Emirates World Series 2001

Sakhee Heads Strong European Contingent in Breeders' Cup Turf

Sakhee, a six-length winner of the 2001 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) at Longchamp, heads a strong European contingent pre-entered to run in the US$2 million Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) at Belmont Park in New York on Saturday, 27 October. The 2400-metre event will be contested on Belmont Park's outer grass course, and is a major component of the newly renamed Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.

Owned by the Godolphin Stable of Sheiks Mohammed and Maktoum al Maktoum, and trained by Saeed bin Suroor, Sakhee is undefeated in three starts in this year. The 4-year-old colt was a three-length winner of the Steventon Stakes at Newbury in July, won the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York by seven lengths in August and followed that with his Arc victory. Frankie Dettori, who won the 2000 Hong Kong Cup (G1) with Godolphin's Fantastic Light, is now Sakhee's rider as well.

Fantastic Light has also been pre-entered in the Turf, but will almost assuredly compete in the US$4 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Sakhee has been cross-entered in the Classic, as well, but the Sheiks have indicated they do not want their two horses vying against each other.

Milan, bred in Great Britain, and winner of the Rothmans Royals St. Leger Stakes (G1) at Doncaster this past September, has also voyaged across the Atlantic to run in the Turf. Owned by Michael Tabor, trained by Aidan P. O'Brien and ridden by Michael Kinane, Milan has just two wins in seven starts this year, but still is accorded a solid shot at an upset, especially if the Belmont course is firm.

With Anticipation, owned by George Strawbridge Jr's Augustin Stable and trained by Jonathan E. Sheppard, may be the best of this year's North American Turf hopefuls. On 1 July, With Anticipation was first under the wire in the United Nations Handicap (G1) at New Jersey´s Monmouth Park, but was disqualified to second for interference.

In his next start, the Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap (G1) at Saratoga, With Anticipation had a new jockey, Pat Day, and cruised to a three-quarter-length victory over Silvano. And the 6-year-old gelding followed that triumph with a 2 1/4-length victory in the Man o' War Stakes (G1) at Belmont on 8 September, again with Day aboard.

With Anticipation's style is that of a front-runner, and in both the 2400-metre Sword Dancer and the 2200-metre Man o'War, he led at every call. Despite the Turf's demanding 2400-metre distance, there is a precedent for a horse winning while running on the fore throughout. Buck's´s Boy did this in 1998.

Timboroa, also bred in Great Britain, but a veteran North American campaigner, has the versatility to win on the lead from flagfall to wire, or coming from behind. In his most recent effort, the 5-year-old horse led from start to finish in Belmont's Turf Classic Invitational (G1) on 29 September. Prior to that effort, Timboroa staked the pace, then drew off to a one-length victory in the Del Mar Handicap (G2).

Owned by Edmund A. Gann, Timboroa is trained by Robert J. Frankel, whose horses have already earned over US$12 million this year. It has not yet been established as to who will ride Timboroa in the Turf.

Other horses pre-entered in the Turf include Balto Star, Blazing Fury, Blueprint, Chorwon, Hap, Kalypso Katie, Lodge Hill, Mutamam, Quiet Resolve, Slew the Red, and Slew Valley. A maximum field of 14 will draw in.