Royal Dornoch earns Breeders' Cup berth with win in Royal Lodge Stakes

The Royal Lodge is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Win and You’re In race, offering the winner a fees-paid entry plus travel expenses to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

:: BREEDERS’ CUP 2019: See DRF’s top contenders

The winner turned out to be the longest price in a seven-horse field. Royal Dornoch also was the least-fancied among three Aidan O’Brien-trained entrants, but bested favored Kameko by a neck in this straight-course mile. Pressing the pace under Wayne Lordan, Royal Dornoch stayed on gamely to just prevail, clocking 1:35.13 over very quick ground. Royal Dornoch is by Gleneagles out of Bridal Dance, by Danehill Dancer, and won for the second time while trying his first race beyond seven furlongs. He doesn’t appear to be at the very top of the 2-year-old class for O’Brien and the Coolmore ownership group, which makes it plausible he’d be shipped to California for the Juvenile Turf.

Kameko raced keenly in the early stages and ran well enough holding a clear second over Iberia. Highland Chief and Pyledriver, sixth and seventh, were the disappointments on the day.

Earthlight, meanwhile, remained undefeated after five starts while notching his second straight Group 1 win, with his victory Saturday in the six-furlong Middle Park following the Prix Morny last month. Earthlight, Mickael Barzalona up for trainer Andre Fabre and Godolphin, settled in midpack before delivering another sold winning run to get up by a neck over Golden Horde. Fabre said Earthlight, by Shamardal and out of the New Approach mare Winters Moon, wouldn’t race again until next spring, when he’ll be pointed to the French or English 2000 Guineas.

Mums Tipple, strong second choice to favored Earthlight, chased the leader but came up empty and checked in seventh. Highly regarded Siskin acted up badly in the gate and was scratched before the start.

Earthlight in the Morny edged the filly Raffle Prize, but Raffle Prize was run down as the favorite in the Group 1 Cheveley Park by Millisle, who dashed clear in the very late stages and won by 1 ¾ lengths. Raffle Prize took a lead midway through this straight six-furlong sprint but couldn’t come close to matching Millisle’s finish. Rallying up the rail from last place under Shane Foley, Millisle found her best stride coming uphill through the final furlong and was easily travelling best in the end, with Tropbeau a close third after encountering traffic. Millisle was clocked in 1:09.39, just .08 slower than Earthlight’s winning 1:09.31 in the Middle Park.

Jessica Harrington trains Millisle, who is from the first crop of the sire Starspangledbanner and out of the Indian Ridge mare Green Castle. Millisle has finished first or second in all five of her starts, but despite the strong finish Saturday is regarded by many as mainly a sprinter.