Anshoda (photo courtesy of Goodwood Racecourse)
Daughter of Inns of Court (IRE) earns Win and You’re In at Goodwood spot for $1 million John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar
Breedes’ Cup Release
GOODWOOD, U.K. ─ Team Valor LLC & Gary Barber’s Anshoda (IRE), a recent purchase for connections, won the William Hill Prestige Stakes (G3) at Goodwood. With her victory in the 7-furlong showpiece for 2-year-old fillies, Anshoda earned an automatic starting position into the $1 million John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 82 stakes races in 12 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California.
Following heavy overnight rain that left the going soft, there were four scratches, including the two at the top of the betting in Formal (GB) and Tabiti (GB). A final field of seven went to post with the market headed by the experienced Royalty Bay (IRE) at 5-2.
Fresh from her heroics in the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes (G1) at York on Friday, Hollie Doyle made the running on the Victorious Racing-owned Duty First (GB).Given the testing conditions, the pace was slow with Anshoda andBiniorella Bay (GB) positioned just behind the leader. As the race turned into the straight, Doyle led the field across to the stand side rail, as is customary when the ground is soft, in what looked a race-winning move. However, under a firm Billy Loughnane drive, Anshoda picked up strongly and powered clear of her rivals to give his father, trainer David Loughnane, a memorable victory.
Duty First finished second, 1 ¾ lengths behind the winner. The Aidan O’Brien-trained Merrily was denied a clear run but stayed on to be a neck behind in third.
Anshoda was purchased for only 5,000gns (US$7,000) back in May for owner Nawaf Almutairi before winning on debut and finishing an excellent second in the European Bloodstock News EBF Star Stakes (Listed) at Sandown. That run prompted Team Valor International and Gary Barber to buy the unheralded daughter of Inns of Court before this race. Connections are now dreaming of Breeders’ Cup glory after punching a ticket into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.
Eighteen-year-old Loughnane is enjoying a breakthrough season in the saddle after wins at Royal Ascot and York’s Ebor Festival and was impressed by his filly’s performance, he said: “She’s small but she tries very hard. She was motoring towards the end of the race and was strong at the line. She’ll get further in time and her light frame helped her in what was very soft ground.”
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for Anshoda in the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of Oct. 21 to receive the rewards.
