2021 Breeders' Cup Turf: Champion Stakes might produce contender
The Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot Racecourse in England on Saturday has proved to be a meaningful prep for the Breeders’ Cup Turf in recent years, despite only a three-week gap between the races.
This year, one owner and trainer may have added incentive to go from the Champion Stakes winner’s circle to the BC Turf on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.
Earlier this week, the Breeders’ Cup made a late announcement that the winner of the Champion Stakes, at 1 1/4 miles, will receive a fees-paid berth to the BC Turf as part of a sponsorship promotion with Qatar Racing. The winner of the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes will gain a fees-paid berth to the BC Mile.
A glance at recent results suggests runners from the Champion Stakes command attention in the BC Turf.
Last year, Magical was third to Addeybb in the Champion Stakes and second to Tarnawa in the BC Turf at Keeneland. In 2017, Highland Reel was third in the Champion Stakes and the BC Turf at Del Mar. In 2016, Found was second in the Champion Stakes and third to Highland Reel in the BC Turf at Santa Anita.
In 2018, Magical won the Group 1 British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes on the same program as the Champion Stakes and was later second to Enable in the BC Turf at Churchill Downs.
Enable was trained by John Gosden, whose stable may be poised for a busy autumn with Mishriff, the favorite for the $1.36 million Champion Stakes at 1 1/4 miles.
Already this year, the 4-year-old Mishriff has won the $20 million Saudi Cup at 1 1/8 miles on dirt in Saudi Arabia in February, the Group 1 Sheema Classic at 1 1/2 miles on turf in Dubai in March, and the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at 1 5/16 miles at York Racecourse in England on Aug. 18 in his most recent start.
The gap between the Juddmonte International and the Champion Stakes suggests that Gosden, who trains with his son Thady, might want to have Mishriff ready for a quick turnaround to the BC Turf.
Mishriff earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Turf with the win at York and is rated as one of Europe’s top chances for the BC Turf along with Tarnawa, who was second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on heavy turf at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris. The BC Turf is highly likely to be run on firm turf at Del Mar with California in the midst of a severe drought.
The list of domestic candidates for the BC Turf expanded last Saturday when Rockemperor ran a career-best race to record a two-length win at 15-1 in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont.
Rockemperor, 5, is trained by Chad Brown, who also has BC Turf hopes with Domestic Spending, who was second in the Grade 1 Mr. D. Stakes at Arlington Park in August, and Tribhuvan, who won the Grade 1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park in July.