Purse:	$4,000,000	Grade:	1
Distance:	1 ½ Miles	Age:	3+

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Tarnawa Slated to Defend her Title in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf

H.H. Aga Khan Studs Tarnawa (IRE) completed an undefeated season last year when she scored a 1-length victory in the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) at Keeneland, providing trainer Dermot Weld with his first Breeders' Cup win.

This year, the 5-year-old daughter of Shamardal made her seasonal debut August when she won the Ballyroan Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown, and has since been second in two Group 1 "Win and You're In" races in Leopardstown's Irish Champion Stakes in September and the Oct. 3 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1).

Trainer Aidan O'Brien has won the Breeders' Cup Turf a record six times. In June he saddled Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs. John Magnier's 4-year-old filly Love (IRE) to victory in Royal Ascot's Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) and she earned a "Win and You're In" for the Turf.

The Americans counter with Klaravich Stables' Domestic Spending (GB), a two-time Grade 1 winner in 2021 for trainer Chad Brown. In May, the 4-year-old son of Kingman (GB) dead-heated for the win in the Churchill Downs Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic and then won Belmont Park's Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes in June. Domestic Spending, 6-for-8 lifetime, finished second by a neck in the Mr. D. Stakes (G1) at Arlington Park in August in his most recent start.

In California, LNJ Foxwood's 5-year-old gelding United will be running in his third consecutive Breeders' Cup Turf, finishing just a head behind Bricks and Mortar in 2019 and a disappointing eighth last year. Trained by Richard Mandella, United has three wins this year, including a last out score in the John Henry Turf Championship (G2) at Santa Anita. John O'Connor's Astronaut earned a "Win and You're In" to the Breeders' Cup Turf when he scored a 24-1 upset in the Aug. 21 Del Mar Handicap Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2) for trainer John Shirreffs.

Tarnawa (IRE)

With a huge fan base and a huge turn of foot, Tarnawa (IRE) has been a joy for racing over the past few seasons, rewarding the patience of Irish trainer Dermot Weld with Group victories in three countries, including an explosive tally in the 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) for owner-breeder HH The Aga Khan.

A daughter of late stallion Shamardal, she has been known for her quirky, high-energy personality, but has channeled that energy into brilliant victories, including the top-level wins in 2020's Prix Vermeille (G1) and Prix de l'Opera Longines (G1).

The chestnut mare has been handled meticulously in 2021, with the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), in which she ran second on Oct. 3, and a Breeders' Cup defense precisely in mind. She kicked off the season with a victory in the Ballyroan Stakes (G3) and then was a slightly hindered second when clashing with the brilliant St Mark's Basilica (FR) in the Irish Champion Stakes (G1). She finished ahead of one of Europe's top 3-year-olds, multiple G1-winning Poetic Flare (IRE) in that race.

Earning more than $3 million and winning nine of her 17 starts, she has been yet another testament to the world-class, groundbreaking operations of her trainer and owner-breeder. She gave Weld his first Breeders' Cup win last year and HH The Aga Khan's operation its third in the Turf, following Kalanisi (IRE) in 2000 and Lashkari (GB) in the inaugural running in 1984.

Sisfahan (FR)

Group 1 Deutsches Derby (German Derby) winner Sisfahan (FR) is lightly raced, but enters the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) with considerable promise and form lines that must be respected. Owned by Darius Racing and trained by German champion trainer Henk Grewe, the chestnut son of Isfahan - also a German Derby winner - was beaten just 1 length two races back in September's Gro�Yer Preis von Baden (G1) by Torquator Tasso (GER).

Torquator Tasso would famously go on to upset the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) on Oct. 3, franking the form and once again proving that German horses can often go toe-to-toe with the best in the world.

Three weeks after his runner-up effort, Sisfahan was third to Alpinista (GB) in the Preis von Europa (G1), beaten 3 lengths. Overall, the French-bred has a record of 2-2-1 from five tries and earnings of more than a half-million dollars.

Sisfahan will be the third consecutive Breeders' Cup Turf for Darius Racing, who finished fifth -beaten just 2½ lengths - in 2019 with Alounak (FR) and were luckless last year with Donjah (GER), who stumbled badly and was a non-factor thereafter, finishing last of 10. Donjah was Grewe's only Breeders' Cup runner.

Gufo

Gufo moved from last to first to take the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes (G1) in late August and a spot in the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1), extending his streak of finishing in the top three in every one of his 12 career starts.

The Sword Dancer was the 4-year-old's second Grade 1 victory: he previously triumphed in the 2020 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes. His resume would have two more Grade 1s if photo finishes had gone his way. He was a nose away when he lost the 2021 Man o' War Stakes to Channel Cat, and he was a neck away when a close third in the 2020 Hollywood Derby. The Hollywood Derby and the Saratoga Invitational Stakes, in which he finished second, were his only losses as a 3-year-old, and they both were handed to him by possible Breeders' Cup Turf rival Domestic Spending.

Christophe Clement trains the chestnut colt for Otter Bend Stables. Last year, Gufo gave Clement his 2,000th career victory in an allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park on March 27.

"I am delighted with this horse," Clement said. "He is a top-class horse. He's always been a top-class horse. A mile-and-a-quarter, a mile-and-a-half, it really doesn't matter for him."

Clement, the son of a successful French trainer, is known to be exceptional with grass horses. He won his American debut with Spectaculaire at Belmont Park on Oct. 20, 1991. His Breeders' Cup record includes six second-place, including the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) with multiple champion Gio Ponti, and six third-place finishes. He also conditioned 2014 Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Tonalist.

Gufo is the son of Declaration of War, a Group 1 winner in Europe who finished third in the 2013 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), his only stateside start and the final race of his career.

Japan (GB)

Once the toast of the European racing scene, especially after impressively winning the 2019 Juddmonte International (G1), regally bred Japan (GB) had lost a bit of his shimmer over the past two seasons, but that began to change in August when the Aidan O'Brien-trained charge shipped to Saratoga and finished second in the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer (G1).

Previous to that run, the full-brother to multiple G1 winner and 2020 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf alum Mogul (GB) and Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) alum Secret Gesture (GB) took advantage of a drop in class in the Group 3 Meld Stakes, winning well and improving upon a disappointing sixth in Royal Ascot's Hardwicke Stakes (G2).

A $1.8 million 2017 Tattersalls October Book 1 graduate, he has amassed more than $2.3 million and earned seven victories, including six at the Group level. Two of those were Group 1s, including the Grand Prix de Paris. Five of his seven victories have come on left-handed courses, something he will experience at Del Mar.

Bolshoi Ballet (IRE)

Bolshoi Ballet, by the late Galileo and trained by Aidan O'Brien, was a visually-appealing winner of the 10-furlong Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational on July 10, capturing the first leg of NYRA's Turf Triple series by 1 1/4-lengths over good turf under jockey Ryan Moore's confident handling.

Bolshoi Ballet attempted to capture the second leg of NYRA's Turf Triple series for sophomores in the Grade 1, $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, August 7, but ended up out of the money in fourth.

Following a juvenile campaign which included a four-length maiden triumph over yielding turf on October 16 at Leopardstown, Bolshoi Ballet launched his sophomore season with decisive wins in the Ballysax on April 11 and the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial on May 9, both Group 3 events at 1 1/4 miles at Leopardstown.

Bolshoi Ballet entered the Belmont Derby from a disappointing seventh as the beaten favorite in the Group 1 Epsom Derby on June 5, emerging with a cut to his right hind leg.

Broome

Broome (IRE) has shared the floor with some of Europe's best middle-distance horses throughout his career and enters the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) worthy of ample respect for 13-time Breeders' Cup-winning trainer Aidan O'Brien.

Owned by Irish conglomerate Coolmore in partnership with Japan's Masaaki Matsushima (in whose grey and white colors he races), the son of Australia (IRE) and grandson of dual Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) champ Ouija Board has won seven of 20 starts, more than $1 million in prize money and landed his first Group 1 earlier this season in France's Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.

Last out, over ground that may have been a bit too heavy for his liking, the five-time runner-up was 11th, beaten nearly 10 lengths, in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1), a race in which defending Longines Turf champ Tarnawa was second. That was his ninth start of a busy and productive season for the Irish-bred and -trained charge.

A respectable fourth in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) in July, Broome kicked off the season with a sweep of three consecutive stakes, ascending the class ladder when taking the Devoy Stakes (Listed), Alleged Stakes (G3) and Mooresebridge (G2). His rise was cut short by a head next out when second in the Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1), one race before finishing a good second to Wonderful Tonight in Royal Ascot's Hardwicke Stakes (G2).

Broome was a $290,979 Tattersalls December 2017 purchase by Coolmore's M. V. Magnier from consignor Croom House Stud. He has competed in eight Group 1 events in three countries, including placing in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at two and finishing fourth in the English Derby at three.

He is a full-brother to one of the top 2-year-olds in Europe this year, Point Lonsdale, who won Royal Ascot's Chesham Stakes (Listed), as well as Ireland's Tyros Stakes (G3) and Futurity Stakes (G2) in succession this summer.

UNITED

SCRATCHED - United is on pace to return to the Breeders' Cup to tie up loose ends, taking a third shot at the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1).

In 2019, he finished second in the championship event, losing by a head to Eclipse Award winner Bricks and Mortar. At 51-1 odds, he caught the attention of the racing world.

The gelding had a blockbuster 2020, with four wins and a second-place effort in Grade 2 contests before finishing eighth in the Turf at Keeneland.

This year, the 6-year-old chestnut has three wins and two fourth-place finishes. Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella described one of his out-of-the-money finishes, in the Charles Whittingham Stakes (G2), as "a terrible race. I've never had him run that bad."

He bounced back to best even-money favorite Smooth Like Strait to become a back-to-back winner of the Eddie Read Stakes (G2) at Del Mar, the 2021 Breeders' Cup host track.

United tuned up for this year's Breeders' Cup bid by winning the John Henry Turf Championship (G2) by a nose at Santa Anita on Oct. 2. The victory was United's 10th in 22 career starts and boosted his earnings to more than $1.8 million.

Mandella has amassed nine Breeders' Cup wins. Four of them came in one day in 2003 at Santa Anita, including the Classic (G1) with Pleasantly Perfect and the Turf with Johar. He also trained champion Beholder, who won three Breeders' Cup races.

United runs under the colors of LNJ Foxwoods, the racing name of Larry, Nanci and Jaime Roth, a parent/daughter team who started in 2012. Larry was a principle of eyewear company Marchon, and Jaime runs the stable. They campaigned 2019 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) winner Covfefe.

United's sire, Giant's Causeway, finished second by a neck in the 2000 Breeders' Cup Classic. He placed in the top two in every one of his 13 career races.

2024 BREEDERS' CUP RACE SCHEDULE

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What is the Breeders' Cup Turf?

The Breeders' Cup Turf (Grade 1) is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race on turf for three-year-olds and up since it's inauguration in 1984. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships.

The forerunner for this race was the Washington, D.C. International Stakes at Laurel Park Racecourse. Inaugurated in 1952, it was raced on turf at 1-1/2 miles and drew the best horses from North America and Europe. A winner of this race was the American legend Kelso, albeit on his fourth attempt, after being second three times in a row.

Analyzing the statistical records, it has been found that the European contingents find it suitable to hold their feet in this event ever since the race started. Possibly due to the Breeders' Cup racing schedule - it generally takes place at the end of October or beginning of November every year - that is just at the end of European Racing Season. Another possibility may be the hot and humid weather condition at the Florida or Southern California Breeders' Cup sites.

Though the American owners have groomed some outstanding grass runners in the past, they have been defeated by the top-level European competitors in recent years. While comparing these facts to the world racing calendar, the Breeders' Cup Turf seems a North American championship race. British jockey Frankie Dettori has registered the most number of wins in the Breeders' Cup Turf category with three - capturing the race in 1999, 2001 and 2006. The Breeders' Cup Turf has come to be dominated by European horses that are reflected by the first four horses in the 2005 contest. High Chaparral, the then Irish champion - clinched the winning title back-to-back in 2002 and 2003, followed by Conduit with back-to-back wins in 2008 and 2009.

Beginning in 2007, the Breeders' Cup developed "The Breeders' Cup Challenge," a series of races in each division that allotted automatic qualifying bids to winners of defined races. Each of the fourteen divisions has between three and six of these "Win and You're In" qualifiers. In the Breeders' Cup Turf Division there are five automatic births. In 2011, the Win and You're In races were: the Takarazuka Kinen (G1) at Hanshin Racecourse, the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1) at Saint-Cloud Racecourse, the United Nations S. (Gr.I) at Monmouth Park, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. (G1) at Ascot, the Arlington Million (Gr.I) at Arlington Park, the Del Mar Handicap (Gr.II) at Del Mar, the Irish Champion S. (G1) at Leopardstown, the Qatar Prix Niel (G2) at Longchamp, the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational (Gr.I) at Belmont Park, and the Pattison Canadian International S. (Gr.I) at Woodbine Racetrack.