The Breeders’ Cup Challenge moves on to one of the highlights of the European season this week with the hugely popular Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival at historic York racecourse.
Three G1 contests at the four-day meeting are part of the‘Win and You’re In’ series, offering guaranteed fees-paid spots for specific races at Del Mar on November 6.
What is more, the best comes first, with the Juddmonte International providing a £1 million highlight on Wednesday’s opening card – and a place in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Also part of the Qipco British Champions Series, the race was dealt a hefty blow with the late scratching of Eclipse Stakes winner St Mark’s Basilica with a hind-leg infection, but trainer Aidan O’Brien can call upon a high-profile supersub in the shape of star filly Love as he chases his seventh win in the race.
Other leading contenders include Saudi Cup hero Mishriff and three-time G1-winning filly Alcohol Free, whose connections have gamely thrown the dice by stepping her up in trip after an impressive soft-ground victory in the Sussex Stakes. Owner Jeff Smith must like this race, in which Arabian Queen carried his silks to a shock 50/1 victory over Derby hero Golden Horn in 2015.
The 3-year-old generation is also represented by the William Haggas-trained pair Mohaafeth and Alenquer; the latter was a leading fancy for the G2 Great Voltigeur against his contemporaries elsewhere on this card before being re-routed to the more prestigious contest. Irish Classic winner Mac Swiney also takes his chance in a fascinating contest.
Juddmonte International: a bit of context
History: Introduced in 1972 as the Benson & Hedges Gold Cup before tobacco sponsorship was outlawed in Britain. Backed by Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte operation for more than three decades, the 1m2f feature has been responsible for a plethora of memorable contests, right back to the first edition when Brigadier Gerard suffered his only career defeat at the hands of Derby winner Roberto.
Star turn: Frankel (2012) – Stepping up in trip to 1m2f for the first time in his brilliant career, the 4-year-old Frankel extended his G1 winning streak to eight such races, barely breaking sweat as his high cruising speed demolished his rivals. He won by seven lengths from Farrh, who nosed out Breeders’ Cup Turf winner St Nicholas Abbey for second. Trainer Sir Henry Cecil, visibly in awe of his superstar colt, said the performance made him feel “20 years better”; he’d missed Frankel’s previous win owing to ill health.
Most wins (trainer): Sir Michael Stoute (6): Shardari (1986), Ezzoud (1993, 1994), Singspiel (1997), Notnowcato (2006), Ulysses (2017)
Aidan O’Brien (6): Giant's Causeway (2000), Duke of Marmalade (2008), Rip Van Winkle (2010), Declaration Of War (2013), Australia (2014), Japan (2019)
Most wins (jockey): Lester Piggott (5) Dahlia (1974, 1975), Hawaiian Sound (1978), Commanche Run (1985), Rodrigo de Triano (1992)
Frankie Dettori (5): Halling (1996), Singspiel (1997), Sakhee (2001), Sulamani (2004), Authorized (2007)
Breeders’ Cup Challenge
The winner will receive will receive an automatic fees-paid berth in the Longines Classic at the two-day championships at Del Mar on November 5-6. A minimum travel allowance of $40,000 will also be provided for all starters based outside North America; the Challenge winner must already be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup programme or nominated by the pre-entry deadline to receive the rewards.
Already qualified (5): Cafe Pharoah (February Stakes), Maxfield (Stephen Foster), Max Player (Suburban), Mandaloun (Haskell), Knicks Go (Whitney).
Breeders’ Cup past performance
Musings over whether last year’s winner Ghaiyyath might try his luck on dirt in the Classic came to nought when the Godolphin galloper was retired after being beaten in the Irish Champion Stakes. However, the three horses immediately behind him at York – his Curragh conqueror Magical, Lord North and Kameko – all went to Keeneland, though they all stayed on turf.
The most recent Juddmonte victor to run in the Classic was Roaring Lion, who clearly did not appreciate the alien surface when last of 14 at Churchill Downs in 2018.
On the other hand, certain of his predecessors have performed with enormous credit, headed by Giant’s Causeway and Sakhee, both beaten by the tough-as-teak Tiznow in epic Classic finishes in 2000 and 2001. Declaration Of War, who scored at York in 2013, was beaten in a photo finish by Mucho Macho Man at Santa Anita six years ago; further back, Ezzoud (twice) and Halling were both unplaced in the Classic after winning the Juddmonte.
Top contenders for 2021
Love (Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore) – completely dominant among last year’s 3-year-old fillies, completing Guineas/Oaks double with smashing 9-length triumph at Epsom before rounding off G1 treble in Yorkshire Oaks at this meeting; tenacious rather than brilliant on return to action in Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and arguably questions to answer now after defeat in tactical affair for King George; back down in trip.
Mishriff (John & Thady Gosden/David Egan) – world traveller added to Prix du Jockey Club success with lucrative top-level victories on both dirt (Saudi Cup) and turf (Dubai Sheema Classic) at the start of the year; not fully tuned up in Eclipse and produced yet another sound effort (giving 11lb at wfa) when runner-up to Derby winner Adayar in King George; better suited by this distance.
Alcohol Free (Andrew Balding/Oisin Murphy) – ultra-rough filly steps up in trip after becoming first female to win Sussex Stakes since 2004; softer ground that day at Goodwood, where she picked up really well from mid-division for third G1 win; this looks tougher, however, and pedigree suggests major stamina doubts.
Mohaafeth (William Haggas/Jim Crowley) – Shadwell’s son of Frankel set for long-awaited debut at G1 level, having been withdrawn from Derby at 11th hour owing to unfavourable soft ground at Epsom; completed four-timer with Royal Ascot G3 victory (idled in front) but odds-on defeat last time over course and distance; yet to hit ability ceiling but will need more to figure in better race.
What they say
David Egan (Mishriff’s jockey)
”Dropping back to a mile and a quarter will only play to Mishriff's strengths and, if he can improve as much as he did in his first run in the Eclipse to the King George, then he's going to be very hard to beat. It was a fantastic run finishing behind an absolute monster in Adayar giving him so much weight and we won't need to give the 3-year-olds as much weight in the Juddmonte, which always helps.” (Racing Post)
Oisin Murphy (Alcohol Free’s jockey)
“She’s been a superstar for me. You don’t have easy races at Goodwood, but she came out of Goodwood very well. She’ll either stay or she won’t, and whatever happens won’t detract from what she’s already achieved. With a filly there’s nothing to lose and I would imagine we could be seeing her next year as well. There will be plenty of time afterwards to freshen her up for Qipco British Champions Day.”
William Haggas (Mohaafeth’s trainer)
“The pacemaker went too slow and Jim [Crowley] was too far back [on his last run]. It was a mess, and you can put a line through it. Angus [Gold, of owners Shadwell Stud] felt that, if you ignore that run and concentrated on the good bits, he was well worth his chance here. The trip is fine and the ground should be okay too, although I think there’s some rain about on Tuesday. He’s got a bit to find but he’s useful.”
William Haggas (Alenquer’s trainer)
“The owners felt that, as he had already won a Group 2, there was no point running in another one. They want to test him against the best, and he’s very well. He’s improving, and again you can put a line through his latest run at Longchamp as he was way too far back and never got into it at all. I don’t think he’s the soft- or heavy-ground horse that some have him down as, but he might just want a bit further. He’s not a bad horse.
“It’s an ambitious route for both horses, but they’ll both run a good race. Whether they are good enough is another matter.”