Coolmore’s perception in Triple Crown winner Justify , and his sire, Scat Daddy, might come full-spectacular-circle at this 12 months’s Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
That thought bounced by means of my head moments after watching Epsom Derby (G1) winner Metropolis of Troy nail down his third straight group 1 win Aug. 21 at York with a front-running rating in a Juddmonte Worldwide Stakes (G1) he managed all through earlier than prevailing by a size.
I haven’t got any numbers or scientific research on this subsequent level (but), however visually that front-running model suggests Kentucky-bred Metropolis of Troy may very well be properly suited to grime racing. Kudos to the Breeders’ Cup Problem Sequence’ worldwide schedule for tying some races such because the about 1 5/16-mile Juddmonte Worldwide to the Breeders’ Cup Basic (G1)—reminding successful connections of that profitable possibility.
After Metropolis of Troy punched his ticket to the $7 million Basic Nov. 2 at Del Mar, coach Aidan O’Brien backed such a plan for the Coolmore homebred. O’Brien has by no means captured the Breeders’ Cup Basic.
“The lads can do no matter they need however we all the time dreamed that he could be a Basic horse,” O’Brien instructed Racing Publish. “He stays, he is robust, we’re hoping the lads could go to the Basic with him; that might be some dream for him.”
Whereas the Win and You are In spot to the Basic might present a bit of additional motivation, Coolmore has by no means been one to shy from the turf-to-dirt transfer. Maybe most famously Big’s Causeway in his 3-year-old season registered a brave runner-up end to Tiznow within the 2000 Basic at Churchill Downs. Big’s Causeway counted the Juddmonte Worldwide amongst his 5 group 1 wins on turf that 12 months.
There’s loads of perception abroad that Metropolis of Troy will deal with grime as European-based bookmakers Aug. 22 listed Metropolis of Troy because the early favourite for the Breeders’ Cup Basic, within the vary of 3-1 to 4-1.
In his temporary however spectacular profession, Justify by no means raced on turf as he was retired after successful the 2018 Belmont Stakes (G1) to shut out the Triple Crown sweep. Coolmore then bought Justify from house owners WinStar Farm, China Horse Membership, Head of Plains Companions, and Starlight Racing to face him at its Ashford Stud close to Versailles, Ky.
That additionally was the house of Justify’s sire, Scat Daddy, till his dying in 2015. Scat Daddy gained the 2006 Champagne Stakes (G1) at 2 and the 2007 Florida Derby (G1) at 3. All of this floor versatility traces to Scat Daddy’s sire, Johannesburg, who as a juvenile earned champion/highweight honors in america, England, France, and Eire.
Amongst Scat Daddy’s 136 black-type winners to this point, 58 gained a stakes on grime and 92 gained black sort on turf, with 14 runners, reminiscent of grade 1 winner Mendelssohn , succeeding on each surfaces.
Metropolis of Troy’s dam, Collectively Perpetually, by Galileo, gained a bunch 1 stakes at 2 and is a full sister to 2018 Epsom Oaks (G1) winner Perpetually Collectively.
