Red Rocks Ran Out in BC Turf
Curlin Conqueror Didn't Energize for Breeders' Cup History
Nov 17, 2008 BarbaraAnne Helberg
Although he didn't add to Irish history in the Breeders' Cup Turf October 25 for trainer Mark A. Hennig, Red Rocks, son of Ireland's Galileo and conqueror of America's reigning Horse of the Year Curlin on grass, entered the race as a former champion (2006) and led an Irish contingent of four. Red Rocks seemed not to have enough energy to kick in for a late ambush of leaders Conduit, Eagle Mountain, and Dancing Forever.
Curlin's Grass Conqueror Fell Short
In the July 12 Man o' Stakes on Belmont Park's turf course, Red Rocks easily conquered Curlin in the reigning HOY's first try on grass. Winning by two lengths, Red Rocks had energy to spare in the win that set Curlin's foreign soil plans back two giant steps.
Jockey Frankie Dettori said in a post-race interview that Red Rocks appeared uncomfortable in the BC Turf. Accustomed to running on turf, Red Rocks owned a two of three win record this season, with his other finish being off the board.
Prior to the Man o' War Stakes, Curlin's connections were considering shipping their HOY to Europe for summer competition. Those plans were quickly scratched when the four-year-old showed less than rousing enthusiasm for running on grass.
Red Rocks Has Good House
Galileo's sire is Machiavelian, whose bloodlines run to many American champions.
The BC Turf winner, Conduit (IRE), traces to Sadler's Wells, a proven sire of stakes winners who this season was pensioned. Sadler's Wells grandsired three of the BC Turf starters: Red Rock Canyon (IRE) and Grand Couturier (GB), as well as Conduit.
The fourth Irish BC Turf starter was Soldier of Fortune, also sired by Galileo.
Eagle Mountain and Red Rock Canyon were sired by Rock of Gilbraltar (IRE). A former BC Turf victor and two-time participant, Theatrical (IRE), sired Winchester, an American entrant.
Foreign Entries Have Dominated BC Turf
As more European horses are accustomed to running grass races than are American racers, the advent of Santa Anita Park's artificial resurfacing may have brought more than the average participants to America for this season's Breeders' Cup races. Synthetic surfaces like Pro-Ride, the choice installed at Santa Anita, give horses a footing similar to the plushness of grass.
The history of the BC Turf reveals a hearty number of foreign winners. In the beginning came Great Britain's Lashkari, then Pebbles; Manila handled Theatrical (IRE) by a neck in the race's third edition, but the Irish champion returned the following year to conquer all.
In the Wings winged to the winner's circle for GB in 1990, then came Northern Spur and Pilsudski and Daylami and Kalinisi and High Chaparral (twice), all for the Irish.
BC Turf's Irish Entrants Had Numbers
The four Irish entrants in this year's BC Turf were the most from one nation in one race on Breeders' Cup weekend. Great Britain and Ireland produced the greatest number of wins in the six for 14 victories that foreign entries attained on the two-day card.
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