Breeders’ Cup Review: Enable And Magical Provide Breeders’ Cup Turf Thriller
By Harry DeCosemo, Sports Reporter
November 04, 2018
Prior to this year’s Breeders’ Cup meeting eight horses had attempted to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf after landing Europe’s Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe and all eight had failed, the most famous being the defeat of the great Dancing Brave in 1986. That champion was owned by Prince Khalid Abdullah who had a score to settle in the Grade 1 mile and a half contest and his wonderful filly Enable did not disappoint as the daughter of Nathaniel fought out a tremendous battle with the Aidan O’Brien-trained Magical who made John Gosden’s four-year-old pull out all of the stops, the pair coming well clear of the rest of the field.
Two of the world’s greatest jockeys – Frankie Dettori and Ryan Moore – were reprising their battle in the 2015 renewal when the latter aboard O’Brien’s Found beat the popular Italian on Golden Horn. But on this occasion the roles were reversed as the 8-13 favourite made it a 1-2 for the fairer sex, with the third horse Sadler’s Joy ( 80-1 ) a long way back in the $4 million Longines-sponsored contest.
Two of the world’s greatest jockeys – Frankie Dettori and Ryan Moore – were reprising their battle in the 2015 renewal when the latter aboard O’Brien’s Found beat the popular Italian on Golden Horn. But on this occasion the roles were reversed as the 8-13 favourite made it a 1-2 for the fairer sex, with the third horse Sadler’s Joy ( 80-1 ) a long way back in the $4 million Longines-sponsored contest.
Eighty minutes earlier owner and jockey were in the winners’ enclosure again this time with Sir Michael Stoute’s Expert Eye who justified 9-2 favouritism in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. With two furlongs to go a victory looked unlikely for Royal Ascot’s Jersey Stakes winner as, after having to challenge wide, the pair still had several horses to pass on the run to the line. Once the Acclamation colt found his stride however he hit the front close home to win a shade cosily, the home pair of Catapult and Analyze It filling the places.
Europe’s top middle distance colt – Roaring Lion – faced the formidable task of trying to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Dirt but Oisin Murphy’s mount simply couldn’t handle the surface, trailing home well behind after being prominent early, as Ryan Moore and Mendelssohn set a fierce pace. Turning for home the son of Scat Daddy had most of his rivals in trouble but weakened inside the last furlong as jockey Joel Rosario and Accelerate held off the fast-finishing outsider Gunnevera and Godolphin’s Thunder Snow.
