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The American sprint star Caravel is fully prepared for the upcoming defence of her Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint title at Santa Anita next weekend.
After her unexpected triumph, she demonstrated her true potential and established herself as one of the premier turf sprinters in America by winning an impressive five consecutive races, including the Jaipur Stakes at Belmont in the summer.
Despite suffering a loss on soft ground at Saratoga, the Caravel team remains unfazed. In fact, their horse narrowly missed winning the Franklin Stakes, which served as a tune-up for the Breeders' Cup.
“She seems to be in great nick and the news from America is we are all systems go,” said David Redvers, racing manager for Qatar Racing – who own the mare in conjunction with Marc Detampel and Madaket Stables LLC.
“You never know for sure whether she is going to be at the same level as last year, but we are all certainly hoping so. It’s thrilling to have a horse at that level who is going to defend her crown.
“We made the mistake of running her at Saratoga in that horrible heavy turf, so you just have to put a line through that. Otherwise she has been in great nick.”
Caravel proved her true potential by winning an impressive five consecutive races, including the Jaipur Stakes at Belmont during the summer. Despite suffering a loss on soft ground at Saratoga, the Caravel team remains unfazed. In fact, their horse narrowly missed winning the Franklin Stakes, which served as a tune-up for the Breeders' Cup.
This year, Caravel faces some familiar names as she takes on British sprinters at Royal Ascot. Bradsell, the Ascot scorer, and Adam West's shock Nunthorpe winner, Live In The Dream, are among the challengers. However, Caravel's connections feel confident that she has nothing to fear if she can replicate her form from last year's Breeders' Cup and the early part of 2023.
“If she can run to the level of form she ran to last year, you would be very hopeful that it wouldn’t matter what she comes across,” added Redvers.
“The big question is, we don’t know if she has the same level of pace as she did last year. But she is one of Sheikh Fahad’s favourites and she’s certainly giving us all something to look forward to.”