O'Meara favouring Breeders' Cup Turf for Mondialiste
Tuesday 7 March 2017 09:23, UK
Mondialiste looks set to take in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita in preference to the Mile.
The six-year-old has proved a real standard-bearer for trainer David O'Meara, winning the Grade One Woodbine Mile in 2015 and adding to his top-level gains last year in the 10-furlong Arlington Million, a 'win and you're in race' for the Breeders' Cup Turf.
He was last seen running a close fourth in the Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes at Keeneland earlier this month.
The son of Galileo was second to American superstar Tepin in the Mile 12 months ago, and should he run in the Turf, it would be a first start at a mile and a half.
North Yorkshire-based O'Meara said: "We are leaning towards stepping him up to a mile and a half for the Breeders' Cup Turf rather than going again in the Mile.
"It's a very fast mile and a half at Santa Anita, beginning in a chute which is part of the sprint course, so I think that will suit him fine."
Stablemate Suedois is likely to be seen in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, although he does hold an entry in the Mile.
O'Meara added: "One can never be sure how they will deal with the travelling but he is a sensible horse with a good head on him so I would be hopeful on that score.
"It's also impossible to be certain how he will handle the downhill sprint course but he is a very well-balanced individual who coped well with the undulations at Newmarket."
