Auguste Rodin (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Breeders’ Cup Press Release
ASCOT, BERKSHIRE, ENGLAND ─ A face-off between 2023 Breeders’ Cup winners Auguste Rodin (IRE) and Inspiral (GB) looms Wednesday in the £1 million Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, with the field vying for a free berth in the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup 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.
In addition to Wednesday’s 1 1/4-mile Prince of Wales’s Stakes for 4-year-olds and up, Thursday’s Norfolk Stakes (G2) for 2-year-olds is an automatic qualifier into the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1).
Auguste Rodin & Inspiral Chase Return to Winner’s Circle
Auguste Rodin (IRE) ended his 3-year-old campaign on a supreme note for Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, and Westerberg when he landed the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita Park under an inspired ride from Ryan Moore. Although the five-time Group 1 winner has not returned to the winner’s circle yet in two starts in 2024, trainer Aidan O’Brien anticipates a second to White Birch (GB) in the May 26 Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) at The Curragh will have his contender rounding into top form.
O’Brien, who won the Prince of Wales’s Stakes most recently with Love (IRE) in 2021, said: “We were happy with his run in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. The hope going into it was that he’d win, but the rain sent the ground in a direction that wasn’t ideal for him. Even though he was beaten, the run was always going to bring him on. Royal Ascot has been a big part of the plan with him, and we couldn’t be happier with where he is at the minute.”
Cheveley Park Stud’s 5-year-old mare Inspiral (GB) wrapped up an impressive 2023 season by winning the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1). She made her 2024 debut with a fourth-place finish in the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes (G1) going 1 mile, and returns to 1 1/4-mile distance for the first time since her Breeders’ Cup success. The six-time Group 1 winner won at this meeting as a 3-year-old in the Coronation Stakes (G1).
Gousserie Racing, Ecurie Gribomont, and Francois Delaunay’s Horizon Dore (FR) looks the pick of four French contenders set to challenge. The 4-year-old gelding comes into this race after a hugely encouraging run when beaten just a short head in the Prix D’Ispahan (G1) last time out. Finishing 2 lengths behind him that day was Yeguada Centurion SL’s Blue Rose Cen (FR), and the duo will reoppose at Ascot.
Shadwell Estate Company Ltd.’s Alflaila (GB) will make a belated seasonal debut after finishing fifth behind Auguste Rodin in the Irish Champions Stakes (G1) in September. Meanwhile, Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum’s Royal Rhyme (IRE) got his year off to the perfect start with a comfortable 1-length win in the Chasemore Farm Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3) last month. Connections hope for ease in the ground given the 4-year-old’s excellent record on softer going.
Whistlejacket Leads Norfolk Stakes Lineup
Whistlejacket (IRE) is the star name in Thursday’s £150,000 Norfolk Stakes (G2) for 2-year-olds, with the winner guaranteed a starting position in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.
Aidan O’Brien is hoping to add the son of No Nay Never to his list of Norfolk winners that includes 2001 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Johannesburg and more recently in 2017, Sioux Nation.
Whistlejacket built on a debut defeat over 6 furlongs to run out a dominant winner of the May 6 GAIN First Flier Stakes (Listed) at The Curragh on soft ground in his latest start for Peter Brant, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.
O’Brien said: “We thought he couldn’t be beaten on his debut, and he ran great, but he bumped into what looked like a really good horse in Cowardofthecounty (IRE). His full brother Little Big Bear (IRE) was beaten on debut and went on to win the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot and we think this fella will go there with a big chance.”
O’Brien could saddle as many as three in the 5-furlong contest with two more sons of No Nay Never, Treasure Isle (IRE) and Celtic Chieftain (IRE),joining the field. Treasure Isle won the 5-furlong Coolmore Stud Calyx Race at Naas on May 19 and Celtic Chieftain won on debut June 8 in the 5-furlong Lynn Lodge Stud Irish EBF Maiden at Navan.
Wathnan Racing have invested heavily into British racing ahead of Royal Ascot and have two leading contenders in the Norfolk. The Richard Fahey-trained Shadow Army (GB) was a standout winner of the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice Stakes at York and was subsequently purchased by the Qatari-based ownership group. Meanwhile, Aesterius (IRE) was bought for £380,000 at the Goffs UK Breeze-Up Sale ahead of his impressive debut in the M J Church Contracting Novice Stakes at Bath over 5 furlongs.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the winner of Prince of Wales’s Stakes to start in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, and the winner of the Norfolk Stakes to start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. 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.
