A British-trained horse descended from the legendary Secretariat could join the international cast of runners at the Kentucky Derby after topping the European Road To The Kentucky Derby series.
By winning a qualifier at Kempton in March and finishing second in the Cardinal Stakes at Chelmsford on Saturday [April 1], Archie Watson-trained Brave Emperor accrued 32 points to earn a guaranteed start in America’s most famous race at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 6.
As a result, his owners – the leading British racehorse syndicate company Middleham Park Racing – are giving serious thought to making the trip for the $3m contest with the gelded son of Sioux Nation, who is related to Secretariat through his dam Roman Gal.
It is the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown this year. The legendary racehorse was the sire of the mare L’On Vite, the dam of Holy Roman Emperor, who sired Roman Gal.
“We are waiting to receive a couple of quotes on air fares and stabling and then we can talk to the owners as to whether to take it on or not,” explained Middleham Park partner Tom Palin.
“It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have a horse guaranteed a run in the Kentucky Derby so this is something we should take seriously,” he added.
“Ultimately it comes down to whether the owners want to spend all the prize-money he has earned to experience a few fantastic days in America.”
Middleham Park Racing was founded 28 years ago by Tom Palin’s father Tim, a former PE [physical education] teacher. The syndicate has owned more than 1,400 winners on the Flat and over jumps, of which 125 were last year, in the process earning $2.9 million in prize-money.
Brave Emperor, bought for £19,000 [$23,000], has earned £108,000 [$133,000] from winning five out of eight races, four of them on a synthetic surface. He has yet to experience conventional dirt, as there are no such tracks in Britain.
“You’d be going there hoping he handled the dirt,” said Palin. “He is a great, great grandson of Secretariat. It’s the 50th anniversary of him winning the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown.
“Poetically and romantically it would be fantastic if he could go. There are a lot of unknowns, but hopefully he’d be a bit better than a social runner.”
This year’s Kentucky Derby will feature two runners from Japan for the first time, UAE Derby winner Derma Sotogake and the third Continuar, who qualified through the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby].
A final decision on Brave Emperor’s participation is expected before the end of the week. “Archie Watson has never had a Kentucky Derby runner, nor does he expect to have one again, in his words,” said Palin.
“But he is more than on board if we want to go – he’d more than happily support a decision to go.
“We have nominated for the Triple Crown so if he stayed, the Preakness might be on his agenda, which Archie thinks might be a better fit for him, but he’s not guaranteed a berth in that.”
• Visit the Middleham Park Racing website and the Archie Watson Racing website
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