Almanzor turns Champion double over Found; Minding’s the Queen
October 15th, 2016
Perfectly handled by Christophe Soumillon after a sluggish start, the Jean-Claude Rouget sophomore produced his trademark late burst to prevail by two lengths over a valiant Found. Comebacker Jack Hobbs was third, to the satisfaction of trainer John Gosden, who’s already thinking ahead to the 2017 Dubai Sheema Classic (G1).
Almanzor, who clinched his ranking as the best colt of his generation, will also be back in action next year. Rouget hinted that his French Derby (G1) hero may finally test the waters at 1 1/2 miles next year, with an Arc bid on the horizon.
“He's a super horse,” Rouget said. “I would rank him very highly against all the horses I have ever trained.”
Soumillon echoed the sentiment.
“The way he won last time out I was really sure he would be one of the best horses I have ridden - he gave me a sensational feeling,” the Belgian ace commented. “It was not easy before the race to be confident because he was drawn in stall one and we needed luck to get out in the straight.
“I was looking for Found because I know how strong she is. I've raced against her a few times and I didn't want to give her a length so I made the decision to go early.”
Found, who was trying to make history as the first horse ever to win the Arc and Champion in the same year, turned in her characteristically gutsy effort. The cutback from 12 to 10 furlongs, just 13 days after her Arc in blistering time, may have played a role in her margin of defeat.
Although no concrete plans have been set, O’Brien cast doubt about her mounting a title defense in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Santa Anita.
“I'm not sure about going to the Breeders’ Cup with her,” the horseman said. “The lads will have to decide on that as Highland Reel will possibly go for the Turf…so I don't know about that.
“The climate will be different there this time around and it will be very fast ground so I'm not sure whether she will go to America.”
Indeed, Found may have engaged in her last battle, with retirement possibly beckoning. That was the flavor of O’Brien’s tribute:
“Found is an amazing filly. She has a great constitution and I really appreciate all the work the team have done with her. She is incredible.”
Earlier, O’Brien celebrated his other “incredible filly,” Minding, who defeated males in the Queen Elizabeth II (G1) to earn an amazing seventh career Group 1 tally.
Most recently a tough-trip third to Almanzor and Found in the 10-furlong Irish Champion, Minding reverted to a mile here and simply had too much firepower. Under Ryan Moore, the daughter of Galileo and Lillie Langtry quickened smartly and held off Ribchester and the elder Lightning Spear. Guineas winners Awtaad and Galileo Gold could do no better than fourth and fifth, respectively.
“I was taking her back for the first half of the race,” Moore said. “She has lots of pace and has masses of talent.”
Minding’s Group 1 haul spans an impressive range of distances, from the seven-furlong Moyglare Stud (G1) and Fillies’ Mile (G1) at two, and the 1000 Guineas (G1) in her reappearance, to the 1 1/2-mile Oaks (G1) at Epsom and the 1 1/4-mile Pretty Polly (G1) and Nassau (G1).
“She's won at the top level at a mile, mile and a quarter and a mile and a half and then to bring her back down in trip to win an all-aged mile race, they have to be very special. I can't say enough about her,” O’Brien said.
Minding is unlikely to head to Santa Anita, unless the Coolmore principals furnish a plot twist.
“I'd imagine that would be it now for her for the rest of the year,” the trainer said. “The plan was to come here and try and win and maybe the lads will now bring her back to race again next year. They'll sit down and talk about that now but hopefully she can race again.”
Trainer Richard Fahey confirmed that runner-up Ribchester would not contemplate the Breeders’ Cup.
“He came back at Minding at the end of the race there, but I am a huge admirer of the winner,” Fahey said. “She is a wonderful filly and we can be proud of how our horse has run.
“That was his last run of the season – he's finished now.”
Third-placer Lightning Spear, who’d filled that same spot behind Tepin in the Queen Anne (G1) on the same tract of ground during the Royal meeting, could persuade Sheikh Fahad’s Qatar Racing to bring him back for another campaign.
“It was a career-best performance,” trainer David Simcock said. “Hindsight says the far side (of the course) would have been better, but he's quickened up very, very well and has been beaten by two very good horses.
“Minding is a filly of a lifetime, so we're delighted…It would have been lovely to have won it and gone straight off to stud, but we'll have to sit down and think now.”
Plans had already called for Awtaad to begin his stud career. Galileo Gold’s jockey, Frankie Dettori, commented that he ran as though “tired” and in need of a vacation. It’s probably not going out on a limb to say that the Breeders’ Cup isn’t in the cards.
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