Raven's Pass Wins Queen Elizabeth II Stakes
Elusive Quality Colt Qualifies for October Breeders' Cup
Sep 30, 2008
The September 27 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes victory by Raven's Pass stamped the chestnut colt's pass for the Breeders' Cup Mile, but trainer John Gosden says he may enter Raven's Pass in the Classic instead. The Breeders' Cup World Championships are scheduled for October 24 and 25.
Gosden Pointing Raven's Pass to BC Classic?
Raven's Pass hunted down Tamayuz in the Queen Elizabeth II, then headed off Henrythenavigator, a well-betted Kingmambo colt who has run well for Aidan O'Brien, England's top trainer. The competitors ran on good turf, with Raven's Pass finishing the mile in 1:38.94 and clipping Henrythenavigator by a length. It was his fifth win from 11 starts.
The victory qaulified Raven's Pass for the Breeders' Cup Mile. Trainer Gosden said his colt would do better in a two-turn race at a longer distance, such as the 1-1/4 miles of the Breeders' Cup Classic. Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, where this season's Breeders' Cup World Championships will be held, is a two-turn oval, too tight for Raven's Pass in a mile competition, Gosden said.
With those circumstances, Gosden believes the Classic might be a better choice for his colt. Raven's Pass, however, would face stalwart opponents in the Classic. Entered are Triple Crown contender Big Brown, and possibly reigning Horse of the Year Curlin, and Ireland's Shakis, as well as Germany's Proudinsky.
Aidan Likely to Point Henrythenavigator to Santa Anita
"...the ground was quite loose and he's better on a fast surface," O'Brien said of Henrythenavigator following the colt's second place finish in the Queen Elizabeth II.
Henrythenavigator's owner is Susan Magnier. Trainer O'Brien has the same option as Raven's Pass's connections to enter his charge in either of two BC races.
Raven's Pass, owned by Princess Haya and breeder Stonerside Stable, and Henrythenavigator would face Pro-Ride artificial surface in the Classic at Santa Anita. The new surface was installed when the previous Cushion Track topping failed to properly drain several weeks of heavy rainfalls early in the year.
Artificial surfaces, thus far, have proven to be slower runs than natural dirt and sand tracks.
Dynaformer Filly Rainbow View Also BC Qualified
A Dynaformer filly, Rainbow View, powered through her race to win by 2-1/2 lengths on the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes undercard. Trained by Gosden, Rainbow View covered the Meon Valley Stud Fillies Mile (Eng-Group I) in 1:40.82 and earned a ticket to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Jimmy Fortune, who also won on Raven's Pass, got the filly home unbeaten in four starts.
Jukebox Jury got by Cityscape, the favorite in his undercard race, the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Eng-Group II), finishing in 1:40.59 and gaining his entry to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.
Jukebox Jury is a Montjeu (FR) colt trained by Mark Johnston. He has won twice in four starts.
