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| Staff Writer |
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Winchell Thoroughbreds paid US$525,000 for the colt when he was consigned by Warrendale Sales to the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and has already won US$3,197,970.
Ten Furlongs Magazine catch up with owner Ron Winchell about this stable star, his Saudi experience, his plans for Kentucky and much more.
Q: What are Midnight Bourbon’s travel plans for the Dubai World Cup meeting?
A: Midnight Bourbon travelled to Dubai right after the Saudi Cup race and has been training there since his last race.
Q: Has the trainer made, or do you expect the trainer to make any changes to Midnight Bourbon’s prep based on his last performance?
A: Obviously, with Midnight Bourbon running third in the Saudi Cup we are looking for a little bit more. He was trained for maximum performance for the Saudi race as he will be for the Dubai World Cup race. I do believe the extra distance should benefit him, however, only time will tell. He has proven to be a tough competitor whenever he races.
Q: What is your own travel plans for Dubai World Cup?
A: I will be in Dubai for most of the week and look forward to attending the World Cup.
Q: What was your Saudi racing experience like?
A: My Saudi experience was a little hectic just to get into the facility took a considerable amount of time. Once in the facility, it was good. As a horse owner, all you want is for your horses to show up and be competitive. Turning for home he did just that and looked very competitive. So overall that makes for a good experience.
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Q: Have you and Midnight Bourbon’s trainer agreed on what races he will be aimed at for the rest of the year?
A: Our current focus was to run in the Saudi Cup and the Dubai World Cup. Beyond that, we will see how he is doing once he has returned to the States. So, we really haven’t thought beyond that.
Q: As the owner of Kentucky Downs, where do you see your racecourse in the next 10 years?
A: At Kentucky Downs, we will continue to try to improve the quality of racing and experience for the horses and owners going forward every year. That has been our goal from day one and will continue to be as time goes on. We would love to expand the presence of international runners in the years going forward.