Rossa Ryan looking to Amiloc for Turf triumph

After a dramatic first victory at the Breeders’ Cup 12 months ago, Rossa Ryan is back in Del Mar hoping to double his tally when he partners Amiloc in a red-hot Breeders’ Cup Turf on Saturday.

Ryan famously had to field a call from the stewards in full view of a worldwide audience after guiding Ralph Beckett’s Starlust to Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint success last year, but will be hoping for a less stressful conclusion to the $5million Turf with Amiloc.

The son of Postponed brought up a brilliant five-timer when scoring at Royal Ascot in the summer and although suffering a first defeat when bumping into a fully-firing Al Riffa in the Irish St Leger, Ryan is confident his charge has the attributes to mix it with the likes of Rebel’s Romance and Minnie Hauk.

“Amiloc has a good draw (in three) and showed that he handles the ground at Royal Ascot,” said Ryan.

“He’s started to grow into himself and is full of character, acting like he owns the place and I hope in the race he will really show up.

“He wouldn’t be the greatest of work horses in the morning, but he does it on the track.”

Amiloc is owned by David and Vimy Aykroyd, with Ryan and connections also enjoying plenty of excitement this year with Dante and Great Voltigeur winner Pride Of Arras.

Pride Of Arras may have to wait a little longer for his own jet-setting adventure, but Ryan can count another Beckett star of 2025 amongst his book of rides in California when he partners shock Sussex Stakes scorer Qirat in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Ryan added: “With Qirat we haven’t gone through what will happen. He will jump out of the gates here first. If he gets to the front he’s an aggressive galloper and they will have to work to get by him.

“We’ve had a great year and though some of last season’s two-year-olds didn’t come up to their potential, we still found some good horses, including our Dante winner who will benefit from being gelded.”