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| Staff Writer |
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Targeting a tilt at the US$1 million Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar in November, Anshoda is being primed by trainer Dave Loughnane. The daughter of Inns of Court, a US$6,578 breeze-up purchase, secured her starting berth by clinching the Gr.3 Prestige Stakes at Goodwood last month, a Breeders' Cup Challenge Series event.
Loughnane, reflecting on Anshoda's progress, said: "She'll definitely go to the Breeders' Cup and we might take in the May Hill at Doncaster next week beforehand. She is entered in the Rockfel and Fillies' Mile, but they don't really line up timescale-wise."
Changing hands for US$25,631 as a yearling, Anshoda was snapped up by Loughnane for a fraction of that price at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale in May. Her record now stands at two wins and a second from three starts, including a debut victory at Lingfield and a runner-up finish in the Listed Star Stakes at Sandown.
"She was very straightforward at the breeze-ups and came recommended by her consignors (Diamond Stables), who I have worked with in the past," Loughnane added. "I'm delighted with the progress she has shown and she won quite comfortably at Goodwood. She's improved with racing and will benefit from a step up to a mile so there's plenty to look forward to with her."
Anshoda's US trip marks a return to Del Mar for Loughnane, who saddled his first Breeders' Cup runners at the track in 2021. Go Bears Go finished a half-length second in the Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, while Hello You placed fifth in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
"Everyone who works in the sport has the dream of being involved at these big meetings and we're excited to be heading back there," said Loughnane. "It's great to have a horse good enough to go."
Meanwhile, trainer Brian Meehan has earmarked the Breeders' Cup as the primary target for top 2YO Rashabar, with potential stops in Ireland and France along the way.
The Holy Roman Emperor colt validated his 80-1 Gr.2 Coventry Stakes triumph with a close second to Whistlejacket in the Gr.1 Prix Morny at Deauville in August. Meehan is now considering the Gr.1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day or the Gr.1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Irish Champions Festival as stepping stones to the US$1 million Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar.
Meehan, no stranger to Breeders' Cup success with victories in the Gr.1 Turf in 2006 and 2010, said of Rashabar: "The Breeders' Cup is very much on our radar and the National Stakes will work well before that. He's great and I think we'll go for the National Stakes at the Curragh, but the Lagardere would also be a possibility. We'll make a decision soon."
The form of Rashabar's Coventry Stakes win has been franked, with fourth-placed Cool Hoof Luke going on to claim the Gr.2 Gimcrack Stakes at York last month. Coventry fifth Al Qudra also triumphed in his next outing, taking the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot.
Previous winners of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf include Flotilla, who went on to win the French 1000 Guineas, and Newspaperofrecord, who later claimed the Just A Game Stakes. The Juvenile Turf has been won by the likes of Mendelssohn, who went on to place in the Travers Stakes, and Line of Duty, who subsequently won the Dante Stakes.