French Group 1 winner Audarya (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) punctuated her U.S. debut with a well-earned victory over five-time Grade I scorer Rushing Fall (More Than Ready) in the Maker's Mark GI Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Keeneland Saturday afternoon. GI Woodbine Mile heroine Starship Jubilee (Indy Wind) stumbled at the start, dropping Florent Geroux as Cayenne Pepper (Ire) (Australia {GB}) raced out from her outside berth to set the pace with Mean Mary (Scat Daddy) and Rushing Fall in close pursuit. Approaching the half-mile pole, Audarya moved through on the inside to assume fourth while tracking the leading trio to the top of the stretch where Cayenne Pepper began to wilt. Taken three-wide off the rail turning for home, Audarya put Mean Mary away at the sixteenth pole and gradually wore down the classy Rushing Fall late to score by a half-length. Harvey's Lil Goil (American Pharoah) rallied to be third. Starship Jubilee and Geroux appeared to be fine after the eventful start. It was the first Breeders' Cup win for trainer James Fanshawe and Pierre-Charles Boudot.
“First of all, thanks to all the team at home,” said Fanshawe, who indicated the filly would like stay in training in 2021. “The [traveling crew] has looked after her superbly since she's been here. She's done everything right since she's been here. I just can't believe it, some race to win. I'm just so thrilled. Pierre-Charles gave her a superb ride. Breeders Cup has looked after us amazingly.”
Of Rushing Fall, trainer Chad Brown added, “That's what it sounds like talking to Javier [Castellano] [the distance got her]. I thought she was going to be able to pull it off in deep stretch here, but it wasn't to be. She's had an outstanding career. She's definitely the horse of a lifetime for anybody including me. Javier has done a super job riding her entire career. I just thanked him for that. Sad to see her go [be retired], because you're not going to replace her easily or if ever. Bottom line is I was super proud of her effort today. She gave it all she had. I think it would be fitting [if she won the Eclipse Award] because she deserves it.”
Listed placed at three, the €125,000 Arqana October yearling purchase failed to factor in a pair of English starts in early summer before visiting the winner's circle for the first time in almost a year in a 10-furlong all-weather test at Newcastle Aug. 2. Recording a career high victory in the Aug. 23 G1 Darley Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville, the French-bred finished third to Tarnawa (Ire) (Shamardal) in ParisLongchamp's G1 Prix de l'Opera Longines Oct. 4.
Pedigree Insights:
French-bred Green Bananas, a daughter of Group 3-placed Anabaa Republic (Fr), produced her last registered foal in 2018, a colt by Polarix (GB), who died last season. This represents the family of French and UAE highweight older horse and Hong Kong Group 1-victor Tonic (Fr) (Double Bed {Fr}) and Grade I-scorer Mauralakana (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}).
Saturday, Keeneland
MAKER'S MARK BREEDERS' CUP FILLY AND MARE TURF-GI, $1,840,000, Keeneland, 11-7, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 3/16mT, 1:52.72 (NCR), fm.
1–AUDARYA (FR), 124, f, 4, by Wootton Bassett (GB)
1st Dam: Green Bananas (Fr), by Green Tune
2nd Dam: Anabaa Republic (Fr), by Anabaa
3rd Dam: Gigawatt, by Double Bed (Fr)
(€125,000 Ylg '17 AROYRG). O-A. M. Swinburn; B-S.A.R.L.
Haras D'Ecouves (FR); T-J. R. Fanshawe; J-Pierre-Charles
Boudot. $1,040,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr, 13-5-4-1,
$1,229,046.
2–Rushing Fall, 124, m, 5, by More Than Ready
1st Dam: Autumnal, by Forestry
2nd Dam: Marie J, by Mr. Prospector
3rd Dam: In My Cap, by Vice Regent
'TDN Rising Star' ($320,000 Ylg '16 FTSAUG). O-e Five Racing
Thoroughbreds; B-Fred W. Hertrich III & John D. Fielding (KY);
T-Chad C. Brown. $340,000. Werk Nick Rating: A+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
3–Harvey's Lil Goil, 120, f, 3, by American Pharoah
1st Dam: Gloria S, by Tapit
2nd Dam: Arch's Gal Edith, by Arch
3rd Dam: Force Five Gal, by Pleasant Tap
O-Estate of Harvey A. Clarke & Paul Braverman; B-Harvey A.
Clarke (KY); T-William I. Mott. $180,000.
Margins: NK, HD, 3/4. Odds: 17.80, 2.90, 20.40.
Also Ran: Lady Prancealot (Ire), Civil Union, Sistercharlie (Ire), Mean Mary, Nay Lady Nay (Ire), My Sister Nat (Fr), Cayenne Pepper (Ire), Peaceful (Ire), Mucho Unusual, Terebellum (Ire), Starship Jubilee. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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