The Breeders' Cup could be on the agenda for Roaring Lion (Kitten's Joy), trainer John Gosden revealed at Newmarket's Open Weekend on Sunday.
“I'm very happy with Roaring Lion and we are pointing towards the [G1] Champion S. at Ascot on Oct. 20,” he said. “The Breeders' Cup comes pretty sharply after Champions Day. If it was heavy he wouldn't run at Ascot, but if it was good to soft he would run as he has won on it before.”
Gosden said the meeting's showpiece $6-million Breeders' Cup Classic on dirt would be under consideration.
“If he went to the Breeders' Cup, it could be the mile and a half on turf [the Breeders' Cup Turf] or we could have a look at the Classic. He is a mile-and-a-quarter horse, so you would consider the Classic as well as the turf.”
Gosden also provided an update on his 2017 Horse of the Year Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who made a successful belated 4-year-old debut in the G3 September S. at Kempton earlier this month.
“She has been good since the race at Kempton and we are happy with her,” he said. “She has been cantering away. We are just building her up to the Arc and we are happy with her progress and she seems well in herself. Hopefully they will get a bit of rain in Paris as I thought the ground was a bit fast there last week, which is not entirely her scene as she appreciates getting her toe in. She will do a couple of pieces of work between now and then.”
Enable could be joined in the Arc by last year's champion 3-year-old colt Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who was scintillating winning last year's Champion S. but was beaten last-out by Poet's Word (GB) (Poet's Voice {GB}) in the G1 Prince of Wales's S.
“Cracksman is building up for the Arc as well,” Gosden said. “If we get the rain there he will be running there, if not we will wait for the Champion S. He worked yesterday and he is coming back. He very much enjoys this type of weather.”
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