Lets have a crack at the Breeders cup

Upset after upset after upset....The only favo to win ahs been goldikova...

Can Conduit win????????

Already looking at SCOTTSVILLE for a winner to get out with:)

I think I'll have to follow you.....I couldn't hit sand if I feel off a camel ridden by Ahmed Atjebi

Well I had big reservations over Zenyatta matching the boys but she sure proved us doubters wrong.

I dont think I've ever seen a horse that massive before, she just about walked over the field in the straight! Quite unbelievable!

BREEDERS CUP CLASSIC REPLAY

BREEDERS CUP TURF

BREEDERS CUP DIRT MILE

BREEDERS CUP MILE

thanks again hibby magic stuff, not all the result were in our favour, but well done to Goldikova and Zenyatta, opens up the great horse thread again

Zenyatta makes Breeders' Cup Classic history


Report: USA, Saturday
Santa Anita: Breeders' Cup Classic (Grade 1) Pro-Ride 1m2f

IN one of the most memorable, stirring and uplifting performances seen on an American racetrack, the remarkable Zenyatta ended her career in exemplary fashion by outrunning the Breeders' Cup Classic field to send Santa Anita into a state of delirium.

Going into the $5 million Breeders' Cup finale, Zenyatta had won every one of the 13 races she had contested. To take her record to 14 from 14, she had to produce the performance of her life, and she did, charging up the centre of the stretch having been set an enormous amount to do.

Few could really have believed that she would do it in such style, but she did, finishing with a rarely seen burst of speed to motor past America's turf champion Gio Ponti with the Henry Cecil-trained Twice Over an excellent third under Tom Queally.

By doing so, the John Shirreffs-trained five-year-old became the first filly or mare ever to win America's most prestigious contest. In addition, she almost certainly wrestled off fellow female Rachel Alexandra the 2009 US Horse of the Year award.

Ballydoyle's great hope Rip Van Winkle was beaten before leaving the back straight and finished tenth of a 12-runner field depleted by the late scratching of Quality Road, who refused to enter the stalls, thus considerably delaying the start.


"She will go down as one of the best ever, believe me," said Zenyatta's jockey Mike Smith, winning his 13th Breeders' Cup race.

"She got really upset before the race, and I was concerned. She was last early and I didn't want to be that far back, but she did it.

"I still never got to the bottom of her. That's the amazing thing. She still had run left. She is incredible. She is sent from heaven. She is God's horse."

Rip Van Winkle's rider Johnny Murtagh, who positioned his mount close to the early pace, said: "He has a huge stride and I didn't want to hold him back. I had felt I was in a nice position, but when we got to the four pole I knew my fate. I think he is a miler and he should be ridden aggressively over a mile. He has had a hard season in more ways than one."

GioPonti had Classic glory snatched from him in the final strides, but trainer Christophe Clement was not disappointed but proud. "The horse ran a great race but he couldn't beat the winner," said Clement. "She's a freak. What can Isay? She's a freak."

Twice Over's jockey Tom Queally, who had landed Friday's Filly & Mare Turf on Henry Cecil-trained stablemate Midday, said: "We ran a cracker. My horse probably didn't handle the home turn too cute, but I don't think we would have beaten Zenyatta in a million years. Hats off to her. She's an exceptional filly."

A revved-up 58,000-strong crowd gave that exceptional filly a rousing reception as she flashed home andthen returned to the winner's circle.

"There are tears coming to my eyes," said Shirreffs. "I can't believe it. She is a great, great filly. She came out on the wrong lead and took some time to get going but she's all heart.

"The way the crowd took to her was just amazing. They cheered for her, they clapped for her, they love her. What a wonderful relationship."

Part-owner Jerry Moss paid equally fulsome tribute to his star, saying: "She's just amazing. Look at her. She's just run her way into the history books."

Those history books will now forever have a special place reserved for a remarkable racehorse named Zenyatta. America wanted her to win and she did. This sport in this country has seen nothing quite like her

Magnificent Goldikova wins back-to-back Miles


Report: USA, Saturday

Santa Anita: TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (Grade 1) 1m, turf

TWENTY-ONE years on from Miesque's successful defence of her Breeders' Cup Mile crown, the magnificent Goldikova assured Freddie Head a singular place in racing history when completing back-to-back victories in the Santa Anita showpiece.


Back in 1988, under Head the jockey, Miesque confirmed her place among the all-time greats when surging to success at Churchill Downs. Now, Goldikova can be spoken of in the same glowing terms after unleashing her trademark turn of foot under Olivier Peslier to leave Grade 1 championship rivals in her wake.

And, in news that will delight all fans of the sport, there is more than a chance that the Wertheimer brothers will allow Goldikova to bid for an unprecedented third Breeders' Cup win in 12 months time. William Hill quote her at 5-1 to achieve that goal.

Yet this was not a victory sealed without moments of worry, for Goldikova, from her widest-of-all stall 11 draw, was last but one setting out on the final circuit and still had considerable ground to make up taking the turn for home.

Even when she had the winning post and a place in history within her grasp, she had to be steered by rider Olivier Peslier around the veering Courageous Cat, but nothing was going to stop France's utterly fantastic filly, who came home in front of that American rival with Godolphin's stateside performer Justenuffhumor back in third.

"She is a very special," said an emotional Head. "She was a little far back but the pace was strong. I was confident she would win when she came with her run into the stretch. It looked like she stopped a little, but Olivier smacked her 200 yards out for her last burst.


"The only difference this year was that she didn't run up to her best last time, but she had excuses. I knew she was in very good condition.

"I don't have the words to say what I feel. Having ridden a horse like Miesque and now trained a horse like Goldikova, it's something you can't dream about."

Peslier said: "For me she's a wonderful filly and it was a wonderful race.

"The draw wasn't a big help and I didn't want to make a run untilthe last turn. I came wide because that was the only place to go. She is lovely and I'm so glad for my owners that they have a filly like this."

Runner-up Courageous Cat "ran his eyeballs out" according to jockey Garrett Gomez, who added: "He gave me 120 per cent. He is still real young - only a three-year-old - and is lightly raced. He kept digging, but the filly was just too good."

She was also too good for all the other Europeans, of which Delegator did best in fifth. Godolphin stablemate Gladiatorus set a fierce gallop before fading into ninth, and that gallop did not help Delegator in the opinion of Frankie Dettori, who said: "It was a suicidal pace and my fellow just ran out of stamina."

Another disappointment was Zacinto, who finished last after being taken out of the race by Ryan Moore.

Trainer Sir Michael Stoute said: "Ryan wasn't happy with him. He looked very awkward coming around the corner and he decided to pull him up."

Moore added: "I was afraid he might have hurt himself. He took a bad step or something like that and I was concerned, but it turns out he's fine. He is okay."

As is Goldikova. She is very okay. For her adoring trainer, she is one of two in a million.

Conduit reels in Passion for successive Turf wins


Report: USA, Saturday

Santa Anita: Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf (Grade 1) 1m4f

CONDUIT repeated last year's Breeders' Cup Turf success with a battling defeat of pacesetter PresiousPassion, who kept on with great gameness.


It was no surprise that Presious Passion, ridden by Elvis Trujillo, was allowed to bowl along at a pace of his own choosing, a style of racing that has shown the six year-old in the form of his life this year, but Ryan Moore had to ask for a major effort from his willing mount to get the better of the hare, who beat off the apparently classier Europeans,Spanish Moon, Dar Re Mi and Red Rocks.

Running down the back straight, Moore moved Conduit a little closer to Presious Passion, aware that front-runners have been performing well at the meeting.

Rounding the turn, Moore made his challenge, bumping Dar Re Mi slightly, and reeled in Presious Passion close home.

Moore, who also rode Conduit last year, said: "Everyone kept telling me you needto save ground round here and I didn't want to get beat going wide. Early on, my lad wasn't fast away and I was behind Red Rocks and Telling and they're not the type of horses you want to be tracking so I used some petrol.


"To be fair to the horse, he's very game. He's a great horse - a once in a lifetime horse. I think he goes to Japan now."

Winning trainer Sir Michael Stoute said: "It is always a big day, the World Championship, and a very important day. To see him win again was very pleasing, and we were also pleased with Spanish Moon."

Spanish Moon finished fourth, just behind Dar Re Mi.

Susan Weinstock, representative of Conduit's owner, Ballymacoll Stud, said: "It would appear to be his time of year, he feels comfortable in it and comes into his own. It was like that last year."

Dar Re Mi recovered from her bump to run on for third under Frankie Dettori for trainer John Gosden.

Dettori said: "I was very pleased with her run. Conduitbeat her a length in the Arc and about the same today. He just had more cruising speed and more of a kick than my filly."

Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager to Spanish Moon's owner Khalid Abdullah, said: "He ran well and there are no complaints. He had every chance. He toughed it out and stayed on."

Conduit will be retired to Shigeyuki Okada's stud in Japan. Okada said: "I am very lucky. This horse has very good quality muscles, which is why I wanted to buy him. We are now hoping to see him run one last time in the Japan Cup but we will leave it up to Mr Stoute."

Conduit's victory was the sixth for European horses at this year's Breeders' Cup, an all-time record.

Dubai World Cup winner Street Cry is sire both of Zenyatta and Melbourne Cup winner Shocking and looks like a great sire in the making. He also underlines the truly global nature of this maddening but endlessly fascinating business. Anybody out there with a Street Cry filly -hold on tight!

Hibby at last some good news with a champ staying in training

Third Breeders' Cup the target for Goldikova


France: Goldikova will stay in training as a five-year-old in 2010, when a historic third victory at the Breeders' Cup will be the ultimate target for the brilliant Freddie Head-trained filly.

The four-year-old, who completed back-to-back successes in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita this month, will aim to become the first horse to win more than two Breeders' Cup races next year, when the American championship will be held at Churchill Downs.

William Hill were quick off the mark, making Goldikova a 3-1 chance to complete the hat-trick.

Goldikova has reportedly recovered well from her US exertions and will spend a period at her owners' stud before returning to training for next year's campaign.

With seven Group or Grade 1 victories already to her name, the Wertheimers' daughter of Anabaa could also challenge the great Miesque's European record for top-level victories since the Pattern was introduced in 1971.

Miesque, who was ridden by Head, won ten Group or Grade 1s in her glittering career.