Conduit to remain in training in 2009
February 4th 2009 10:53
With so many of the best horses of 2008 retired, it is good to learn that the Sir Michael Stoute trained four-year-old, Conduit, will remain in training for the 2009 racing season.
The Dalakhani colt was named the Champion Turf Male at the Eclipse Awards after his emphatic victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf late last year.
“He'll be racing this season we hope, that's the plan. I have no idea what exact plans there are at this moment in time. It's very early days yet and the trainer's away on holiday.”
"It's a long season but I suppose, at the end of the day, it would be nice to go back to the Breeders' Cup again at the same track, Santa Anita, and there's a little race called the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1), which has always been close to our hearts.” - Ballymacoll manager, Peter Reynolds (as told to the English Press Association).
When queried about the difficulties of contesting the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Breeders’ Cup in the same season, Reynolds replied:
"It hasn't been done too often but there's a good space between the two races this year with the Breeders' Cup being put back a bit, but it's something we'll think about.”
Reynolds listened via a television in Kentucky to the Miami Beach awards ceremony in the early hours of Tuesday morning and heard Pamela Weinstock, eldest daughter of the late Simon Weinstock, accept the award on behalf of the County Meath stud.
"It's fantastic news. He had a great season and it's obviously very difficult to win those Eclipse Awards with European horses and the fact he'd only run once in America was a bit against him."
"It's fantastic to do it again with another horse, really very exciting. It was a great adventure at Santa Anita, everything went to plan."
"Santa Anita's been a lucky track for Ballymacoll, with the filly winning there as well. I'm not saying we'll go back this year but it will be high on the agenda for obvious reasons. We'll keep our fingers crossed." - Peter Reynolds.
Conduit is Ballymacoll's second Eclipse win following Islington's victory in the Female Turf category in 2003.
With so very few of the top ranked horses of 2008 still in training, it is important that the talents of Conduit (and Zenyatta) continue to race and provide testing material and yardstick for the horses who will emerge and challenge in 2009.
Conduit is no stranger to the difficult test being the first horse to win the English St Leger and the Breeders’ Cup Turf in the same season. Conduit won the Breeders’ Cup Turf in a sizzling 2.23.42 for the 1 1/2 mile course. The runner-up, Eagle Mountain, showed the strength of that performance by taking out the Group One Hong Kong Cup in December.
It had been intended for Conduit to retire for the season after his victory in the St Leger, but Sir Michael Stoute felt he came out of the race so well that the Breeders' Cup carnival was worth a try. There was a question mark over whether he would find the step back in trip from the 1m 6f of the St Leger, to 1m 4f of the turf, too much of a difficult assignment. But after reviewing his efforts of the year Sir Michael concluded that after winning over 10f and 12f already this year this would not be too great a problem.
And how right he was.
OAK TREE AT SANTA ANITA
Saturday October 25, 2008 - Race 8
Emirates Airlines Breeders' Cup Turf - Grade: 1
Purse: $3,000,000
Distance/Restrictions: 1 1/2M, Turf, 3 Year Olds and Up, STAKES
Winning Time: 2:23.42
1 Conduit
2 Eagle Mountain
6 Dancing Forever
Sectional Times in 100ths: :24.28 :47.06 1:10.20 1:33.86 1:58.73 2:23.42
Unplaced horses listed in order of finish:
Soldier of Fortune, Out of Control, Red Rock Canyon, Winchester, Better Talk Now, Spring House, Red Rocks and Grand Couturier
Conduit to train on in 2009
The Dalakhani colt was named the Champion Turf Male at the Eclipse Awards after his emphatic victory in the Breeders’ Cup Turf late last year.
“He'll be racing this season we hope, that's the plan. I have no idea what exact plans there are at this moment in time. It's very early days yet and the trainer's away on holiday.”
"It's a long season but I suppose, at the end of the day, it would be nice to go back to the Breeders' Cup again at the same track, Santa Anita, and there's a little race called the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1), which has always been close to our hearts.” - Ballymacoll manager, Peter Reynolds (as told to the English Press Association).
When queried about the difficulties of contesting the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Breeders’ Cup in the same season, Reynolds replied:
"It hasn't been done too often but there's a good space between the two races this year with the Breeders' Cup being put back a bit, but it's something we'll think about.”
Reynolds listened via a television in Kentucky to the Miami Beach awards ceremony in the early hours of Tuesday morning and heard Pamela Weinstock, eldest daughter of the late Simon Weinstock, accept the award on behalf of the County Meath stud.
"It's fantastic news. He had a great season and it's obviously very difficult to win those Eclipse Awards with European horses and the fact he'd only run once in America was a bit against him."
"It's fantastic to do it again with another horse, really very exciting. It was a great adventure at Santa Anita, everything went to plan."
"Santa Anita's been a lucky track for Ballymacoll, with the filly winning there as well. I'm not saying we'll go back this year but it will be high on the agenda for obvious reasons. We'll keep our fingers crossed." - Peter Reynolds.
Conduit is Ballymacoll's second Eclipse win following Islington's victory in the Female Turf category in 2003.
With so very few of the top ranked horses of 2008 still in training, it is important that the talents of Conduit (and Zenyatta) continue to race and provide testing material and yardstick for the horses who will emerge and challenge in 2009.
Conduit is no stranger to the difficult test being the first horse to win the English St Leger and the Breeders’ Cup Turf in the same season. Conduit won the Breeders’ Cup Turf in a sizzling 2.23.42 for the 1 1/2 mile course. The runner-up, Eagle Mountain, showed the strength of that performance by taking out the Group One Hong Kong Cup in December.
It had been intended for Conduit to retire for the season after his victory in the St Leger, but Sir Michael Stoute felt he came out of the race so well that the Breeders' Cup carnival was worth a try. There was a question mark over whether he would find the step back in trip from the 1m 6f of the St Leger, to 1m 4f of the turf, too much of a difficult assignment. But after reviewing his efforts of the year Sir Michael concluded that after winning over 10f and 12f already this year this would not be too great a problem.
And how right he was.
OAK TREE AT SANTA ANITA
Saturday October 25, 2008 - Race 8
Emirates Airlines Breeders' Cup Turf - Grade: 1
Purse: $3,000,000
Distance/Restrictions: 1 1/2M, Turf, 3 Year Olds and Up, STAKES
Winning Time: 2:23.42
1 Conduit
2 Eagle Mountain
6 Dancing Forever
Sectional Times in 100ths: :24.28 :47.06 1:10.20 1:33.86 1:58.73 2:23.42
Unplaced horses listed in order of finish:
Soldier of Fortune, Out of Control, Red Rock Canyon, Winchester, Better Talk Now, Spring House, Red Rocks and Grand Couturier
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