Motion eyes Duke of Cambridge for Miss Temple City
Trainer Graham Motion was all smiles Saturday morning as he reflected on the victory Friday of Miss Temple City over males in the $300,000 Maker's 46 Mile (G1).
"It was very satisfying, one of the most satisfying things that I have done," Motion said. "She is super this morning and I am not in a hurry to run back."
Owned by Sagamore Farm, Allen Rosenblum and The Club Racing, LLC, the four-year-old Temple City filly became the first filly to win the Maker's 46 Mile and may have been the first to try.
"I always thought she was special," Motion said. "She reminds me a lot of Film Maker."
Film Maker, winner of the 2003 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1), compiled a record of 27-8-8-7 with earnings of more than $2.2 million and twice finished second in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1).
While Film Maker raced exclusively in the U.S., Miss Temple City could be headed back to Royal Ascot.
"I am thinking about the Duke of Cambridge, a Group 2 at Royal Ascot (June 15) that is a mile on the straight," Motion said. "I think a mile might be her deal."
Miss Temple City raced at Ascot last June, finishing fourth in the Coronation (G1) beaten only two lengths.
"The form out of that race is just phenomenal," Motion said. "The winner (Ervedya) came back and won another Group 1 beating the boys, and there was the Breeders' Cup (Turf) winner (Found). Now there is another Grade 1 winner out of that race."
Heart to Heart, who finished 1 1/4 lengths back in second in the Maker's 46 Mile, is going to get a little time off, according to trainer Brian Lynch.
"As hard as he ran yesterday, he deserves a little R and R," Lynch said. "We will look at a race in New York next for him."
That does not mean that Lynch will be empty-handed on Kentucky Derby Day, May 7, at Churchill Downs.
Lynch is targeting the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) with Grand Arch. Unraced since finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) at Keeneland last fall, Grand Arch won the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) for one of his two graded stakes scores in 2015.
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