2022 Eclipse Award: Victoria Road
The Irish-based and -bred Victoria Road made his one start in North America count by outfinishing fellow European Silver Knott by a nose in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, a performance that earned him a spot among the finalists for the Eclipse Award in the 2-year-old male division.
Victoria Road is a son of Saxon Warrior owned by Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Georg von Opel’s Westerberg Racing. He is trained by Aidan O’Brien, who won his fifth running of the Juvenile Turf, which has been run 16 times.
Victoria Road is the fourth straight Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner to earn enough votes to be a finalist in this division. Only one of the first 12 Juvenile Turf winners accomplished that feat.
Prior to coming to the United States, Victoria Road raced seven times in Europe. After he lost his first four starts, Victoria Road won three straight from Aug. 10 through Sept. 17, including the Group 2 Prix de Conde at Chantilly in France. Those wins corresponded with a stretch-out in distance and a bit of a different running style.
:: Full list of 2022 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories
“We ran him over five and six [furlongs] early,” O’Brien said of Victoria Road after his Juvenile Turf win going one mile at Keeneland. “We were disappointed that he was getting beat. . . . Ryan [Moore] started to take his time with him – we were riding him forward over five and six – and when he did, he said that that was the way to ride him.”
Moore rode Victoria Road in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Breaking from the rail in the 14-horse field, Victoria Road traveled comfortably on the inside while racing in sixth position, always less than four lengths off the pace. Turning for home, Moore felt the need to get off the fence and was looking for room in the three path. Once it materialized, Victoria Road began to lengthen his stride, but was confronted by Silver Knott, a Godolphin-owned, Charlie Appleby-trained runner who had found room along the rail vacated by Moore.
“There was a lot of traffic coming into the lane,” Moore said. “I thought I’d try to get out.”
When Silver Knott got through on the fence, it appeared Victoria Road could be in trouble, but he had more to give to get the victory.
“I felt he was coming to get me, but maybe [Victoria Road] did respond, or maybe the other horse’s run was ending,” said Moore, who also indicated his horse may have idled when he struck the front.
Victoria Road was bred in Ireland by Trevor Stewart.
Having previous success in Chantilly, Victoria Road is likely a candidate for the Prix du Jockey Club, known as the French Derby, in the first half of 2023, his connections said after the race.
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