Old Bearshan and Castle Lady lead the participants on the second day of the Breaders Cup

2019-11-14 15:00:49
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Veteran internationals All Bershan and Castle Lady will lead four Godolphin horses on the second day of the Preders Cup races at St Anita, USA, on Saturday (November 2nd).

Old Bearshan (Charlie Appleby / William Buick) is aiming to score a third victory at the G1 level a mile and a half miles this year by participating in the Predators Cup Turf, after the horse stalled the son of the stallion "Dabawi" speed and raced to a decisive Northern Dance Turf Stakes in Woodbine, Canada in September.

The four-year-old started his season with two decisive victories at Meydan in the UAE, including an outright win at the Dubai Shima Classic at the Dubai World Cup evening in late March.

Old Perschan is among 12 competitors in the Predators Cup Turf race, including England's G1 champion Anthony Van Dyke and several-time winner of the G1 Brix & Mortar.

"The process of shipping Old Bearshan to America has gone well and looks great," said Charlie Appleby. "We can spot many positive points in his interest in this race, including his long experience at this level and his habit of traveling."

"He did a great job at Woodbine Square, so the narrow one and a half mile is not a concern for us. The sure thing Old Perschan can do is endure, and he will seek to find a weakness in the Brix and Mortar, which Maybe it's testing this distance for the first time.

Three-year-old Castel Lady (Henry Alex Pantal / Michael Barzalona) is one and a half miles ahead of the G1 Predators Cup Philly and Mer Turf, after being strong enough to finish second at nine furlongs in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup in Kenland on Saturday, October 12.

The daughter of the stallion "Shamardal" recorded three successive victories over the mile in France earlier this year, culminating in a brilliant victory by the nose of the G1 Pool Desigh de Polish at Longchamp in May.

Here you will face 12 skilled leaders, led by American champion Sister Charlie, who defeated Wild Illusion by a neck in 2018 at the Predators Cup Philly and Mer Turf at Churchill Downs.

"Castle Lady stayed in Kenland after finishing second, Queen Elizabeth II Challeng Cup and moved to Santa Anita last week. She has adapted nicely to her new surroundings and cannot be happier now," said Lisa Jane Gravard of Godolphin.

"There is a small question mark in terms of distance, but a mile and a quarter of a mile is not difficult in Santa Anita. We have always thought that the best Talismanic distance is 10 furlongs, but he won the Breaders Cup Turf at a mile and a half miles in Delmar, so horses can Bear a little longer in American herbal tracks if you find a pathway.

"She is here after a great performance in Kenland and looks very special. Henry Alex Pantale was patient with her and really managed to get her back to the top of her form, so she deserves her chance to win a race of this kind.

Lokalan (Kieran McLaughlin / Lewis Saez) of the Predators Cup Mile, spent a special season, scoring three wins from four appearances including a long win in the G2 Necker Poker Stakes over nine furlongs at Belmont Park on Monday, October 14.

The only defeat for the four-year-old this year was the G1 and the Woodbine Mile in September, when he crossed the finish line in third place, but was reduced to fourth because he interfered with a horse near the finish line.

His 13 most notable rivals are Circus Maximas, twice winner of the G1 over a mile in Europe in 2019, and the champion of the first Lady Stakes, the horse oni, as well as the first and second in the Woodbine Mile - "Elementa" and "Goet Stormy".

“We get back quickly to Lukalan, but he is breders Cup, and he's doing excellent,” said Kiran McLaughlin.

"It was in our minds a potential goal for us and we had hoped to qualify for the race by winning the Woodbine Mile, but it was lucky to finish third and then we went to the Necker Poker.

"He got a very good second lane and may be positioned close to the top, because there doesn't seem to be an early pace in the race.

The four-year-old Finale Frontier (Tom Albertrani / Louis Saiz) is making his debut in a five-furlong race at the G1 Predators Cup Turf Sprint after he performed his best performance and won the Belmont Turf Sprint longer by furlong. One at Belmont Park on Saturday, October 5.

Eleven other rivals, including Total Boss and Pure Sensation, will face both G3 winners in their last run and Stormy Liberal, winner of the same race in 2017 and 2018.

“Final Frontier is really doing well,” said Tom Albertrani. He has returned from his last participation in good condition and is looking forward to a special offer from him. He never took part in a race but we certainly think he can compete at this level.

"He's a thrilling horse, and he has certainly shown that he has the talent and speed to handle a five-furlong high-speed race. The main thing we need is to get a chain ride and a Salik track which could make the difference between winning and losing.