Suedois Sneaking Under the Mile Radar

Few Breeders' Cup horses this week at Del Mar have stood out in all the right ways as well as Suedois (pronounced 'Sue-dwah'), who is entered in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) Nov. 4.

Owned by George Turner and Clipper Logistics, and conditioned by one of the rising stars of European training, David O'Meara, the nearly black son of Le Havre has been nothing short of flashy in his gallops and is carrying his flesh extremely well, especially considering he shipped across the Atlantic and back twice in the last month from his York, England, base.

On Oct. 7, the 6-year-old shipped to Keeneland and stopped to beat on Heart to Heart, passing the fan favorite in the final yards en route to a half-length victory in the $1-million Shadwell Turf Mile (G1T) at 9-1 odds. The victory was O'Meara's third win in a North American, seven-figure, grade 1 event in just over two years—star pupil Mondialiste annexed the 2015 Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1T) and 2016 Arlington Million XXXIV Stakes (G1T)—yet none of said triad came in Breeders' Cup events. That could change Saturday, as the native of County Cork, Ireland, takes a third stab at World Championships glory. 

"We are really happy with him," O'Meara said. "He traveled over well, once again, and seems to be in good form. The timing of the Shadwell was good for him after his race at Leopardstown and from then to now is good, as well. I think he will like the Del Mar course." 

Suedois enters the Breeders' Cup with loftier credentials than Mondialiste. A late-developing type, the French-bred gelding has hit the board in 10 of his previous 14 tries and is 8-for-32 overall. He placed in three of Europe's top sprints last year—the Darley July Cup (G1), 32red Sprint Cup (G1), and the Qatar Prix de la Foret (G1). 

This year, after a slow start to his season and a seventh-place finish in Royal Ascot's Diamond Jubilee (G1T), he stretched out to seven furlongs and placed in a pair of group stakes before trying a mile Sept. 9 at Leopardstown, resulting in a sharp victory in the Clipper Logistics Solonaway Boomerang Stakes (G2T) around a left-handed bend.

"He's just a really talented horse and is faster and easier to ride than Mondialiste," O'Meara said. "He's less complicated. I think he ran to a very high level at six furlongs, having been second in the July Cup, and he obviously stays the mile, as well." 

A former National Hunt jockey who rode for 13 years and began his training operation seven years ago, O'Meara has had marked success at the top level in three countries and appears to be a star on the rise at age 40. He has trained group 1 winners G Force, Move In Time and top mare Amazing Maria (IRE), in addition to his aforementioned pair. 

An integral part of his enterprise is fellow former jumps jockey Fearghal Davis, 31, who has been the head traveling lad and exercise rider for both Mondialiste and Suedois in their many transatlantic ventures. Accomplished in his own right, Davis won the Coral Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle (G1T) at Chepstow on Brian Ellison-trained Marsh Warbler in 2011 and rode 30 winners during the 2007-08 season. 

"He actually shipped better this time than to Keeneland," Davis said. "He looks great. He's eating and drinking well and I couldn't be happier. He feels similar to a month ago and is still very fresh, bucking and such, which is normal for him. If he wasn't, I'd be worried. Everything has gone to plan. He might actually have a better shot than Mondialiste did. He is multiple group 1-placed on form and has proven himself." 

Both of O'Meara's previous Breeders' Cup tries came with said Galileo (IRE)-sired globetrotter, who was retired to Elwick Stud after finishing off the board in Suedois' Shadwell Turf Mile. While he was a winded 12th last year in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Santa Anita Park, Mondialiste was a hard-charging second to Tepin in the 2015 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) at Keeneland. 

This year, O'Meara's chances appear even better on paper, but Suedois has less buzz around him than a fly in syrup. Such is likely credited to the depth of a field that includes grade 1-winning standouts Ribchester, World Approval, Roly Poly, and Midnight Storm . 

"I believe we are as good as World Approval and I think we could be better," O'Meara concluded. "Roly Poly and Ribchester are probably a little better than us, though. If Ribchester brings his European form, I think he may be the best horse and very tough to beat, but on what we've shown, we can be competitive. He is doing very well and we're looking forward to it."