Anshoda , a 5,000 guineas (US$6,578) breeze-up buy, is being lined up by Dave Loughnane for a tilt at the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) at Del Mar in November.
The daughter of Inns of Court earned a starting berth in the grade 1 when landing the Prestige Stakes (G3) at Goodwood last month, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series event, taking her record to two wins and a second from three starts.
Anshoda went through the ring for €24,000 (US$25,631) as a yearling and Loughnane bought her for a fraction of that price at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze-Up Sale in May.
She won on debut at Lingfield the following month and finished second in the listed Star Stakes at Sandown in July for owner Nawaf Almutairi before being sold to United States-based Team Valor and Gary Barber.
Loughnane said: “She’ll definitely go to the Breeders’ Cup and we might take in the May Hill at Doncaster next week beforehand. She is entered in the Rockfel and Fillies’ Mile, but they don’t really line up timescale-wise.
“She was very straightforward at the breeze-ups and came recommended by her consignors (Diamond Stables), who I have worked with in the past.
“I’m delighted with the progress she has shown and she won quite comfortably at Goodwood. She’s improved with racing and will benefit from a step up to a mile so there’s plenty to look forward to with her.”
Anshoda’s U.S. trip will mark a return to Del Mar for Loughnane, who saddled his first Breeders’ Cup runners at the track in 2021, when Go Bears Go finished a half-length second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) and Hello You was fifth in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
“Everyone who works in the sport has the dream of being involved at these big meetings and we’re excited to be heading back there,” said Loughnane. “It’s great to have a horse good enough to go.”
Rashabar Aims for Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
Brian Meehan has identified the Breeders’ Cup as the main target for top 2-year-old Rashabar with options in Ireland and France being considered beforehand.
The Holy Roman Emperor colt proved his 80-1 Coventry Stakes (G2) win was no fluke when a three-quarter-length second to Whistlejacket in the Prix Morny (G1) at Deauville in August.
Rashabar wins the Coventry Stakes at Ascot Racecourse
He could head back across the channel to contest the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (G1) on Arc day Oct. 6 with that group 1 a possible option, along with the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (G1) at the Irish Champions Festival Sept. 15.
The prime aim, though, is the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) at Del Mar Nov. 1. It will be a return to North America’s flagship’s meeting for Meehan, who enjoyed a breakthrough winner in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) 18 years ago with Red Rocks. He won the race again four years later with Dangerous Midge .
Meehan said of Rashabar: “The Breeders’ Cup is very much on our radar and the National Stakes will work well before that.
“He’s great and I think we’ll go for the National Stakes at the Curragh, but the Lagardere would also be a possibility. We’ll make a decision soon.
“We’re really happy with how he’s done since Deauville. The Prix Morny was a great race, but he’s a very good horse who ran a blinder. He wasn’t drawn in a good spot and I’d say it cost him the race.”
The form of Rashabar’s Coventry Stakes win has been boosted by fourth-placed Cool Hoof Luke going on to win the Gimcrack Stakes (G2) at York last month. Coventry fifth Al Qudra also won on his next start in the listed Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot.
(L-R) Trainer Brian Meehan and jockey Billy Loughnane with Rashabar after winning the Coventry Stakes at Ascot Racecourse
