Breeders’ Cup enters the equation for Cercene

Cercene could head to the Breeders’ Cup, with trainer Joe Murphy considering the trip after her fifth-place finish in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.

A surprise winner of the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Australia filly went on to finish second to Whirl in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood over a mile and a quarter before reverting to a mile on day one of the Irish Champions Festival.

While unable to land a telling blow, Cercene was only beaten three lengths and Murphy feels she could have finished closer with a clearer passage.

He said: “We were a bit unlucky, she got squeezed up in a gap and had to take a pull and come around again. When you have to do that in a Group One you’re in trouble, but I liked the way she ran on at the finish.”

While keen to let the dust settle on her recent outing, Murphy is not against the idea of stepping his stable star back up in trip for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Del Mar in November.

“We’re contemplating the Breeders’ Cup, but it’s a bit too soon to say,” he added.

“We’ll have a better idea in a week, but we’re very happy with the way she came out of the race.”