Brave Emperor earns Kentucky Derby points in stakes win at Kempton

Brave Emperor fought off two rivals in the final sixteenth to win for the fifth time in his seventh start in the $72,600 Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes at Kempton Park near London on Wednesday.

The win gives Brave Emperor 20 points for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6 through the European qualifying system. One berth in the Kentucky Derby is open to a European-based runner who has the most points from the seven-race series.

The Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes was the sixth race in the series, which concludes with the Cardinal Condition Stakes at a mile on the all-weather track at Chemlsford City Racecourse northeast of London on April 1.

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Archie Watson, who trains Brave Emperor, recently mentioned the Cardinal Stakes as a possible goal for Brave Emperor. The first five finishers of the Cardinal Stakes receive 30-12-9-6-3 qualifying points.

Brave Emperor and Cairo lead the European standings with 20 points. Cairo earned 20 points with a win in the Patton Stakes at a mile on the all-weather surface at Dundalk Racecourse in Ireland on March 3.

Trained by Aidan O’Brien, Cairo is scheduled to start in the Group 2 United Arab Emirates Derby at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on March 25. The UAE Derby is part of the main qualification series for the Kentucky Derby, with 100 points available for the winner.

In the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes, Brave Emperor ($5.80) was always near the front in the one-mile race on a right-handed course under jockey Luke Morris. Brave Emperor challenged pacesetter Killybegs Warrior with a quarter-mile remaining and was fully extended to hold off sustained threats from 4-1 Alzahir and 14-1 Tenjin, who broke at the back of the field of seven.

Brave Emperor won by a head over Alzahir, who finished a half-length in front of Tenjin.

Brave Emperor, an Irish-bred by the Scat Daddy stallion Sioux Nation, won the listed Prix de la Californie at a mile on the all-weather track at Cagnes-sur-Mer Racecourse in France on Feb. 12.

Brave Emperor is not currently nominated for the Kentucky Derby. A nomination stage is available later this month.

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