Turf runners look ahead after Breeders' Cup

Turf runners look ahead after

Breeders' Cup

Conduit may race again this season (Benoit Photo) Several performers exiting Saturday's Breeders' Cup events on the turf are already aiming at future targets. Turf (G1) star CONDUIT (Ire) (Dalakhani) is scheduled to remain in training next year for trainer Sir Michael Stoute, but according to the Racing Post, could seek another major prize this season in the November 30 Japan Cup (Jpn-G1). Turf runner-up EAGLE MOUNTAIN (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) will have one more start this year in either the Hong Kong Vase (HK-G1) or Hong Kong Cup (HK-G1) on December 14. Conduit and Eagle Mountain, along with Mile (G1) queen GOLDIKOVA (Ire) (Anabaa) and several other European Breeders' Cup participants, are scheduled to depart Los Angeles shortly after midnight Sunday aboard a Breeders' Cup charter flight. Turf third-placer DANCING FOREVER (Rahy) will leave Santa Anita early Tuesday morning and return to the New York base of trainer Shug McGaughey.

"I thought he ran a very, very good race," assistant trainer Buzz Tenney

said. "He'd had a very good breeze here on the Sunday before, so we felt

comfortable with him on the turf. He likes it firm and fast, which we thought

we'd get out here and we did."

Tenney said Dancing Forever probably didn't get a lot out of his past two

races on soft ground.

"His last good race was Belmont Day (when he won the Manhattan H. [G1]) and

maybe could have used a good, tough race in between to get him good and tight,"

Tenney said. "But he ran hard, he tried every step of the way and ran a very

good race. The Europeans were first, second and fourth, so he came back and beat

some horses that beat him early in the summer. I was proud of him."

WINCHESTER (Theatrical [Ire]), who wound up seventh in the Turf for trainer

Dermot Weld, will remain in California to run in the Hollywood Derby (G1) on

November 30 at Hollywood Park.

DONATIVUM (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux), successful in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile

Turf, could be seen again in the United States. Trainer John Gosden explained

that, because geldings are precluded from competing in some of the most

prestigious races in Europe, he thought preparing for the top American

three-year-old races, like the Kentucky Derby (G1), might be considered.

"We've been fortunate that he really turned around from being gelded," Gosden

said. "His maiden win was impressive and his works got so much better since.

He's a real street fighter of a horse. He had to fight his way to get a run. To

that extent, he could fit into any program. But if you're thinking about those

sort of races, you don't sort of drop in on them. You need to really train for a

race like that."

Gosden said he thinks a horse preparing for the Kentucky Derby should spend a

couple of months training and racing in the United States.

Trainer Eoin Harty was delighted with CORONET OF A BARON (Pure Prize), who

finished third in the Juvenile Turf in his grass debut.

"Coronet of a Baron ran really well," Harty said. "I'm very happy with him.

There's a good chance you'll see him back over at Hollywood, too."

Trainer John Sadler was elated with a third-place finish by WHATSTHESCRIPT

(Ire) (Royal Applause [GB]) in the Mile.

"It was a really tremendous race from a bad post (11) and he didn't have a

great trip," Sadler said Sunday morning, adding that the four-year-old could

return in the Citation H. (G1) at Hollywood on November 28.

Trainer Dan Hendricks, in contrast, was disappointed to see DAYTONA (Ire)

(Indian Ridge) make the lead turning into the stretch, then fall back sharply to

finish 10th of 11 in the Mile. Shortly after the race he found out why.

"He bled," Hendricks reported. "Bled pretty good, too. That's the first time

he's done that. We'll have to give him some time off now. They sometimes get

pretty sick after they do something like that. So we'll give him some time and

keep a close eye on him."

Desert Code surprised almost everyone, but not his trainer (Charles Pravata/Horsephotos.com) David Hofmans was not surprised by the 36-1 upset victory of his charge DESERT CODE (E Dubai) in the inaugural Turf Sprint. "Desert Code loves this course," the trainer said, adding that the chestnut was being primed earlier in the year to start stretching out. "But when I heard the Breeders' Cup came up with this race for the hill, I quickly shifted gears. "I gave him some time off during the Del Mar meeting and got him ready for Oak Tree's Morvich (H. [G3] where he finished seventh of 10). He needed that race and when he came back tired, I knew he'd be fit for this race. I was very confident coming into the race. "It happens every five years," a smiling Hofmans added about his pattern of landing a Breeders' Cup race. To be precise, it was seven years between Alphabet Soup's victory in the 1996 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Woodbine and Adoration's win in the 2003 Distaff (now Ladies' Classic [G1]) here at Santa Anita, but five years to this victory.

Godolphin's DIABOLICAL (Artax), who was just nailed late by Desert Code, is

slated to have one more start this year in the Hong Kong Sprint (HK-G1) on

December 14.

Trainer Clifford Sise Jr. was mystified by the uncharacteristically poor

effort of IDIOT PROOF (Benchmark), who checked in 13th of 14 in the Turf Sprint.

"I'm lost for an explanation about my horse," Sise said. "He came into the

race great and his work on the hillside course was fine. He looked sharp

yesterday, but he didn't run that way."