Kitten laps up cream of Europe
Moore is second best
LEGATISSIMO failed to give the Europeans a flying start to the second day of the Breeders’ Cup meeting when she proved unable to peg back Stephanie’s Kitten in the $2million Filly & Mare Turf.
The David Wachman-trained 1,000 Guineas winner had looked one of Europe’s best chances as she tried to win her fourth Group One race of the season under Ryan Moore.
But she ultimately had to give best to the Irad Ortiz-ridden, Chad Browntrained winner, who is expected to fetch over $4m when she is sold as a broodmare at a US sale today.
Stephanie’s Kitten almost lost Ortiz after stumbling at the start, but ultimately ran out a comfortable length and a quarter winner and Wachman had no excuses for Legatissimo, who was racing for the eighth time this season having started off at Leopardstown in April.
Wachman said: ‘It is the end of a long year. She ran well and we have no excuses.’
Legatissimo finished a place ahead of Freddie Head’s Queen’s Jewel and Andre Fabre’s Miss France was eighth of 10 runners.
One place ahead of her was Ralph Beckett’s Secret Gesture, who had passed the post in front of Stephanie’s Kitten in the Beverly D Stakes in August, only to be disqualified.
Secret Gesture, who sweated up badly on a cool day, tried to make the running from her wide draw but faded badly in the home straight.
Beckett said: ‘It wasn’t her day today.’
Europe still had its biggest chances ahead last night with the focus on Arc and Derby winner Golden Horn in the $3m Turf.
Frankie Dettori’s mount was trying to add to a Euro-haul which started with the victory of Aidan O’Brien’s Juvenile Turf winner Hit It A Bomb on Friday.
There was no joy for British jockey Sophie Doyle, who was unplaced behind Wavell Avenue in the Filly & Mare Sprint while Europe missed out in the Mile with David O’Meara’s Mondialiste doing best with second to Mark Casse-trained Tepin.
Most colourful winner of the early proceedings was Mongolian-owned and trained winner of the Turf Sprint Mongolian Saturday. He could be Royal Ascot bound next year.
Meanwhile, trainer Colin Tizzard declared Cue Card as being ‘back to his best’ after he showed all his old zest to bounce back from a near twoyear drought with an emphatic victory in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby.
The nine-year-old, sent off as 11-4 favourite, has had a pelvic injury and breathing operation since his last win, the 2013 Betfair Chase at Haydock.
But, after pulling three and threequarter lengths clear of Dynaste and his stablemate Ballynagour, Cue Card, under new jockey Paddy Bren- nan, may attempt to win that race again next month.
Menorah, the 2014 Charlie Hall Chase winner was pulled up after making a bad mid-race blunder, while Grand National winner Many Clouds jumped well, but ultimately faded to be last of the six finishers on his seasonal comeback run.
The delighted Tizzard said: ‘After last season it’s great to see Cue Card come back — you’d have to say he looked back to his best. It was very difficult to be too bullish, but the last six weeks he’s been good.
‘He’s got an entry in the Hennessy [Newbury] and he’ll definitely be entered in the Betfair Chase.
‘Paddy is a very confident guy and he’s been confident ever since he started schooling him.’
Cue Card was second in the 2013 King George VI chase at Kempton on Boxing Day and fifth in 2014 and Coral cut Cue Card to 16-1 (from 33s) to make it third time lucky in the race.
A clash with Gordon Elliott’s Don Cossack is likely there after the rising star of Irish steeplechasing brushed aside his three opponents in the JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal.
The King George is also possible for Paul Nicholls-trained Ptit Zig, an equally impressive winner of the Powers Irish Whiskey Chase on the same Down Royal card under Sam Twiston-Davies.