Rich Tapestry, the first Hong Kong-based runner in Breeders' Cup history, will start Saturday's US$1.5 million G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint from near the middle of a deep and talented field -- but also as one of the favourites.
In the US$3 million G1 Breeders' Cup Turf, early favourites are all from overseas with Flintshire a narrow pick after his runner-up finish behind Treve in the Group 1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.
Rich Tapestry earned a spot near the top of the rankings for the 1200m race over the Santa Anita dirt track. Although he has struggled on the Sha Tin turf course at home, the six-year-old gelding had a breakthrough performance this spring on the all-weather track at Meydan in Dubai, winning the Group 3 Mahab Al Shimaal before finishing a close-up second to fellow Hong Kong runner Sterling City in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen on World Cup night.
After another home-court misfire in the HK Group 2 Sprint Cup to wind up his season, Rich Tapestry was shipped to California last month and promptly scored a Grade 1 win in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship, defeating last year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile champ Goldencents and last year's Breeders' Cup Sprint winner, Secret Circle, with a decisive late move.
Saturday's race will be at least as tough a test, with lots of early speed to set up the kind of late run that saw Rich Tapestry to victory last time out -- but also some very talented off-the-pace types who can keep him company late. That group includes Secret Circle and multiple Grade 1 winner Palace. The speedy types include Grade 1 winner Private Zone and some lightly raced three-year-olds gunning for a victory over their elders.
Rich Tapestry has been working well at Santa Anita and is reported happy, healthy and ready to run.
A good barrier draw often makes a critical difference in the Sprint, with the inside being toughest to handle. Olivier Doleuze will pilot Rich Tapestry from gate 6, which should give him plenty of options if the horse breaks alertly. And a pace-stalking trip could weave just the right tapestry for victory if a hot pace battle falls apart late.
The Turf, run at 2400m on ground likely to be firm, features not only the aforementioned Flintshire but also last year's winner, Magician. Magician will seek to make amends for a shocking runner-up finish in the Grade 1 Arlington Million in his last start. The English parade continues with Telescope, last seen finishing behind only Australia and The Grey Gatsby in the Group 1 Juddmonte International at York. Brown Panther, winner of the Group 1 Irish St Leger, is also in this race after he bolted before the start of the Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine earlier this month and was withdrawn.
Chicquita represents the Irish Coolmore camp and could play a role on Saturday if she can return to the form that saw her take the Irish Oaks in 2013.
The US contingent for the Turf features Main Sequence, who has won all three of his starts this year in America after labouring for two years in Europe. All three of those wins came in Grade 1 events and his margins of victory were a neck over Twilight Eclipse in the United Nations Stakes, a head over Imagining in the Sword Dancer Invitational, and a neck over Twilight Eclipse with Imagining third last time in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. It's no surprise that both Twilight Eclipse and Imagining will be trying to turn the tables in the Breeders' Cup Turf.
The Sprint and the Turf are high points of a two-day, 13-race programme with total purses of US$26 million. The Hong Kong Jockey Club will simulcast the Breeders’ Cup Turf at 6.23am, and the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at 7.02am on Sunday, 2 November.
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Photo 1:
Rich Tapestry works on the Santa Anita dirt track on Monday morning ahead of Saturday��s Breeders�� Cup Sprint
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