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| Staff Writer |
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After securing a milestone Breeders' Cup victory at Del Mar, talented mare Soul of an Angel is being aimed at the US$20 million Saudi Cup in February, with her connections eyeing further international glory.
Saffie Joseph Jr celebrated his first Breeders' Cup success when his charge captured the US$1 million Gr.1 Filly & Mare Sprint, marking a watershed moment for the Florida-based handler.
"It's a great feeling, a lot easier to wake up," he said outside his Del Mar barn Sunday morning. "I'm thankful and blessed."
The 5YO daughter of Atreides secured her first Group One victory in her 41st start, having shown remarkable improvement since joining Joseph's yard. Notable previous winners of the Filly & Mare Sprint include Gamine (2020), who went on to earn multiple Group One successes, and Groupie Doll (2012, 2013), who remains the only dual winner of the race.
Joseph is now plotting an ambitious campaign, with a prep race at Gulfstream Park before tackling the prestigious Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racecourse on 22 February.
"She'll probably run once at Gulfstream and then we're trying to work back from the Saudi Cup," Joseph explained. "We'd like to give her a chance there. Mile-and-an-eighth, one turn, you would think it's tailor-made for her."
The trainer's confidence stems from her impressive closing sectionals in the Breeders' Cup triumph. "Her late kick yesterday, when I did the math, she ran the last five-eighths in 57 and change," Joseph noted. "You look at her splits, her internal fractions for the second quarter were 21 and change. Most horses run the fastest first quarter, she's run internal fractions that are faster. It just shows how good she is."
Meanwhile, marathon specialist Next, trained by Doug Cowans, is being freshened up after his unplaced effort in the Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Classic. The 6YO gelding, who had won seven consecutive races prior to this defeat, will return to his favoured staying trips in 2025.
Cowans revealed: "He came out of the race in real good order. I noticed early on that the horse was working really hard to keep contact with them. When they went a :44 half (mile), I think that really cooked the horse. He's more used to a little slower pace and that was probably his undoing."
The son of Not This Time will winter in Ohio before embarking on a carefully planned campaign, targeting the Isaac Murphy Marathon Stakes, Gr.2 Brooklyn Stakes, Birdstone Stakes, and Gr.3 Greenwood Cup.
"Move on to the next one and put this behind us," Cowans said. "Draw a line through this because this wasn't his game."
Despite the disappointment, Cowans remained philosophical about his first Breeders' Cup experience: "It was a great experience. Not just for me, but the whole team. The main thing we need to do is try to take something away from the race for the horse and for us if we ever have another horse to come back; things we might do differently to make it a better outcome."