was quick to credit the team around Audarya and their efforts in preparing her for the contest:
“James and [wife] Jacko have done a phenomenal job out in Keeneland, and not just them; Helen, the travelling head girl who took Audarya out there, Geoffrey, her work rider, they’ve all done an amazing job at delivering the filly to the start of the race in absolute peak condition. She looked superb.
“ [James’s] whole thing was keeping her relaxed and well within herself, which obviously she was because she ran the race of her life.”
On future plans for four-year-old Audarya, Swinburn said, “Once she gets back, she’ll have a very well deserved rest and then I think I’ll sit down with James and discuss next year. Personally, I think I’d like to keep her in training for a year. Hopefully this damned pandemic will have gone and I’ll actually be able to go and enjoy watching her run and then maybe at the end of next season be looking at sending her to the paddocks.
“But I think that’s a decision we’ll all make. We’ll look at the calendar, work out what’s best for her and then go from there.”
Victory for the Fanshawe team came just over an hour after North Yorkshire-based Kevin Ryan’s success with Glass Slippers. Ryan has come close to Breeders’ Cup glory in the past, with East finishing runner-up in the Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2018.
Bred by owners Terry and Margaret Holdcroft and retained to race under the banner of their Bearstone Stud in Shropshire as the last progeny of broodmare Night Gypsy, the win concludes another memorable season for Glass Slippers. The filly landed the G1 Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh in September before being narrowly denied her second consecutive G1 Prix de l‘Abbaye title when finishing runner-up at ParisLongchamp five weeks ago.
Mark Pennell, Stud Manager at Bearstone Stud, told GBRI, “She’s so cool. Wherever she travels, she just seems to thrive on it. There was something different about her today. She got very excited, pawing the ground and wanted to get on with it.”
Pennell spoke of what a first Breeders’ Cup win meant for the operation. “It’s just massive for everybody because we’re not a massive breeding operation; we don’t keep many horses to race. We lost the mare and decided that we were always going to keep that filly from a foal. She always looked like an athlete.
“I’ve worked with Terry and Margaret for 40 years and to get a horse like this at the end, it’s been worthwhile. If you’re persistent and keep trying, you’ll get one. We kept her, and raced her, and broke her in at home – we’ve done absolutely everything with her and it’s just been unbelievable.
“I can’t tell you the number of messages I’ve had off people that have been in the racing industry for years; it’s just been amazing. It’s just phenomenal and she’s really put us on the map.”
When asked about Glass Slippers’ plans for next year, Pennell said, “That [staying in training next year] was the prediction but we weren’t predicting what was going to happen today. Another year in training wouldn’t do her any harm as a broodmare prospect. It’s nice to have a fabulous filly to go racing with really. At the moment, it’s totally possible that she’ll remain in training next year. She’d come back home to the stud for the winter, she’s done that every year, and then go back to Kevin next year.”
Meanwhile Ryan’s North Yorkshire neighbour, Nigel Tinkler, is also returning with his head held high after G2 Flying Childers winner Ubettabelieveit placed third in the Juvenile Turf Sprint on Friday.