A brilliant ride by Ryan Moore gets Benvenuto Cellini a vicotry in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, Breeder’s Cup Photo
Breeders’ Cup Press
LEXINGTON, Ky – Westerberg, Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith and Michael Tabor’s Benvenuto Cellini (IRE) ($8.52), who was elevated to slight favoritism in the final minutes of wagering for the 43rd edition of the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), closed determinedly between horses to carve out a popular victory and become the fifth winner of a Breeders’ Cup race out of a Breeders’ Cup-winning dam.
Trained by Aidan O’Brien, who tied his own world record for annual Group/Grade 1 victories—28—in the process, the son of world champion Frankel (GB) is out of 2018 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) winner Newspaperofrecord (IRE). Bred by Coolmore and Brant’s White Birch Farm, he extended O’Brien’s record to eight wins in the race. Previous Breeders’ Cup-winning dams to produce winners were Hollywood Wildcat (War Chant), Personal Ensign (My Flag), My Flag (Storm Flag Flying) and Shared Account (Sharing).
Breaking from post 2, the highly regarded sophomore tracked comfortably in seventh on the rail under Ryan Moore as Japanese invader Deep Monster (JPN) carved out early fractions of :47.82 for a half-mile and six furlongs in 1:12.84. The emblazoned chestnut waited patiently behind a wall of horses in a field of no less than 11 Grade/Group 1 winners, with Moore sitting chilly as the race evolved around him. After a mile in 1:38.76 and reaching the far turn, the long-striding winner of the Irish Derby (G1) was shuffled back slightly and had only two of the 14 horse-field beaten at the quarter-pole. He was ridden with intrepid confidence by Moore, however, saving ground turning for home and gathering momentum without being asked for everything until the eighth pole.
At that time, the best version of Benvenuto Cellini appeared. He flew past Sword Dancer (G1) winner El Cordobes (IRE) and Coronation Cup (G1) winner Bay City Roller (IRE) and then out-accelerated Royal Ascot winner Map of Stars (GB) when slicing through Prix de Diane (G1) winner Diamond Necklace (IRE) and Kentucky Turf Cup (G2) winner Tiffany (IRE) to seize the lead passing the sixteenth pole and stretching clear to win by three-quarters of a length.
Wathnan Racing’s Map of Stars (GB) rallied well to be second under James Doyle for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, three-quarters of a length to the good of O’Brien-trained Diamond Necklace and Christophe Souillion, who was the same margin better than Tiffany. A third filly/mare, Survie (Ire), rallied well to be another neck back in fifth.
The final time for the 1½ miles on firm turf was 2:27.50. The victory was the Irish-bred’s fifth from 10 starts and caps a tumultuous year in which he has long been considered Ballydoyle’s top sophomore but not always proven such. After winning the Chester Vase (G3) in May, he went to post as the favorite in the Epsom Derby (G1) but was ruled a non-starter after a botched start in which his left hind leg was caught in the starting stall’s shelf as the gates opened. Returning to win the Irish Derby impressively a few weeks later and make slight amends, he then was a ho-hum third in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) against older horses before disappointing in the Prix Niel (G2) and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), finishing fifth and ninth, respectively.
All is now gilded for the star whose namesake is the renowned 16th century sculptor and goldsmith.
The victory was 19th Breeders’ Cup victory and sixth in the Turf for Moore. It was O’Brien’s 24th Breeders’ Cup win, including three on the weekend, having swept Friday’s Brown Advisory Juvenile Turf (G1) and John Deere Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).
Benvenuto Cellini’s career bankroll increased $2.6 million to $3,963,736—a number that could increase considerably when he stays in training as a 4-year-old.
“We thought he ran a brilliant race and Ryan gave him a brilliant ride,” O’Brien said. “I’m so delighted for everybody. What can I say? We didn’t know what was going to happen with the pace and Ryan was relaxed and cool on him. Christophe gave his filly a brilliant ride, too. We weren’t sure about the mile and a half with her. At a mile and a quarter, she’s going to be brilliant, but (Benvenuto Cellini) got the trip well. With fast pace and good ground, he’s the class. Ryan was super cool on him. He was okay at the three-eighths, but he wasn’t that quick, but Ryan is so good. He worked it out. I thought he was brilliant on him. He had that explosion that we thought he could have and he had to have. That was the plan to come here and go to Hong Kong. He’s going to be some 4-year-old.”
Bay City Roller (IRE), Hotazhell (GB), Minaret Station, defending champion Ethical Diamond (IRE), Johanna Walsh (IRE), Far Bridge, Burnham Square, El Cordobes and Deep Monster completed the order of finish.
Race Quotes
Winning and third-place trainer Aidan O’Brien (Benvenuto Cellini (IRE)): “We thought he ran a brilliant race and Ryan gave him a brilliant ride. I’m so delighted for everybody. What can I say? We didn’t know what was going to happen with the pace and Ryan was relaxed and cool on him. Christophe (Soumillion) gave his filly a brilliant ride too. We weren’t sure about the mile and a half with her. At a mile and a quarter she’s going to be brilliant. But (Benvenuto) he got the trip well. With fast pace and good ground, he’s the class.
“Ryan was super cool on him. He was okay at the 3 8ths but he wasn’t that quick. But Ryan is so good. He worked it out. I thought he was brilliant on him. He had that explosion that we thought he could have and he had to have.”
“That was the plan to come here and go to Hong Kong. He’s going to be some 4 year old.”
Second-place trainer Franci-Henri Graffard (Map of Star (GB)): “He is a very nice horse. I didn’t like being second. The winner had the strongest turn of foot in the last furlong. We came a long way with this horse, and the form of this horse is good. He is a top contender. We made a plan and it worked out.”
Second-place jockey James Doyle (Map of Star (GB)): “Good trip. We drew widest of all in 14. He’s a closer so rode him to finish. It’s all we could do from there. Super run. The gaps presented themselves well and he dashed through. I was just hoping Ryan (Moore) would get stuck, but he managed to get through. I’m very proud of my horse.”
Third-place jockey Christophe Soumillion (Diamond Necklace (IRE)): “She ran great. We didn’t have a great draw, so I had to ride her where I was. She responded really well when we ran into the straight, and the last 100 yards was a bit too far for her, but it’s a great performance and I’m very proud of her.”
Trainer Yasutoshi Ikee (Deep Monster, 14th): “So many fans in Japan were cheering us on, and I feel truly sorry that we couldn’t deliver the result they were hoping for.
“Taking the lead was one of the options we had discussed before the race. We sent him forward early, which made him a little keen at first. Then he spotted a big tree and got a little distracted, which caused him to come off the bit. After that, he settled into a fairly relaxed rhythm.
“The pace wasn’t particularly fast, so at that point I thought things were going quite well for us.
“Looking back, the jockey said it might have been better not to take the lead.
“He’s eight years old now, but I hope he can continue racing for many years to come.”
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