Siskany goes the distance in marathon Gold Cup
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ELMONT, N.Y. — Siskany capped off a big afternoon for Godolphin, Friday at Belmont Park when rallying to a popular two length victory over The Grey Wizard in the Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup. His performance coming just 30 minutes after Godolphin’s homebred filly Pretty Mischievous proved a game winner of the Grade 1 Acorn.
The two mile Gold Cup marked the US debut for Siskany, who had made one previous start at the distance, having finished second to Broome in the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan in March. Broome is no stranger to local fans, having finished fourth as the 3-2 favorite following, an unlucky start in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer last summer at Saratoga.
With regular rider William Buick in for the ride, Siskany raced well placed off the early pace set by longshot Tide of the Sea. Buick bided his time aboard the 3-5 favorite before finally asking Siskany to begin his rally a little less than three furlongs from the wire. The pair angled five wide advancing into the stretch, readily over-took Amazing Grace nearing mid-stretch, quickly surged well clear and was not threatened thereafter.
The Grey Wizard raced towards the rear of the bulky 13 horse field for nearly a mile and one-half under jockey John Velazquez before beginning to advance gradually leaving the backstretch the second time around. The Grey Wizard ultimately ranged up just behind the eventual winner turning for home, could not keep pace when that one quickened at the top of the lane but ran on willingly to be second best, a neck in front of the rail skimming British Royalty.
Siskany, a Godolphin homebred by Dubawi, trained by Charlie Appleby, became the sixth consecutive winner of the Gold Cup to have come from Europe. He completed the grueling distance over a firm course in 3:23.99 seconds, a final clocking adjusted slightly after being hand timed by an official from NYRA. He returned $3.70 to win and earned a 96 Beyer.
“It was great to win the Acorn again with our US representative [Pretty Mischievous], we’re big fans of hers, and then to come back with our colleagues from England as well, to win a dirt race and a turf race back to back, it was fantastic,” said Michael Banahan, Godolphin’s USA Director of Bloodstock. “I think it was a bit of a slower pace and really didn’t suit our horse that well, but he performed well in spite of that. We were very confident he would run very, very well, it was a big win, and hopefully we’ll have a few more wins with him down the road.”
Banahan said he thought Siskany would likely stay in the US moving forward.
“Charlie will have a stable up here this summer like he did last year and I’m sure he’ll find something for him at Saratoga,” Banahan said.
As for the trip Siskany received in the Gold Cup, Banahan couldn’t have been more effusive with his praise for Buick.
“William Buick is one of the leading riders in the world, he’s a master of pace and knows where to put his horses in the right spot in the race,” said Banahan. “He’s a master craftsman and we’re very confident whenever William is riding one of our horses.”
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