Oleksandra to fly Australian flag at Breeders’ Cup
Oleksandra (Animal Kingdom), who left Australian shores as a three-start maiden in February, 2018, will join a rare group when she contests the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (Gr 1, 5.5f) at Keeneland tomorrow morning, Australian time.
The American end-of-season championship, the Breeders’ Cup – marketed as the “world championships” by its organisers – has not had significant Australian representation since its inception in 1984, primarily due to its proximity to the spring carnival down under as well as logistical difficulties in shipping stateside.
In fact, only two horses have carried the (AUS) suffix in Breeders’ Cup history – Strawberry Road (Whiskey Road), fourth to Lashkari (Mill Reef) in the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Turf (Gr 1, 1m 4f) in 1984 before finding Pebbles (Sharpen Up) a neck too strong a year later, and Starspangledbanner (Choisir), tenth in the Turf Sprint in 2012.
Both were prepared in Europe at the time: Starspangledbanner by Aidan O’Brien, Strawberry Road by John Nicholls in 1984 and Patrick Biancone, who is now American-based but was training from France at the time, in 1985.
Therefore, the Team Valor-owned Oleksandra – prepared by American Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale – will become the first Australian-bred horse to represent a local trainer in a Breeders’ Cup race.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott were due to become the first Australian-based trainers represented at the meeting with two-time Group 1 winner Con Te Partiro (Scat Daddy), but the mare was retired due to niggling issues. She will still be sold at the Keeneland complex on Tuesday morning, Australian time.
By Kentucky Derby (Gr 1, 10f) winner Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux) out of globetrotting South African mare Alexandra Rose (Caesour), Oleksandra began her career with Bjorn Baker at Warwick Farm.
She contested three maidens, placing at Hawkesbury, Randwick and Newcastle in late 2017 before departing for California.
In the United States, she has had 12 starts for seven wins and three placings, with her career highlight coming at her most recent start when she posted a first Grade 1 success in the Jaipur Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) at Belmont in June. She also finished second in the Monrovia Stakes (Gr 2, 5.5f) at Santa Anita, a race which her dam won in 2008.
However, she emerged from the Jaipur with a fractured left front splint bone and has been in a race against time to make the Breeders’ Cup.
“She’s doing very well,” Drysdale said. “She doesn’t need speed because she’s very fast. She worked in company behind another horse and started a half dozen lengths back and finished well.
“She’s won down there (at Keeneland) and if it comes up a bit soft she doesn’t mind.”
The American morning line has Oleksandra rated as a 12-1 chance with Joel Rosario to take the ride. The race is scheduled to jump at 4:39am AEDT tomorrow morning.
Alexandra Rose produced a year-younger brother to Oleksandra, Macedonian Ruler, who was placed in two starts at Pakenham for Lindsay Park before also heading to the United States. Also trained by Drysdale, he finished eighth in a maiden at Santa Anita in June before filling the same spot in an allowance at Del Mar in August.
Since then, she has had only one further named foal, also by Animal Kingdom. The two-year-old, named Prince Alexander, is in training with his namesake Archie Alexander.
In August, Alexandra Rose produced a filly by Coolmore’s Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy), while she was served by Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) in late September.
Breeding barn beckons for Oleksandra?
Like Con Te Partiro, Oleksandra will go through the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale on Tuesday morning, one of three Australian-bred mares to go through during Session 1. She will be joined by Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) winner Houtzen (I Am Invincible), in foal to Curlin (Smart Strike), and last year’s Kewney Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) runner-up Victory Kingdom (Animal Kingdom), who has had one North American campaign for promising stakes efforts at Saratoga and Woodbine.
Other Australian-bred mares to be sold later in the week include unraced Miracles Forever (Medaglia d’Oro), the first foal out of two-time Group 1 winner Miracles Of Life (Not A Single Doubt), in foal to Kantharos (Lion Heart); and stakes victor Scorpio Queen (Choisir), in foal to Mendelssohn.
New Zealand-bred Chintz (Savabeel), winner of the Rich Hill Mile (Gr 2, 1600m) at Ellerslie and the dam of Group 2-winning three-year-old Not An Option (Not A Single Doubt), is another star attraction, also in foal to Curlin.
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, to be held on Monday morning Australian time, will also feature an Australian-bred mare in the form of Achieved (Street Cry).
The regally-bred mare, a half-sister to late Epsom Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f) winner Anthony Van Dyck (Galileo) and champion New Zealand sprinter Bounding (Lonhro), may not have the same racetrack exploits as her siblings, having finished fifth in two maidens at Wyong and Gulargambone.
However, she comes from one of the most sought-after families on the world stage and she is in foal to American Pharoah (Pioneerof The Nile).
Australian links at the Breeders’ Cup
Oleksandra may be the only horse to carry the Australian tag, but there are a number of other starters with links down under.
This morning’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Gr 2, 5.5f) will see the Aidan O’Brien-trained Doncaster Stakes (Listed, 6f) winner Lipizzaner (Uncle Mo) bring the curtain down on a busy two-year-old campaign, having had seven starts before his American outing.
The colt is out of Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Irish Lights (Fastnet Rock), making him a half-brother to Golden Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) runner-up Omei Sword (High Chaparral).
Three races later, former Moonee Valley Racing Club chairman Bob Scarborough will see his famous green, royal blue and yellow colours – carried by the likes of Light Fantastic (Danehill Dancer), Marble Halls (Nassipour), Sleek Chassis (Flying Spur) and Hit The Roof (Maroof) – sported by Shane Foley aboard the Jessica Harrington-trained Oodnadatta (Australia) in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Gr 1, 1m).
The same race will also feature undefeated filly Madone attempting to give her sire, Coolmore’s Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Vancouver (Medaglia d’Oro), his first Group or Grade 1 winner worldwide.
Tomorrow morning’s Breeders’ Cup Turf (Gr 1, 1m 4f) will see the Emirates Park colours carried by Mehdaayih (Frankel) as she seeks a first Group 1 win.