Patiently ridden by Ryan Moore, Conduit burst to the lead down the stretch to win the Emirates Airlines Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. IT) (VIDEO) by 1 1/2 lengths Oct 25 at Santa Anita.
The 3-year-old son of Dalakhani became the fourth Breeders’ Cup winner for his trainer, Michael Stoute. The English trainer also won the Turf in 2000 with Kalanisi and 1996 with Pilsudski, and the Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT) in 2003 with Islington.
Bred and owned by Ballymacoll Stud Farm in Ireland, Conduit had captured the English St. Leger (Eng-I) in his prior start Sept. 13 at Doncaster. He won that race over soft going and proved he could run on any type of surface before taking the Breeders’ Cup on firm ground.
Red Rock Canyon, the rabbit for stablemate Soldier of Fortune, made the lead as expected and was followed by Solider of Fortune, Out of Control, and Eagle Mountain. They went the opening quarter in :24.28 and the half-mile in :47.06. The positions changed very little as the field went six furlongs in 1:11.08.
When the field had run a mile, Soldier of Fortune and John Murtagh struck the lead, but Moore had Conduit in full stride. As Eagle Mountain and Kevin Shea went to the front, Moore asked Conduit for his best and he accelerated past and stormed home in front. Eagle Mountain held on for third while longshot Dancing Forever, who was fanned wide in the turf for home, just got third over Soldier of Fortune.
"We were in a gallop early," Moore said. "I was a little farther back than I wanted to be. Once he hits his stride, he gets in a real good rhythm and just keeps going. As soon as he chimed in, I knew I had them. It's great to ride a true group I winner. I didn’t know if he could close enough ground coming down the stretch, but he has a great stride, and he showed it. I thought maybe earlier the leaders would be coming back to me."
Said Stoute: "The jockey rode a masterful race and had him in the right position. When he asked him, the jockey got him into gear and I thought from a long way out that he was going to come and pick them up, and he did. I was very confident running him on the course here because he's raced well on firm turf before. I was not worried about the heat today because he's a young horse and quite fit."
Conduit paid $13.60, $8.40, and $5.80, while Eagle Mountain returned $9.60 and $6.40. Dancing Forever paid $12.80.
The final time for the 12 furlongs was a stakes record 2:23.42.
PEDIGREE
Dalakhani is a four-time group I winning son of Darshaan who stands at the Aga Khan’s Giltown Stud in Ireland. He is also the sire of group I winner Moonstone. Dalakhani is a half-brother to Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Daylami.
Conduit is out of the unraced Sadler’s Wells mare Well Head, who like Conduit was bred in Ireland by Ballymacoll Stud. Well Head produced one other stakes winner, Hard Top, by Darshaan, a group II winner in England.
| Breeders’ Cup Turf (gr. IT) | |||
| Horse | Win | Place | Show |
| 1. Conduit | $13.60 | $8.40 | $5.80 |
| 2. Eagle Mountain | $9.60 | $6.40 | |
| 3. Dancing Forever | $12.80 |
