Henrythenavigator 目標可能放在 Breeders Cup Classic
WHEN he has been there and done it, like Henrythenavigator has this season, there comes a time for other frontiers to be explored.
That moment arrived on Wednesday, when after Ballydoyle's dual Classic winning colt had racked up his fourth Group 1 victory in a row at a mile, the focus shifted from European to global targets.
The colt's head dismissal of Raven's Pass for the BGC Sussex Stakes on his first start against older horses, confirmed Henrythenavigator's status as Europe's outstanding miler.
Yet whatever programme connections map out for him from there, the final destination is Santa Anita, California, where he will contest this year's Breeders' Cup Classic, according the Coolmore supremo John Magnier.
“He's done the miling thing and the ultimate aim is to step him up in distance,” he said.
“The ambition is to go to Santa Anita and the plan is the Classic, but we don't have to decide now. I think he will go on any surface but we have to go and prove it. It may not work but we've got to try it.
“We did it with success with Giant's Causeway who enhanced his reputation in the race but we came unstuck with Galileo and Hawk Wing. I'm not saying we won't run him in anymore mile races but we do think he'll stay and he would have run in the Derby if the ground had been right.”
Henrythenavigator was cut to 6-1 (from 10-1) by Coral for the Classic, but was installed 7-2 favourite for the same race by Ladbrokes, who quote Curlin at 4-1 and Big Brown 6-1, after becoming trainer Aidan O'Brien's 16th Group 1 winner of the campaign.
Sent of the 4-11 favourite, Johnny Murtagh took Henrythenavigator into the lead a furlong and a half out when pacesetter Windsor Palace began to flag and, under intense pressure from the closing Raven's Pass, only just scrambled home in front.
O'Brien said: “David was doing his best on the pacemaker but he was going as fast as he could go. When that happens it just makes races a little bit complicated.
“He is a horse that gets a mile very well even if he has got the speed and when he does get to the front he is a little bit lazy. I thought he was very impressive off a slow pace.”
Giant's Causeway landed the Sussex Stakes in 2000 before going to America to run Tiznow very close in the Breeders' Cup Classic. This year's race will be run on a synthetic surface for the first time, heightening prospects of European success at the meeting.
Murtagh said: “I think Aidan mentioned the Breeders'Cup Classic and that's a real race to look forward to. I think he would be made for Santa Anita. He has a great turn of foot and polytrack rides like the grass. He could excel around there.
“I feel he is as good now if not better than he was at the start of the year. Today the pacemaker wasn't able to go fast enough that is why I had to commit a bit early. He quickened up well and idled a bit in front, but I think there was a bit more left in the tank.”
Having finished second to Henrythenavigator in the St James's Palace Stakes, Raven's Pass is closing the gap. The pair could meet again though the Breeders' Cup Mile is a more likely end of season target.
Trainer John Gosden said: “Our slight problem was being drawn on the rail. I didn't think Aidan's pacemaker was up to his usual standard and we even considered making it ourselves but if you jump and commit, the pacemaker is still going to come and annoy you.
“We didn't want to get stuck on the rail and penned in, so we had to come round. Youcan't give Henrythenavigator a length and a half start but that's what we had to do.
“I wouldn't mind meeting the winner again. We have to consider freshening our horse up. We'll look at the Breeders' Cup but do we go to the Prix Jacques Le Marois?
If we go to the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, what will the ground be like? This is a summer ground horse. We'll think long and hard.”
Murtagh received a two day ban (August 13 and 14) for careless riding after Major Cadeaux, who finished third, took a bump from the winner.
Trainer Richard Hannon said: “It was a messy race with no gallop. We'll have a look at the Hungerford Stakes and then consider the Jacques Le Marois.”
Dream Eater was a non runner after being foundlame behind.
|
