Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint: The Platinum Queen brings impressive record from Europe
The Platinum Queen, fittingly, launched her racing career in the year of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. A dedicated Thoroughbred owner and breeder, Queen Elizabeth died in September, and The Platinum Queen has continued to provide tribute.
The 2-year-old filly bested older foes in the Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye on Oct. 2 – albeit, with a huge weight allowance – and appears headed for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Keeneland, where Queen Elizabeth II visited and has a race named in her honor.
Trevor Kilby, a member of ownership syndicate Middleham Park Racing, was the one who conceived of the name.
“I was in the bar [at a sale] in the evening and came up with the idea of an amazing name, The Platinum Queen,” Kilby told the British press. “[A trainer] told me I had to reserve the name there and then. I saved it, and said to the different syndicates, ‘If you buy the right horse, I’ve got the right name,’ and Middleham Park Racing bought the right horse.”
The Platinum Queen won three of her first four starts, prompting Middleham Park and trainer Richard Fahey to take advantage of a weight allowance versus older horses in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York. She was second by 2 1/2 lengths to the stellar Highfield Princess, one of the favorites for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
The Platinum Queen was second by a nose back against juveniles in the Group 2 Flying Childers, then stepped back up against older foes in the Abbaye. Getting 21 pounds from most of the field, she won by a neck.
The BC Juvenile Turf Sprint will be run around a turn, and The Platinum Queen has raced only on a straightaway. Fahey thinks she’ll handle the turn just fine.
“We’ve only got one turn on the gallops at home, but it’s left-handed and she’s been round it plenty of times without a problem,” Fahey told the British press. “We won’t know until the day, but she has an inclination to go left and I don’t think the track at Keeneland will be a problem. I’ve never trained a quicker 2-year-old.”
The Platinum Queen became the first juvenile to win the Abbaye since Sigy in 1978. She will now try to become the first European-based winner of the Juvenile Turf Sprint, which was added to the Breeders’ Cup program in 2018.
The last three winners of this race have been trained by Keeneland-based Wesley Ward, who will attempt to continue his reign with the Love Reigns. She is expected to run in the Indian Summer Stakes on Sunday at Keeneland, possibly facing Kentucky Downs Juvenile Sprint winner Private Creed.
Other domestic runners are coming from outside of Kentucky. Speed Boat Beach has dazzled in both his starts, including his turf debut in the Speakeasy Stakes at Santa Anita. Unbeaten Iowa-bred Tyler’s Tribe has won four dirt sprint stakes by a combined 43 lengths.
Along with the Indian Summer, the Grade 3 Futurity and Grade 3 Matron this weekend at Aqueduct could provide additional starters.
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