Mongolian Stable Aims for More Breeders' Cup Success

Veering a bit from plans at the 2017 Ocala Breeders' Sales Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training worked out well for trainer Enebish Ganbat and Ganbaatar Dagvadorj's Mongolian Stable. 

Ganbat attended the sale intending to purchase juvenile fillies for Mongolian Stable, which is interested in building its broodmare band. But when Ganbat spotted a Hightail  colt he liked, he decided to go off script. After all, that indulgence only added $12,000 to the ledger.

That son of Hightail turned out to be Mongolian Groom, who earned his first top-level victory in the Awesome Again Stakes (G1) Sept. 28 at Santa Anita Park to improve his earnings to $579,141. Mongolian Stable decided to commit some of those earnings—$200,000—to supplement Mongolian Groom to the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

"I came to buy fillies as prospective broodmares because we don't have good broodmares at our Kentucky farm," Ganbat said. "But when I saw him, I just decided to buy him—even though I was there to buy fillies, no colts. But when I saw him, I decided, 'I like this horse and have to buy him.'"

That decision led to the Oct. 30 scene at Santa Anita where owner Dagvadorj joined Ganbat to watch Mongolian Groom exercise on a cool but spectacular morning in Southern California. They joked with one another back at the barn as they watched their new star cool out. They're not on unfamiliar ground, literally or figuratively: Ganbat is based at Santa Anita with 16 horses for the owner, and the two have teamed before for Breeders' Cup success.

Their first Breeders' Cup starter, Mongolian Saturday, won the TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) in 2015 at Keeneland.

"That was our first big victory. Everyone was so happy. The owner was so happy, Mongolia was happy," Ganbat said. "Mongolia is horse country. Now everybody knows Mongolian Saturday and Mongolia."

Ganbat said Dagvadorj—who, according to Forbes, heads Mongolian business conglomerate Max Group with his brother Tserenjigmed—takes pride in Mongolian Saturday bringing the world a bit closer together.

"This is a very good connection, special connection, between America and Mongolia," Ganbat said. "Mongolian people now have a better understanding of America. Too many thought America was a terrible country—a terrible country, like a demon. But now people like America more, have a much better understanding of America. It's a better connection."

As for their newest standout, Ganbat believes Mongolian Groom has improved through racing experience and put everything together this year, his 4-year-old season. Ganbat said Mongolian Groom benefited from increasing challenges in his races, starting with a pair of maiden-claiming starts last year. Knowing his sale price, the trainer was confident his young runner wouldn't be claimed.

After rallying from 11th to finish second in his second race, a $30,000 maiden claimer at 1 1/16 miles, Ganbat figured the promise he saw was now too difficult to conceal. He next started Mongolian Groom in a maiden special weight race on the turf in June at Santa Anita, where he scored a front-end win.

Mongolian Groom earned one more placing in three more starts last year. In February, the gelding rallied from fifth to win a one-mile allowance race on the Santa Anita dirt. That effort convinced Ganbat he had a talented horse. 

"He's become better every race. I wanted to give him races that would improve him. This season, he's just become stronger, more stronger, and more stronger," Ganbat said. "When he won the allowance race, I immediately thought he was grade 1 level."

Next out, Mongolian Groom rewarded that faith by placing in his grade 1 debut—the Santa Anita Handicap Presented by San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino (G1). Since then, Mongolian Groom has raced exclusively in graded stakes, earning another grade 1 placing in the $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) at Del Mar before his breakthrough win in the Awesome Again.

"The previous race win was unexpected by everybody, even me—to beat McKinzie and Higher Power," Ganbat said. "This is horse racing. Anything can happen."

Ganbat and Dagvadorj hope for more of that magic Nov. 2 in the Classic when Mongolian Groom and his up-and-coming jockey, Abel Cedillo, start from post 9. Should the owner and trainer pull the upset, they'll have Breeders' Cup wins with horses they spent a combined $72,000 to purchase.

KING: Cedillo Parlays Success Into Breeders' Cup Chances

In finding those diamonds in the rough, Ganbat credits his heritage and a forgiving eye.

"I think we as Mongolian people grow up with horses, and we see everything in a horse—everything, we watch," Ganbat said. "A perfect horse you'll never find; if you can find one 70%, that's good."