German Stayer Takes Aim on the Belmont Gold Cup

The European raiding parties begin their attack on New York's rich turf program with two of the seven entries for the 2-mile Belmont Gold Cup Invitational (G2T) on June 10 arriving from overseas and, while neither would be recognizable at a glance to American fans, both deserve a closer look.

Loft  arrives with a record of eight top-three finishes from 10 starts, including two wins. All of his races were in Germany. Perhaps more important than the form, though, are the connections as the Adlerflug  colt is a stablemate of the reigning Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) champion, Torquator Tasso . And trainer Marcel Weiss has named Torquator Tasso's rider, Rene Piechulek on Loft.

Into the bargain, Adlerflug sired Torquator Tasso and Adlerflug's sire, In the Wings , won the 1990 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T)— at Belmont Park.

Loft, out of the Dubawi  mare Labrice, placed in a pair of group 3 events to wind up his 2021 campaign and opened his 4-year-old season with a win at 2 miles on good turf at Hoppegarten.

The question is how the German form will stack up against American stayers. Weiss assistant Julia Romich told Belmont Park publicity the signs are positive.

"He has been perfect so far leading to this race," Romich said. "You never know until you try to ship a horse like this but we know that we have good German horses running right now and he's coming into this off a group 2 win against them.

"He's in great condition now and doesn't require any special distance or ground. He has been perfect so far leading to this race."

While Loft is relatively lightly raced, the other European in the Gold Cup field, Outbox , a 7-year-old Frankel  gelding, makes his 27th start for trainer Archie Watson. Hollie Doyle brings star presence from England to take the mount.

Outbox has plenty of question marks. He did win the H H the Emir Trophy, a local group 1 affair, at Doha in Qatar in February and finished third behind Living Legend  and Yibir , the 2021 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) winner, in his 2022 debut. But he comes off a subpar effort in his last outing.

Outbox also has specialized in what are considered middle-distance races in Europe, mostly 1 1/2 miles. His best effort at a true staying trip came on the Kempton Park all-weather course.

"Outbox is a very adaptable horse and we know he handles the traveling," Doyle said. "I'm hopeful he will run a big race in the Gold Cup. His previous run was disappointing but every horse is entitled to throw in a bad one. His win in Qatar was excellent and if he can produce another run like that, it would be great."

With staying races on the turf a novelty in North America, it's not surprising European runners have won the last four editions of the Gold Cup. And in this year's renewal, only one of the six local contenders has ever tried the Gold Cup distance. Abaan , a 5-year-old Will Take Charge  gelding, won the 2-mile H. Allen Jerkens Stakes at Gulfstream Park, leading from gate to wire.

Facing tougher competition in the 1 3/8-miles Man o' War Stakes (G1T) at Belmont Park in his last start, Abaan wilted in the late going to finish fifth, two slots behind the aforementioned Yibir. Trainer Todd Pletcher took the positive view of that record.

"We're looking forward to getting him back to a distance he's proven at," the trainer said.

Abaan could have a shot at an easy lead if jockey Luis Saez gets him a decent start. Outbox has a record of racing forwardly but the others all prefer waiting tactics.

Entries: Belmont Gold Cup S. (G2T)

Belmont Park, Friday, June 10, 2022, Race 8

• Grade IIT
• 2m
• Turf
• $400,000
• 4 yo's & up
• 4:42 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Loft (GER)	Andrasch Starke	122	Marcel Weiss	4/1
2	2Abaan (KY)	Luis Saez	122	Todd A. Pletcher	5/2
3	3British Royalty (ON)	Joel Rosario	118	Barbara J. Minshall	12/1
4	4Outbox (GB)	Hollie Doyle	124	Archie Watson	2/1
5	5Strong Tide (IN)	Dylan Davis	120	Michael E. Lauer	6/1
6	6Cibolian (KY)	Flavien Prat	118	Rodolphe Brisset	10/1
7	7Novo Sol (BRZ)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	118	Saffie A. Joseph, Jr.	10/1
8	8Box N Score (ON)	Manuel Franco	118	Jonathan Thomas	15/1