1-Mile Race Offers Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series Berth into US$2 Million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile
DEAUVILLE, FRANCE― Godolphin’s QIPCO 2000 Guineas (G1) winner Coroebus (GB) will look to win a third consecutive Group 1 as he faces eight talented rivals in the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois (G1) on Sunday. The winner of the 1-mile contest will be provided an automatic starting position into the US$2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (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 whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which will be held at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky, on Nov. 4-5.
Coroebus, a son of Dubawi (GB), has won four of his five starts, including the St James’ Palace Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot when last seen. His trainer Charlie Appleby believes the 3-year-old colt is in good form ahead of his first start on foreign soil.
“We’re very much looking forward to Coroebus running this weekend,” said Appleby. “Unfortunately, he missed the Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1) with a setback but he’s well over that now and has put some nice work in during the last week and he goes into the weekend in great shape.”
The Joseph O’Brien-trained State of Rest (IRE), owned by the State of Rest Partnership, has also been entered. In his last start on June The Starspangledbanner (AUS) colt won the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) on June 15 over 1 ¼-miles in decisive fashion at Royal Ascot, which also earned him an automatic starting position into the $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series. He has won G1 races in four different countries during his career and the 4-year-old now drops back in distance for the first time.
Another runner with a 2022 Royal Ascot success is the Cheveley Park-owned Coronation Stakes (G1) winner Inspiral (GB), a 3-year-old filly by Frankel (GB). The John & Thady Gosden team are searching for a third consecutive win in this contest after winning it for the past two years with the high-class Palace Pier (GB).
However, Inspiral needs to bounce back after losing her unbeaten record last time out to the Marc Chan & Andrew Rosen-owned filly Prosperous Voyage (IRE), who lines up against her again this weekend. Prosperous Voyage, trained by Ralph Beckett, was a comfortable winner of the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes (G1) on July 8 at Newmarket by 1 ¾ lengths over Inspiral last time out.
The Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Mrs. A.M. O’Brien-owned Order of Australia (IRE) has been entered for trainer Aidan O’Brien. The 2020 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) winner, Order of Australia will need to improve after a disappointing run in the Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1) when beaten a total of 8 lengths by Baaeed (GB).
The globetrotting Bathrat Leon (JPN), owned by Hiroo Racing Co Ltd, will line up for trainer Yoshito Yahagi. By Kizuna (JPN), the 4-year-old was beaten just 3 ¾ lengths by Baaeed in the Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1) last month and previously won the Godolphin Mile (G1) at Meydan.
The sole horse in the race with an unbeaten record is H H Aga Khan’s Erevann (FR), who is one of two representatives for Jean-Claude Rouget along with Djo Francais (FR). Erevann has won each of his three starts and posted a career-best last time out to win the Prix Paul de Moussac Longines (G3) by a short-head on June 19 at Chantilly. The Jean-Claude Rouget stable has never won the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois.
British challenger Light Infantry (FR), trained by David Simcock, completes the line-up having finished an excellent second in the Haras d’Etreham Prix Jean Prat (G1) at Deauville behind Tenebrism in his latest start on July 11.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the Prix du Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard Jacques le Marois winner to start in the US$2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) at Keeneland. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a US$40,000 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 Championships’ pre-entry deadline of Oct. 24 to receive the rewards.
Breeders’ Cup Press Release
Photo: Challenge Series logo
