Behkabad could see rematch with Workforce in BC Turf

Behkabad will aim for the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 6 at Churchill Downs, where he could have a chance to avenge his loss to Workforce in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The Aga Khan’s racing manager, Georges Rimaud, announced on Tuesday that the Turf is the intended target for Behkabad, the Arc’s unlucky fourth-place finisher.

A son of Cape Cross trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, Behkabad had a terrible trip in the Arc, being blocked entering the stretch and finding little room when angled to the rail by Christophe Lemaire at the three-sixteenths pole. Still, Behkabad was up for fourth behind Workforce, Nakayama Festa, and the filly Sarafina, who is trained for the Aga Khan by Alain de Royer-Dupre, and who had an equally unlucky trip in the Arc herself.

Behkabad will bring first-class 12-furlong credentials to Churchill Downs, as he won the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris and the Group 2 Prix Niel at that distance earlier this year, both times at Longchamp. A half-brother to last year’s Prix Niel runner-up, Carthage, he is by the same sire as last year’s Arc winner Sea the Stars.

Rimaud said that Behkabad is also under consideration for the 1 1/2-mile Japan Cup at Tokyo on Nov. 28, but that the Breeders’ Cup Turf is his main target. Meanwhile, a decision on the participation of Workforce in the Turf will not be made by owner Khalid Abdullah and trainer Michael Stoute until after this weekend. Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms has their Northern Dancer Turf winner Redwood in the Canadian International at Woodbine on Saturday. With a good effort in that race, he would also be considered for the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

The Aga Khan is no stranger to the Breeders’ Cup Turf, having won it with Lashkari in 1984 and Kalanisi in 2000. Eight of his 10 Breeders’ Cup runners have competed in the Turf. Among those are Azamou, third in 2005, Lashkari, fourth in 1985, and Behera, fourth in 1989.

Also under consideration for the Turf is Sans Frontieres, a son of Galileo trained by Jeremy Noseda. The winner of his last three starts, he was withdrawn from the Melbourne Cup after suffering a bout of cramps last week. He would have to be supplemented to the Turf and is only a possibility at this time.