ELMONT, N.Y., Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Godolphin Stable flexed its muscle as one of Thoroughbred racing's most powerful forces Wednesday by taking a surprising run at two of the top events in Saturday's Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships.
Godolphin, based in Dubai, announced it will split up its European superstars, with Arc d'Triomphe winner Sakhee a surprise starter in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic and Fantastic Light going in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Turf. Before the post-position draw at Belmont Park, most racing observers thought Sakhee would run in the Turf and Fantastic Light in the Classic against Galileo, his year-long rival in England.
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor said the decision was made by the owners -- members of the ruling family of Dubai.
"Fantastic Light has run all his life on the turf," Suroor said. "This also is the last year for him to run. Sakhee may stay in training for another year."
Galileo, a 3-year-old son of Sadler's Wells, beat Fantastic Light in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot in July. Fantastic Light, a 5-year-old son of Rahy, reversed that order of finish in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown last month in one of the year's most anticipated and most exciting races. Still, Suroor said the rivalry will be
carried on by Sakhee.
"Galileo is a great horse -- a very good horse," he said. "I think Sakhee can go with him. It would have been a great race. But Sakhee and Fantastic Light -- there is no difference between them. It will be a great race."
Nevertheless, the 1 1/4-mile Classic, which drew 13 starters, should be no match race between the European stars. The 2-1 favorite in the morning line, in fact, is Aptitude, who comes into the race off a dominating, 10-length victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont. Aptitude, a 4-year-old son of A.P. Indy, was second in last year's Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.
Among the other Classic entrants are last year's winner, Tiznow, who has been compromised this year by a variety of ailments, and last year's Juvenile winner, Macho Uno.
The Godolphin switch of horses has less impact on the makeup of the Turf, a 1 1/2-mile marathon over Belmont Park's sweeping lawn. Sakee would have been a huge favorite off his 6-length victory in the Arc. In his absence, the Belmont oddsmaker installed Fantastic Light as the 8-5 favorite.
After that, the shortest price in the 12-horse field is Timboroa, part of a powerful group sent to this year's Breeders' Cup Championships by trainer Bobby Frankel. Frankel himself is a topic of conversation in the Belmont stables as he tries to end a streak of 0-for-36 in the Breeders' Cup events.
Also on the oddsmakers' radar for the Turf are With Anticipation, winner of five straight races; Milan, another son of Sadler's Wells who won two big races in England; and Hap, who has been better at shorter distances.
The $1 million Juvenile for 2-year-olds is one of Saturday's most anticipated races because of the presence of Officer, a California-bred son of Bertrando who is undefeated in five starts and largely untested.
Trainer Bob Baffert is comparing him to the retired Point Given, who won this year's Preakness and Belmont Stakes. He is posted at 4-5 odds, the shortest price in the morning line for any race. Twelve will start in the 1 1/16-mile Juvenile.
The $1 million Filly and Mare Turf is headlined by Lailani, who won impressively in her first U.S. start after a summer campaign in England, and England's Legend, a French-bred filly who finished second to Lailani in her last start. The 1 1/4-mile race attracted a dozen distaffers.
Perhaps the most competitive race on the card is the $1 million Sprint -- a 6-furlong event with 14 of the world's fastest horses charging for the wire. Kona Gold, who won last year, is back for seconds. He will face the likes of Caller One, who scored a huge win in Dubai this spring; California star El Corredor, speedy West Coast sensation Squirtle Squirt and 3-year-old filly Xtra Heat, who is undefeated at the distance and 17-for-20 overall.
Noverre, another from Godolphin Racing, is the favorite in the $1 million Mile, the day's third grass race. The 3-year-old Rahy colt has had poor racing luck in England but has won four of seven starts this year.
In the $1 million Juvenile Fillies, for 2-year-old fillies, You is the morning-line pick as the undefeated winner of four straight, including stakes races at Saratoga and Belmont. Habibti, off only two lifetime starts, both at Del Mar, is second-favorite at 3-1.
The first of the eight championship races is the $2 million Distaff for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 mile. Favorites include Kentucky Oaks winner Flute and inconsistent Fleet Renee, both daughters of Seattle Slew; and Exogenous, a daughter of recently deceased Unbridled who has won two straight at Belmont.
