Photo of Conduit. Copyright © Steve McMillan 2008 No unauthorised use. Buy this photo and others at Equishots website.

October 27 - Sir Michael Stoute - the trainer of Conduit who won Saturday's coveted $3,195,000 Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita - must be over the moon that he decided to enter the colt in America's richest turf race, especially after winning the St. Leger Stakes in Doncaster, England earlier this year.

By winning the St. Leger Stakes - at a distance of 1 11/16 miles - Conduit proved on Saturday that he could easily handle the Breeders' Cup Turf's 1 1/2 mile distance in his stride. From the start of the auspicious race, Conduit's jockey Ryan Moore kept the chestnut colt at a good and steady pace.

As expected by many pundits, Red Rock Canyon grabbed an early lead just in front of race favorite Soldier of Fortune. By the backstretch Out of Control too was vying for the lead. In the mean time, however, Conduit slipped to eighth place before Moore kicked it up a gear and the colt rallied up into fourth.

By the final stretch the seemingly unstoppable colt moved up the field and eventually overtook race leader Eagle Mountain in the final furlong to win the race in fine style by a convincing 1 1/2 lengths. Fans of Conduit who were present at Santa Anita Racecourse were thrilled at the result and showed it.

Of course for top South African-based trainer Mike de Kock - who was competing for his first ever BC title - the race must have been bittersweet as his charge Eagle Mountain narrowly missed out on the race victory but secured a second. Said de Kock, 'I can't complain as he was beaten by a better horse on the day.'

Said Sir Michael Stoute after the race, 'We are all absolutely delighted with the result and I think Conduit ran and stayed magnificently. He keeps getting better and that's the exciting thing about this horse. As for his slipping down the field in mid race, that was part of our race strategy and it worked out a treat.

"We thought there should be good pace and Ryan would get him switched off and in a nice rhythm. And then when the time was right, Ryan would give him the go ahead to run his heart out and storm to the front which is precisely how the race played out. Both Conduit and Ryan ran an excellent race,' he said.

Sir Michael Stout has indicated that Conduit - who is owned by breeder Ballymacoll Stud - will stay on in training next year. The colt has won 5 from 9 career starts and accrued $2,487,823 in career earnings.

Other Articles:

Autumn Meet Kicks off at Hollywood Park - 10-29-08

BC Filly and Mare Turf Winner Toast of Santa Anita -10-29-08

Melborne Cup 2008 Set for European Onslaught - 10-28-08

Santa Delivers Victory in Java Handicap - 10-28-08

Freddie Head Wins Breeders Cup Mile With Goldikova - 10-27-08

Horseracing Icon Harry Mangurian Jr Dies - 10-26-08

2008 Breeders Cup Classic Won by Ravens Pass - 10-26-08

De Kock to Run Eagle Mountain in Breeders Cup Turf - 10-25-08





2011/12/09 12:48:41 AM