Wathnan Racing targets Breeders' Cup Classic as Subsanador secures a thrilling victory, set to face global elite including City Of Troy and Japan's Forever Young at Del Mar.
Wathnan Racing is gearing up to challenge City Of Troy after Subsanador positioned himself as a contender for the Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita. So far, none of the Emir of Qatar's burgeoning international lineup have competed against Aidan O'Brien's dominant son of Justify, but Richard Mandella's California Crown Stakes champion could be the first at Del Mar early next month.
The offspring of Fortify achieved Wathnan's first major victory in the United States when expertly ridden to an exhilarating win by renowned jockey Mike Smith, with the first three horses finishing almost simultaneously. Subsanador's narrow win secures a place in the Breeders' Cup Classic, and the team is considering aiming for the $7 million event on November 2.
Wathnan's US representative, Case Clay, commented: "It was an exciting day, and now we're considering the Breeders' Cup, with the California Crown offering a 'win and you're in' option. Before the race, we were debating whether we would aim for the Dirt Mile or the Classic if he ran well. In the Classic, he will need to cover another furlong, but we're contemplating taking our chances there. It looks like it will be an exciting race with many top horses targeting the Classic."
Subsanador will not only face City Of Troy while testing his impressive turf record on dirt, but the five-year-old will also compete against the Japanese contender Forever Young, who finished third in the Kentucky Derby and arrives at Del Mar following a victory in the Japan Dirt Classic. Clay believes the Classic represents the essence of the Breeders' Cup and is looking forward to the Wathnan contender challenging the best in the world in what promises to be a truly global event.
Putting on my racing fan hat, I'm thrilled that City Of Troy is coming because that's what the Breeders' Cup is all about,' Clay continued. 'He's an incredible horse from a top-notch team, and his trainer is one of the greatest of all time. It's really exciting to see him come over and compete on the dirt. 'The event is turning into a truly international affair with the Japanese runner, a European, and Subsanador coming from South America.
In many ways, this is what the Breeders' Cup represents; it is referred to as the World Thoroughbred Championships, and it's gratifying to see horses from across the globe compete here, despite the presence of other major races worldwide they could choose to participate in.
