Having saddled Lashkari (GB) to a 53-1 upset in the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Turf
(G1) at
Hollywood Park 25 years ago, French champion trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre is
hopeful that SWEET HEARTH (Touch Gold) can give him a second victory at the Breeders’ Cup.
The progressive three-year-old filly is set make her first
appearance
on an artificial surface in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint
(G1) at Santa Anita on November 6.
After recording a cozy short-neck verdict in a mile listed contest at
Chantilly on September 4, Sweet Hearth went down by a short-head to stablemate
Varenar (Rock of Gibraltar [GB]) in the Prix de la Foret (G1) going the Filly &
Mare Sprint distance of seven furlongs at Longchamp on
October 3. Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) heroine GOLDIKOVA (Anabaa) a
half-length farther back in third.
“Sweet Hearth is on course for the Breeders’ Cup Filly
&
Mare Sprint,” Royer-Dupre revealed. “She has never worked on an artificial surface but seven furlongs
looks to be her best trip — a mile is just a little too long.
“I don’t think that she will have a problem with Pro-Ride, it looks a very
fair
surface, and she will work on it when she gets out there.
“Coming second in the Prix de la Foret was not a surprise for me because I
have
liked her since she came to me this season and she just needed to learn to relax
in her races. She is getting better and better with every race and I think that
she
can be a great filly.
“She goes there with a great chance — if she can beat Goldikova in the Prix
de la
Foret then I am sure that she can run well at the Breeders’ Cup. It’s a long
trip
out there because she has to go via Amsterdam, but, as long as she copes well
with the journey, then she can be a factor at Santa Anita.”