IEAH Stables’ Breeders’ Cup shopping spree continued with the purchase of controlling interest in the English-trained 2-year-old stakes winner Radiohead, who will be pointed for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
IEAH is hoping the colt emulates his sire, Johannesburg, who captured the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and like Radiohead, had never run farther than six furlongs.
Radiohead, whose former owners, Mrs. Carmen Burrell and Jonathan Harvey, retained a 10 percent interest, captured the group II Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot. He is winless in his last three starts, but is coming off a solid second, beaten three-quarters of a length, in the group II Shadwell Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket Oct. 2. Prior to that, he was third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths in the group I Nunthorpe Stakes at York against older horses.
"I'm not worried about the distance," IEAH president Mike Iavarone said. "He wants to be covered up and make a late run. I tried to buy him in May after he broke his maiden and then point him for the Dewhurst. Stakes (Eng-I). The price wasnt right at the time and then he freaked at Ascot., winning the Norfolk. He got beat at York, but it was against older horses. Finally the price was right and we were able to make the deal."
Radiohead will remain in trainer Brian Meehan's care until Santa Anita but the colt's future beyond then has still to be determined.
IEAH also will run Court Vision in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT), Amen Hallelujah in the Juvenile Fillies (gr. I), and Diamondrella in the Turf Sprint.