ALMANZOR is Breeders Cup registered so normally they can get him in at the lowest entry fee if they wish. Pre-entry closes on 24 Oct and main entries on 31 Oct ($50,000 at each stage), but as he won the Irish Champion Stakes (a "Win and You're In" race) connections don't have to pay Entry fees and get a $40,000 travel allowance for the horse and connections to cover flights, hotels, etc.
Winning the Irish Champion Stakes already guaranteed Almanzor a place in the field for the Breeders’ Cup Turf, if they choose to take it up. Whether the race in America would be run in a fashion that would suit him might be a matter for debate as they tend to go hard from the gate, it is a tight track and he would have to weave his way through the field (or come wide) to throw down his challenge.
So indeed MINDING has proved today in taking on and beating the boys she is Europe's Champion Filly (not that it was ever in doubt). Any distance or ground she has been a cut above. Seven Group 1s they make that, not far behind Frankel's ten. And The Irish Champion was the race of the season (not that it was ever in doubt). And not that anyone is surprised by the talents of the world's greatest flat trainer but just how tough does O'Brien train these fillies MINDING and FOUND being the ultimate examples? Both on the go all season long, turn up to every dance in town and neither ever run a bad race, never an off day for O'Brien's Champion Fillies,no sireee. What a season for him, dominating the biggest races like no other. What was it I read the other week, inside 7 days he'd saddled the Arc 1-2-3, the Fillies Mile 1-2 and the Dewhurst 1-2! I think that's what they'd call dominant.
As good as there is to beat DK. Forgive me if I rate it better than beating the Arc last a half length. Make us a video there lad
Its a poor year for milers to be fair, said from the start it was the worst Guineas ive seen in my time. Minding should have been in the Champion imo, better horse than Found, she wouldnt have layed a glove on the winner though.
It was a masterstroke from Rouget when he decided earlier in the season to stop working Almanzor with La Cressonniere, the stables Arc horse, as he could have easily become demoralized by the fillys superiority. please log in to view this image
Thing is though DK the equation is quite simple: An Arc >>> English Champion Stakes I know you like to argue against facts but spare your embarassment with this one. Found got the one that mattered, Almanazor got the consolation prize.
Was barely an Arc to be honest, was run on a dog track, the 3rd just been beaten by Group 2 stayers today. Found might have won the Arc but as you said, The Irish Champion was the best race, and todays race was much classier than the Arc, and she was well beaten in both. Arc winner but everyone knows the script, Minding is a much better animal than Found.
And there is only 1 unbeaten multiple Group 1 winner in Europe. She goes by the name Europes Champion Filly and nothing can match her acceleration.
