Soumillon hails ‘top class’ Minnie Hauk as she aims for Arc redemption

Christophe Soumillon is determined to get it right when he takes the reins aboard Minnie Hauk in a mouthwatering Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf in Del Mar.

Aidan O’Brien’s three-times Group One-winner was thwarted by the barest of margins in her quest for Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe glory, but will be a warm order to make a quick return to winning ways in California, with her rider in no doubt about her top-quality credentials.

“In the Arc she ran an amazing race from her draw and Mickael (Barzalona, on Daryz) rode a perfect race to shadow me. The ground didn’t help us and the draw in stall one put us in a bit of pressure to ride close to the pace and not get stuck on the inside,” said Soumillon.

“We got caught on the line and that’s it, take Daryz out and she would have been one of the amazing Arc winners. But the Arc is in the past and I need to concentrate on making sure she wins on Saturday. She’s top class.”

Another relishing the pressure to perform is William Buick aboard the defending champion Rebel’s Romance, with Charlie Appleby’s globetrotting star having the opportunity to become the first three-time winner of the $5millon event.

“Rebel’s Romance is a horse I always look forward to riding, especially at the Breeders’ Cup in which he was superb last year,” said Buick.

“He’s going for a third Breeders’ Cup win which has never been done before, and it’s hard to believe he’s a seven-year-old.”

He went on: “He’s drawn inside (stall one) but he could equally have been posted in 14, I really don’t think it’s that bad for a horse who’s looking to be forward-placed around Del Mar. On a ground-saving trip from a low draw you would always be happy.

“In the King George it was a complete mess and he never got the chance to land a blow, but on Saturday he sets a very high standard.

“He enjoys fast ground and that is one of the keys. He won a pretty good Hardwicke and has won in Hong Kong, Qatar and Dubai. Not many horses can do that.”

Also taking his place in a stellar line-up is Goliath, who after returning to the Group One winner’s enclosure in the Grosser Preis Von Baden bids to become the first French-trained winner since Talismanic in 2017 and cap a fine year for his Arc-winning trainer Francis-Henri Graffard.

It cost majority owner John Stewart $200,000 to supplement into the race and he said: “He’s been training great and of course Francis has had an unbelievable year with all his brilliant accomplishments.

“We’ve been monitoring the situation with Goliath from the beginning of the year and Francis thinks the horse is in top shape to compete and we’re excited to have him running at Del Mar.

“The (stall) two is a good spot for him and I like how we have Rebel’s Romance on our inside. Once Goliath gets out in front he is really hard to overcome as he builds his speed as he runs.

“Once he gets out on the lead he is really hard to overcome – he’s not like you see a lot and he’s in the lead then gets overcome. It’s usually he can’t get out to make his run and ends up stuck in the pack when he doesn’t win.”

Ralph Beckett’s Amiloc has taken his connections on a dream run this season and the Royal Ascot winner is another among the raiding party from Europe with claims, along with James Owen’s Wimbledon Hawkeye.

The Nashville Derby hero will be the final mount of Frankie Dettori in a race he has won a joint-record five times, while two of those victories came for Brian Meehan aboard Red Rocks (2006) and Dangerous Midge (2010) and the Manton handler now gives champion apprentice Joe Levey a first taste of Breeders’ Cup action aboard Rashabar.

Meehan said; “The Breeders’ Cup is like the Olympics and it’s great to be back, the event has always caught my imagination.

“All is well with Rashabar, the team is very happy with him. He’s got a big task on Saturday, but I’m sure he’ll give it a good go.”

There are few lands left to conquer for Willie Mullins, but a Breeders’ Cup victory is one of them and he saddles Ethical Diamond, with the Ebor winner posted widest of all in stall 14.

Mullins said: “He’s come out of the Ebor very well. I’ve been very happy with him over the last few weeks.

“He’s in great shape and the Breeders’ Cup Turf might suit him. He’s had a few setbacks through his career, and he’s just come right now. All he has done is kept on improving and we’ve figured out how best to ride him, too. He was very good at York.”

Completing the list of travellers is Rebel Romance’s stablemate, the consistent El Cordobes, and Canadian International winner Silawi – a first Breeders’ Cup runner for Wathnan Racing’s Hamad Al Jehani.