Oct 31 (Reuters) - Three-year-old filly Found relegated Golden Horn to a losing farewell race when she upset the 3/5 favorite to win the Breeders' Cup Turf in Lexington, Kentucky, on Saturday.
Irish-bred Found, ridden by Ryan Moore, edged past Golden Horn in the straight and held on for a half-length victory, with Big Blue Kitten third.
Found, the second favorite at 5/1, covered the one-and-a-half miles in 2:32.06 at Keeneland.
The English-bred Golden Horn, winner of the l'Arc de Triomphe four weeks ago, took the lead near the top of the straight in the final run of his career, before being passed to finish second in the $3 million event.
Golden Horn retires with a record of seven wins and two seconds from nine career starts.
It was the sixth straight year that the Turf favorite has been beaten, and Golden Horn owner Anthony Oppenheimer said conditions had not suited his horse.
"I talked to (jockey) Frankie Dettori and he said it was just too soft," Oppenheimer told NBC television.
"We were very lucky in the Arc, we had the right ground, but today it just wasn't quite right for us. But full marks to the filly that beat us, she's had a fantastic career and we knew she was the danger."
Found finished second to Golden Horn in the Irish Champion Stakes in September, but turned the tables this time.
"She really deserved this. We got a nice trip," jockey Ryan Moore said.
Found's trainer, Aidan O'Brien, was not surprised by the result.
"We thought she's improving all year this filly. She's getting better and better (and) Ryan gave her a great wide," he said."
Owner Michael Tabor savored the victory.
"To beat a very good colt that's really won everything in Europe, it's a great performance," he said.
(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina, editing by Gene Cherry)
-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
No comments:
Post a Comment