Rip Van Winkle captures QEII, takes aim on BC Classic

The Aidan O'Brien-trained RIP VAN WINKLE (Galileo [Ire]) followed in the

steps of some equine greats by winning Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II S. (Eng-G1)

at Ascot, and his next stop is set to be Santa Anita on November 7.

Although the winner of the Queen Elizabeth II automatically receives a place

in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (G1), Rip Van Winkle is set to line up in

the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1).

The Queen Elizabeth II was one of three races at Ascot Saturday that form

part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge, an international series of 63 races whose

winners earn qualifying positions into a corresponding race at the World

Championships, following the payment of applicable entry fees on October 26.

HIBAAYEB (Singspiel [Ire]), winner of Saturday's Fillies' Mile (Eng-G1), now

has an automatic place in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf,

while Saturday's Royal Lodge S. (Eng-G2) winner JOSHUA TREE (Montjeu [Ire]),

also trained by O'Brien, qualifies for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Turf.

There are 11 Challenge races held in Europe this year, with three still to

take place -- the Diamond S. (Ire-G3) at Dundalk on Friday (winner earns a place

in the Breeders' Cup Marathon), the Prix de l'Abbaye (Fr-G1) at Longchamp on

October 4 (winner receives a place in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint) and the

Champion S. (Eng-G1) at Newmarket on October 17, for which the victor is

guaranteed a place in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1).

Rip Van Winkle, winner of the Sussex S. (Eng-G1) on his previous start,

battled impressively under Johnny Murtagh to beat Zacinto (Dansili [GB]) by 1

1/4 lengths in the Queen Elizabeth II.

"Rip Van Winkle is not just a good horse, he's a great horse," O'Brien said.

"He's brave, he stays and his biggest asset is his class and early speed. We

didn't run a pacemaker today because he would have had to have been a Group 1

sprinter to have led them and we don't have a horse fast enough to do that so it

was brilliant that it worked out today with Aqlaam (Oasis Dream [GB], who wound

up last of four) going on. Johnny rode a masterful race on him.

"We'll really look forward to the Breeders' Cup Classic with him because he's

a horse that cruises and stays. His preparation was interrupted coming into this

and hopefully we'll get a smooth run through to the Classic.

"MASTERCRAFTSMAN (Danehill Dancer) could also go for the Classic, that will

be the owners' decision, and he may run on Friday at Dundalk in the Group Three

Diamond S. We may also take SEPTIMUS (Sadler's Wells) out to America and the

two-year-old VISCOUNT NELSON (Giant's Causeway), but again it will be the lads'

decision."

"I think the Breeders' Cup Classic will be the ideal race for Rip Van

Winkle," Murtagh said. "He'll love the track at Santa Anita, the distance is

right and he has the tactical speed to go round there."

Meanwhile trainer Clive Brittain will discuss with Habaayib's Dubai-based

owner Mohammed Al Nabouda about sending the Fillies' Mile heroine to the

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf.

The filly was breaking her maiden in Saturday's Group 1 contest, having

finished a close second in Doncaster's May Hill S. (Eng-G2) on her previous

start.

"I'll talk to the owners and if they want to take her to America I'll see how

the filly is, she'll tell us whether she wants to go," Brittain said. "She's

gone from one step to the next and never stopped improving. Whatever she does

this year, I think the Oaks (Eng-G1) could be on the cards for her next season.

"We got mugged on the line on her first start in a maiden at Folkestone and I

knew she'd improved again but we got caught on the line once again at Doncaster,

at least it worked out today."

Earlier, the O'Brien-trained Joshua Tree earned a starting position in the

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf when winning the Royal Lodge. The colt had won a

maiden at Gowran Park on his debut and today held off Waseet (Selkirk) to score

by 1 1/4 lengths.

Asked about the possibility of Joshua Tree going to Santa Anita, O'Brien

said: "All the races like that are under consideration and come into the

equation but we won't be in a hurry with him. He's a lovely-moving horse and

appreciated the decent ground and pace today."