 Queally's mount Midday quickened up superbly on the straight at Santa Anita |
Midday gave trainer Henry Cecil his first ever Breeders' Cup success with a storming display to win the Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita. The winner of the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood benefitted from a great ride by Breeders' Cup debutant Tom Queally. After falling back early on, Queally brought Midday through on the back straight and challenged at the turn. The favourite held off the fast-finishing Pure Clan, with last year's winner Forever Together third. The win was a proud moment for 10-time champion trainer Cecil, who has been based at his Warren Place yard in Newmarket for more than 30 years. Cecil has won 24 domestic Classics, including the Epsom Derby four times, and has revived his fortunes after enduring a battle with prostate cancer and a lean spell for big-race wins. "I have always dreaded the Breeders' Cup slightly as I haven't had great success over the years, but to win one lives up to my expectation and thrill," he admitted. "It is lovely to win for (owner) Prince Khalid Abdullah as he is a friend and supporter of mine. He stuck with me through the bad times and it is great to repay him. "He loves the Breeders' Cup so I am delighted to win a race here for him. "I did go through a bad patch in every way for four or five years. I didn't have the horses and my health wasn't so good.  | 606: DEBATE |
"I am not back to where I was and I don't want to be really. I don't want to train 150 horses any more but am happy to peak on the big occasions. "I feel things are on the up. They have been for the last couple of years and I hope they can continue." Cecil also said that the Santa Anita race had always been the filly's target this year. "I hoped to have her right for the Opera on Arc day but that race is a Group One and she needed the run slightly," he added. "I thought that the European contingent was strong and that the English three-year-old fillies are stronger that the US. "The main thing was to have a nice position and when she hit the straight she could go for home. "But after my first runner (Father Time), who I really fancied (in the Marathon), didn't run very well I was just wondering what was going to happen." Earlier, Johnny Murtagh came up with a perfect ride on the Aidan O'Brien-trained Man of Iron to win the Breeders' Cup Marathon Murtagh came through on the rails to beat the veteran Cloudy's Knight on the line. Cloudy's Knight had swept into the lead on the final bend with Mastery, ridden by Frankie Dettori, challenging. Mastery, the St Leger winner, faded and Cloudy's Knight looked set for the win before Man of Iron struck late on. It was O'Brien's first Breeders' Cup winner since High Chaparral dead-heated in the Breeders' Cup Turf in 2003. Co-owner John Magnier, said: "Johnny called the race correctly. He said he would be taking his time and once Johnny got in there with a chance, Johnny always has a chance." O'Brien and Murtagh were unable to follow up when Lillie Langtry finished well down the field in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, won by Tapitsfly, trained by Dale Romans and ridden by Robby Albarado.
Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf
1. Midday (T P Queally) 15-8 Fav
2. Pure Clan (Garrett Gomez) 11-1
3. Forever Together (Julien Leparoux) 3-1
8 ran Breeders' Cup Marathon
1. Man Of Iron (J P Murtagh) 13-2
2. Cloudy's Knight (Rosemary Homeister Jr) 10-1
3. Mastery (L Dettori) 7-4 Fav
10 ran
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