With trainers John Quinn, Kevin Ryan and Nigel Tinkler each fielding a runner in this weekend's Breeders' Cup at Keeneland, there is as good a chance as ever that one of the festival's coveted trophies will make its way back to Yorkshire, where all three are based.
Quinn sends out his first Breeders' Cup starter in the form of Ross Harmon's Safe Voyage (Ire) (Fast Company {Ire}), and the gelding has hit his best stride this year at seven, taking Epsom's Listed Surrey S., York's G2 City of York S. and Leopardstown's G2 Boomerang Mile prior to a strong third in the G1 Prix de la Foret. He lines up in Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Mile.
“Early in the spring we thought the Breeders' Cup could suit Safe Voyage,” said Quinn. “He's got some very good form going left-handed. His best form before this season was over seven furlongs, but he dug deep when he won over a mile at Leopardstown, so the mile at Keeneland will hold no fears for him. He finished third in the Qatar Prix de la Foret at ParisLongchamp last time and has been in good form since that race at the start of October. He's come out of that race well.”
“This is our first Breeders' Cup runner and it's wonderful for us,” Quinn added. “We've been training a long time and he has a live chance. It's something we all aspire to.”
Ryan, meanwhile, looks to build on a second-place finish with East (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2018 at Churchill Downs. East was his first Breeders' Cup runner, and this year Ryan has Bearstone Stud's 2020 G1 Flying Five S. and 2019 G1 Prix de l'Abbaye winner Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead) for the GI Turf Sprint.
“The Breeders' Cup has been on our mind all season,” Ryan said. “She won the 'Win and You're In' race [the Flying Five] at The Curragh and also ran well [when second] in the Abbaye from a bad draw. She's very versatile as far as the ground is concerned, but I think she is a better filly with some cut in the ground.”
Jumps jockey turned trainer Nigel Tinkler relies on the Listed National S. and G2 Flying Childers S. winner Ubettabelieveit (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) in Friday's GII Juvenile Turf Sprint.
“I think he's definitely improving. I think he's better now than when he ran at Doncaster [in the Flying Childers],” Tinkler said. He noted he would prefer good ground at Keeneland.
“At the moment I think the ground is fine,” he added. “It does drain very well at Keeneland apparently, but soft ground would be a concern.”
Rowan Scott, who was aboard for the Flying Childers win on Sept. 11, will keep the ride.
“He's a good lad,” Tinkler said. “Nothing really phases him, so I don't think the occasion will be a big thing for him. He's very level-headed and he's young. I don't have any qualms about putting him on.”
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