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Midday strikes for Cecil

Maestro claims big race on opening day of Breeders' Cup meeting

Last updated: 7th November 2009

Midday: Breeders' Cup winner

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Midday gave the great Henry Cecil his first Breeders' Cup success in the Emirates Airline Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita on Friday night.

Despite being at the top of the game in England for decades, the Newmarket handler had failed to hit the target at America's showpiece event.

But given a textbook ride by young Tom Queally, who has come of age this season, Cecil's filly stamped her authority on the race over a furlong out to provide British racing with a fairytale outcome.

The 15-8 favourite had plenty in hand over the fast-finishing Pure Clan, with last year's winner Forever Together third.

Visit, formerly trained by Sir Michael Stoute but now in the hands of Bobby Frankel, set only a steady pace up front.

Lengths

Queally was content to sit a few lengths off the pace early on but when John Velazquez attempted to quicken the pace, the Irishman was alert to the move.

Going down the back straight, Queally, having his first ever ride at the meeting, moved up on the rails to sit just off the lead and asked his mount for everything turning into the straight.

The response was not immediate but when she began to kick into top gear, the daughter of champion sprinter Oasis Dream soon put daylight between her pursuers for one of the most popular European wins at the meeting.

Cecil said: "The main thing was to have a nice position and when she hit the straight she could go for home.

"But after my first runner (Father Time), who I really fancied (in the Marathon), didn't run very well I was just wondering what was going to happen."

Owner Khalid Abdullah confirmed Midday will stay in training as a four-year-old, revealing: "She will go back to Europe next year and she will compete, she will continue."