Turf Favorite Flintshire Draws Favorable Post

The Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) always brings the world into these World Championships. Annually, the $3 million stakes has attracted international stars to the United States for what in recent years is perceived as easy pickings of major purse money with an overseas vacation.



Thirteen horses were entered in the 1 1/2-mile event Monday, Oct. 27, at Santa Anita Park, in what has become an American showcase for European raiders who have produced winners in 12 of the past 15 renewals.



This year's edition drew another accomplished foreign contingent to the California sun including Flintshire, Telescope, Brown Panther, and defending BC Turf champion Magician  .



But the home team has its own all-star sluggers, led by Flaxman Holdings' former Britain-based runner Main Sequence. For his new trainer Graham Motion, the 5-year-old gelding arrives off three important grade I wins in succession on the East Coast: the United Nations, Sword Dancer Invitational, and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.

Perhaps this is one track where American runners can excel. Little Mike ran away with the 2012 Turf.



Main Sequence drew post 12 at 6-1 on the morning line with John Velazquez replacing the injured Rajiv Maragh. Main Sequence is one of three Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win & You're In" automatic qualifiers running in the Breeders' Cup Turf. The others are Michael House's Del Mar Handicap (gr. IIT) winner Big John B (20-1) and surprise Arlington Million (gr. IT) victor Hardest Core (10-1), owned by Andrew Bentley Stables.

Motion said he was indifferent about Main Sequence's post postion.

"Magician won from the 11 last year, I think. My horse isn't very quick out of the gate, so we'll just have to see how the race unfolds," he said. 



Santa Anita's firm turf course has hosted seven previous renewals of the the Turf. Of those, four were won by Irish-breds, including Magician last year for trainer Aidan O'Brien. This trip to Arcadia, Coolmore's Magician ranks at 5-1 on the early line; he was 12-1 last year when he swept past favored The Fugue in the stretch.



The Irish classic-winning 4-year-old son of Galileo has won just once in group III company since last fall's abracadabra moment. But he has produced major seconds in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (Ire-I), the Prince of Wales's Stakes (Eng-I), and the Arlington Million, his most recent start Aug. 16.



O'Brien, a four-time BC Turf winner, has also entered Coolmore's erratic filly Chicquita (8-1). Last year's Darley Irish Oaks (Ire-I) winner drifted left badly with the lead in the late going of the QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes (Eng-I) Oct. 18 and finished third.



With Just The Judge and Secret Gesture entering the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) as their first preference, Chicquita is the only female entrant in this year' BC Turf lineup.



Juddmonte Farms' Flintshire comes off a surging second to Treve in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) Oct. 5 and is the 7-2 morning line favorite for trainer Andre Fabre, a two-time Turf winner. The 4-year-old Dansili colt favors firm going but has a significant drawback in that his last win came in the Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (Fr-I) in July 2013. Maxime Guyon rides from post 7.



Four-time Turf winner Sir Michael Stoute has been pointing Highclere Thoroughbred Racing's Irish-bred Telescope toward Santa Anita's firm layout since August. The dual group II-winning 4-year-old Galileo colt finished a one-paced third in the Juddmonte International (Eng-I) at York Aug. 20. He's on the rail Saturday pegged at 4-1 with all-world jockey Ryan Moore along for  ride once again



Also from overseas is Irish St. Leger (Ire-I) victor Brown Panther (8-1), whose meltdown at the gate prior to the Pattison Canadian International (Can-IT) Sept. 14 at Woodbine necessitated his scratch as the morning line favorite. He gets another chance here and merits strong consideration off his 6 1/2-length romp at the Curragh Sept. 14.



Among the U.S. contenders are Twilight Eclipse (12-1) and Imagining (12-1) both beaten by Main Sequence in close finishes this summer. Twilight Eclipse ran in last year's Turf, finishing sixth, 2 1/4 lengths behind Magician.