Third Prix Morny Victory for US Trainer Wesley Ward
DEAUVILLE, FRANCE (Aug. 23, 2020) – Stonestreet Stables LLC’s Campanelle (IRE) led from start to finish to win the Darley Prix Morny (G1) at Deauville in style on Sunday. The victory secured her a guaranteed start in the US$1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2) through the international Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge is a series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which is scheduled to be held at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., on Nov. 6-7.
Campanelle stepped up in class following her victory in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot to score her first Group 1 success in the 6-furlong Darley Prix Morny. The 2-year-old filly was quickly into stride and raced prominently under Frankie Dettori to win by 2 lengths in testing ground conditions.
Royal Ascot Coventry Stakes (G2) winner Nando Parrado (GB) ran another big race to place second, with fellow British challenger Rhythm Master (IRE) a neckback in third.
Campanelle, the 8-5 favorite, remains unbeaten in three starts and provided her trainer Wesley Ward a third win in this race, following the victories of Lady Aurelia in 2016 and No Nay Never in 2013.
Dettori speaking to Sky Sports Racing, said, “I was very impressed with her in the Queen Mary. She has grown since Ascot and has a magnificent long stride. She coped with the ground but is much better on good ground. Wesley was very confident. I knew I had a good filly.”
The daughter of Kodiac (GB) out of the Namid (GB) mare Janina (GB), completed the 6 furlongs in 1:11.80 over a course listed as soft. She becomes the second horse to gain a “Win and You’re In” berth into the Juvenile Turf Sprint this year, joining The Lir Jet (IRE) winner of the Norfolk Stakes (G2) at Royal Ascot on June 19.
Bookmakers Betfair make Campanelle 5/1 for the 1-mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), with Wesley Ward eyeing the Cheveley Park Stakes (G1) at Newmarket, before a likely start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November.
Ward said: “The Cheveley Park closes on Tuesday and I’ve spoken with Adrian Beaumont (International Racing Bureau), so we’ll nominate for that to keep her options open. With a filly like this, it suits to space her races out. We had Hootenanny finish second in this race and he went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.”
“That would probably be more on the agenda, especially as the Breeders’ Cup is on her home track at Keeneland. I think a two-turn mile will suit.”
As a part of the benefits of the Challenge series, the Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for Campanelle to start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, which will be run at 5 ½ furlongs over the Keeneland turf course. Breeders’ Cup also will pay the entry fees for Campanelle to start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf should her connections choose to enter that race instead of the Juvenile Turf Sprint. Breeders’ Cup will provide a travel allowance of $40,000 for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships. The Challenge winner must already be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program or it must be nominated by the Championships’ pre-entry deadline of Oct. 26 to receive the rewards.
ABOUT BREEDERS’ CUP
The Breeders’ Cup administers the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Thoroughbred horse racing’s year-end Championships, as well as the Breeders’ Cup Challenge qualifying series, which provides automatic starting positions into the Championships races. The Breeders’ Cup is also a founding member of the Thoroughbred Safety Coalition, an organization composed of industry leaders committed to advancing safety measures in Thoroughbred racing and improving the well-being of equine and human athletes.
The 2020 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, consisting of 14 Championship races, is scheduled to be held on November 6-7 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky and features a total of $35 million in purses and awards. The event will be televised live by the NBC Sports Group. Breeders’ Cup press releases appear on the Breeders’ Cup website, breederscup.com. You can also follow the Breeders’ Cup on social media.
