Olympic Glory well beaten, but Britain had four Breeders’ Cup successes

Chriselliam and jockey Richard Hughes are greeted by an ecstatic Willie Carson (centre) after her Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf triumph. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

While Olympic Glory ran a laboured race in the Breeders’ Cup Mile and finished second-last behind the odds-on favourite and the world’s highest-rated miler, Wise Dan – probably not surprising in totally different conditions to his Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on QIPCO British Champions Day two weeks earlier – Britain nevertheless claimed four victories at this year’s Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita.

Dank flew the flag for Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore yesterday when narrowly but decisively taking the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and Moore had a great day when following up on the Irish-trained Magician in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

On Friday Britain had three winners – Outstrip for trainer Charlie Appleby in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, ridden by American jockey Mike Smith, Chriselliam for trainer Charlie Hills and jockey Richard Hughes in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf and London Bridge for trainer Jo Hughes – also ridden by Mike Smith – in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon.

Chriselliam, part-owned by Willie Carson, was particularly impressive, striding two and half lengths clear of her field in easy fashion, while Outstrip had a surging run to get up close home and win by a decisive half a length.

London Bridge, meanwhile, stayed on dourly to win by a length.

We can now look forward to seeing Outstrip and Chriselliam stake their claim to greatness in next year’s QIPCO British Champions Series. They both look high class.