Siskany Set for American Debut in Belmont Gold Cup

Godolphin's British homebred Siskany  tops a contentious field of 13 in the June 9 $250,000 Belmont Gold Cup (G2T), a two-mile Widener turf test for older horses, at Belmont Park.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, Siskany took the 12-furlong Godolphin Stakes in September at Newmarket and added the Group 3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy at 1 3/4-miles over good Meydan turf to his ledger in February.

The 5-year-old Dubawi gelding was defeated a neck by Broome two starts back in March in the Dubai Gold Cup (G2) and will make his North American debut from a close fifth in the 1 3/4-mile Yorkshire Cup (G2) May 19 over good-to-firm ground at York.

"He ran well last time against some very good horses. No disrespect to Siskany, as he's had a great international campaign, but that's probably where he sits in Europe," said Appleby. "I can't blame the track for his run, because at the end of the day, he has that level there and when he goes to the international stage, it always seems to bring out improvement."

The marathon specialist was a good third in the 1 7/8-miles Red Sea Turf (G3) last February at King Abdulaziz Racecourse and Appleby said he fancies Siskany's chances over Belmont's expansive Widener turf course.

"The trip will suit him there on Friday," Appleby said. "He's a good two-miler or a mile-and-six (-furlong) horse, but he's not a Group 1 horse, so we wouldn't go to Ascot with him. We'll take Yibir  to Ascot for the Gold Cup. On his best form, Siskany is in with a good chance."

Rounding out the field are Channel Maker ; High Definition , who is making his North American debut; British Royalty ; Amazing Grace ; Cross Border ; The Grey Wizard ; Tide of the Sea ; Strong Tide ; L'Imperator ; Cibolian ; Barbados ; and Tartini .

Meanwhile, Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, and Robert V. LaPenta's Amy C  will strive for her third straight stakes conquest in the $200,000 Intercontinental Stakes (G3T) at six furlongs on the inner turf for older fillies and mares.

Trained by Phil D'Amato, Amy C will make her first start in five months and was last seen posting a 1 1/4-length score in the Las Cienegas Stakes (G3T) Jan. 2 at Santa Anita Park, which came just over two months following a score in the Senator Ken Maddy Stakes over the same surface. Both races were run at 6 1/2 furlongs, a distance at which the 5-year-old Charming Thought (GB) mare is unbeaten.

After making her D'Amato debut when fourth in the two-turn mile Wilshire Stakes (G3T) last May at Santa Anita, Amy C was triumphant in a 6 1/2-furlong allowance event the following month over Santa Anita's downhill turf course.

Amy C will contest her shortest race Friday when facing the Intercontinental's six-furlong distance, but D'Amato expressed no concern with the cutback.

"I think it'll be right up her alley, she's done great going 6 1/2 (furlongs) at Santa Anita, so I have to imagine six would be a nice trip for her as well," D'Amato said. "When I first ran her, I ran her going a mile and it looked like she lost some steam a little bit late. Michael Dubb thought maybe going shorter down the hill would help and it seemed like from then on she's been a newly anointed sprinter."

Also competing in the Intercontinental are Bubble Rock ; Goin' Good ; Clitheroe ; Poppy Flower ; Messidor ; Bay Storm ; and Sarah Harper .