Dermot Weld trainee gives International horses a sweep in Turf races on Breeders’ Cup Saturday
LEXINGTON, Ky. – HH Aga Khan Studs’ Tarnawa (IRE) ($11.40), rallying widest of all in the stretch, drew clear late to post a 1-length victory over Magical (IRE) to win the 37th running of the $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) Saturday afternoon at Keeneland.
Trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Colin Keane, Tarnawa covered the 1 ½ miles on a firm turf course in 2:28.02. The victory is the first in the World Championships for Weld and Keane.
Channel Maker shot out to an uncontested lead while Tarnawa raced near the back of the 10-horse field. On the far turn, Keane angled Tarnawa to the outside and hit the top of the stretch eight wide as Channel Maker continued unopposed on the lead.
Tarnawa finally collared Channel Maker inside the sixteenth pole with Magical edging Channel Maker by a nose for second money.
A 4-year-old homebred daughter of Shamardal out of Cape Cross (IRE) mare Tarana (IRE), Tarnawa won her third consecutive Grade 1 race and improved her record to 14-8-2-2. Saturday’s winner’s check was $2,200,000 and boosted her earnings to $2,988,503.
Race Quotes:
Winning jockey Colin Keane (Tarnawa (IRE)) – “Pretty straightforward to be honest. Mr. (Dermot) Weld said get her out the gates and ride her as you find her. I spoke to Oisin Orr (who had ridden her previously) and he said she’s very straightforward. We just tipped away down the back straight then we got going before the bend then off she went. We got a clean run then and she was very good to the line.”
Second-place jockey Ryan Moore (Magical (IRE)) – “It wasn’t the result we were looking for, but we have to take it.”
Third-place trainer Bill Mott (Channel Maker) – “He ran lights out. He ran a huge race. Magical beat us a nose and she’s a good filly.”
Third-place jockey Manny Franco (Channel Maker) – “My horse gave me a nice race. He was fighting the whole way and in the stretch, too. When they came to him, he kept giving it to me, but those other two horses were better today.”
Sixth-place trainer Brad Cox (Arklow) – “The Euros obviously brought a strong hand this year. They showed that several races prior to this one, and they showed up again. They brought a good group this year. He was (in good position). He may have been pulling a touch. That’s probably what happens when you put blinkers on a horse. But overall I thought he tried. I thought he ran hard, just wasn’t up to par with this group overall. Saved all the ground.”
(Overall on his Breeders’ Cup): “Spectacular weekend. This horse, he ran his race. I’ve got to talk to Florent. But I’m not disappointed. These were some of the best horses in the world.”
Sixth-place jockey Florent Geroux (Arklow) – “Yeah, he was in a good position. The pace was very slow and he was just pulling very hard on me all the way. It’s not ideal. My arms are numb.”
(Brad was on such a roll going into this race) “And I loved the horse, too. He was fresh off a very nice win. There was just no pace.”
Eighth-place trainer Richard Mandella (United) – “He took an awkward step. He didn’t recover from it, it didn’t look like so I’m going to hustle back to the barn. He looks O.K. there walking off, but I’m going to get back there and take a good look.”
Press Release
Tarnawa, ridden by Colin Keane, wins the Longines Turf on Breeders’ Cup Championship Saturday at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky on November 7, 2020. Alex Evers/Breeders’ Cup/Eclipse Sportswire/CSM
