The completed weeklong Royal Ascot meet included four Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In’’ races, leaving bettors wondering whether all, some, or none will be sent to America for the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar on Oct. 31-Nov. 1.
There are no odds on a horse showing up more than four months before a race. Still, after listening to the winning connections, the feelings range from ‘hopeful’ to ‘under consideration’ to ‘tempting’ to ‘very possible.’
The automatic qualifiers are Queen Anne Stakes (G1) winner Docklands, King Charles III (G1) winner American Affair (GB), Prince of Wales’s winner (G1) Ombudsman (IRE), and Norfolk Stakes (G2) winner Charles Darwin (IRE).
Docklands earned a spot in the $2 million Breeder's Cup Mile (G1), American Affair gains a spot in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1), Ombudsman clinches a place in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Turf (G1), and Charles Darwin earns a place in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint (G1).
Based on post-race comments during the week, let’s consider Ombudsman the likeliest of the four to show up at Del Mar. The $5 million BC Turf is run at 1 ½ miles; the Prince of Wales’s is 1 ¼ miles.
“Very possibly he could go there [Breeders’ Cup]. Of course, it’s a long season,’’ said Thady Gosden, co-trainer with his father, John, of Ombudsman. “He’s just done a mile and a quarter there [Prince of Wales’s] very well. There’s every chance he could stay the mile and a half at Del Mar, but we’ve got a long time to go until then.”
A possible next start for Ombudsman is the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Ascot on July 26.
For those who bet on horse racing, the next likely candidate of the four could be American Affair, a 5-year-old trained and co-owned by Scotsman Jim Goldie. He won the 5-furlong King Charles III at 11-1 odds. The BC Turf Sprint is the same distance.
“Probably we would have to think about [the Breeders’ Cup]. He’s a fast horse, which you probably need for the Breeders’ Cup,’’ said Goldie after his first Royal Ascot win. “He’s done well on the all-weather track too, so hopefully by the end of the season it’s still going well, and we are still thinking about America. And he’s got an American name! Hopefully, it can come through.”
Docklands, a 25-1 winner of the 1-mile Queen Anne Stakes, may be a longshot to get to Del Mar. He upset 5-2 favorite Rosallion in a photo finish for trainer Harry Eustace.
“For sure we would be tempted [by the BC Mile],’’ winning jockey Mark Zahra said. “He’s a horse we’ve traveled to Australia through the winter. He takes it very well; if anything, he thrives on it. Terry is very ambitious, and he loves campaigning internationally. He’s now going to be running in all the big ones, and Ascot’s the biggest in Europe, and the Breeders’ Cup is the biggest in America. It doesn’t get bigger than that.”
That leaves Charles Darwin, an impressive winning favorite of the 5-furlong Norfolk Stakes on Thursday (June 19) for trainer Aidan O’Brien. The Irish trainer has a record-equaling 20 Breeders' Cup race wins, including five in the BC Juvenile Turf, run over a mile.
Michael Tabor, who co-owns Charles Darwin, said the Breeders’ Cup will definitely be considered. My immediate reaction was he went down very cool, and he was very cool in the paddock. He’s a very impressive 2-year-old, and really, the race was never in doubt. It was a great run.”
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 93 stakes races in 15 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
Five more Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In’’ races are set to close out June.
Gran Premio Pamplona (G1) is June 22 at the Hipódromo de Monterrico (BC Filly & Mare Turf) ... leading contender is Clasico Republica Argentina (G3) winner Mathilde (PER).
Grande Premio Brasil (G1) is June 22 at the Hipódromo da Gávea (BC Turf) ... leading contender is Group 1 winner Sinsel (BRZ).
Fleur de Lis Stakes (G2) is June 28, at Churchill Downs (BC Distaff) ... Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna tops a field of five.
Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) is June 28, at Churchill Downs (BC Classic) ... Four Grade 1 winners, Mystik Dan (2024 Kentucky Derby), Sierra Leone (2024 BC Classic), Hit Show (Dubai World Cup), and Mindframe (Churchill Downs Stakes) square off in a field of seven.
Asociación Uruguaya de Propietarios de Caballos de Carrera (G3) is June 29, at Hipodromo Nacional de Maroñas (BC Dirt Mile).
