St Mark's Basilica, No Speak Alexander gain Breeders' Cup spots
The strongly favored St Mark’s Basilica and longshot No Speak Alexander won Group 1 races at Leopardstown Racecourse in Ireland on Saturday with implications for the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar in November.
Both winners were subject to inquiries involving the stretch runs.
St Mark’s Basilica ($2.80 in American pools) won the four-runner $1.18 million Irish Champion Stakes at 1 1/4 miles by three-quarters of a length over 2-1 Tarnawa, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland last November.
St Mark’s Basilica, ridden by Ryan Moore, was third midway through the race and reached the front in the final sixteenth. St Mark’s Basilica drifted across the track late and finished in the middle of the course, carrying out Taranawa.
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Tarnawa was a nose in front of Poetic Flare, who stayed on the inside of the track in the stretch. The order of finish was not changed after an inquiry.
St Mark’s Basilica earned a fees-paid berth to the BC Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 6, but trainer Aidan O’Brien was noncommittal about plans for the 3-year-old colt on Saturday. Another option is the Group 1 Champions Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Ascot Racecourse in England on Oct. 16.
Owned by the Coolmore syndicate, St Mark’s Basilica won his fifth consecutive Group 1 race in the Irish Champion, in a span that includes the Dewhurst Stakes for 2-year-olds at Newmarket last October, the French 2000 Guineas at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris in May, the French Derby at Chantilly in June, and the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park near London on July 3.
Tarnawa is rated as a candidate for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Oct. 3.
The Irish Champion Stakes is the country’s richest race for older horses.
No Speak Alexander ($55.30) won the $354,600 Matron Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile, earning a fees-paid berth to the BC Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 6.
Ridden by Shane Foley for trainer Jessica Harrington, No Speak Alexander was third for the first six furlongs and took the lead in the final furlong. No Speak Alexander drifted to the inside in the final sixteenth, which forced Moore to take up on 4-5 favorite Mother Earth.
No Speak Alexander finished a neck in front of 8-1 Pearls Galore, who was 1 1/4 lengths clear of an unlucky Mother Earth in a field of 13. Mother Earth, who arguably was denied a victory because of the trouble, had won two Group 1 races earlier this year.
Foley was given a five-day suspension for his ride in the Matron Stakes, and later in the card was given an additional three-day suspension for his winning ride on Real Appeal in the Group 2 Boomerang Mile.
No Speak Alexander, 3, was third in the Group 1 Irish 1000 Guineas in May and 10th behind Mother Earth in the Group 1 Prix Rothschild against older fillies and mares at Deauville Racecourse in France on Aug. 3 for owners Charles, Paul and Noel O’Callaghan.
Atomic Jones ($21.60) won the Group 2 Juvenile Stakes for 2-year-olds at a mile, earning a berth to the BC Juvenile Turf at Del Mar on Nov. 5.
But trainer Ger Lyons said Atomic Jones was likely done for the season after just two starts, including a maiden-race win at the Curragh in June.
In the Juvenile Stakes, Atomic Jones closed from the back of a field of 10 to win by a head over Stone Age, the 7-2 third choice and the mount of Moore.
Hurricane Lane cruises in St. Leger
Hurricane Lane won his second classic race of the season, and third straight Group 1, in Saturday’s $1.02 million English St. Leger for 3-year-olds at 1 13/16th miles at Doncaster Racecourse in northern England.
Ridden by William Buick for trainer Charlie Appleby, Hurricane Lane ($3) closed from sixth in a field of 10 to take the lead in the final quarter-mile. Mojo Star, second in the English Derby in June, led early in the half-mile stretch, but could not hold off Hurricane Lane, who pulled away to win by 2 3/4 lengths.
Mojo Star (8-1) finished two lengths in front of 25-1 The Mediterranean.
Hurricane Lane, who is owned by Godolphin Racing, won the Group 1 Irish Derby at 1 1/2 miles at the Curragh on June 26 and the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris for 3-year-old colts and fillies at Longchamp on July 14 in his most recent start.
Trained by Charlie Appleby, Hurricane Lane’s only loss in seven starts was a third in the English Derby in June when he lost both front shoes.
Hurricane Lane is also rated as a leading candidate for the Arc de Triomphe.