Europeans settle in at Santa Anita

Last updated: 11/2/09 8:23 PM

Conduit made a splendid appearance
(Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com)

Defending Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) champion CONDUIT (Ire) (Dalakhani), along
with several of Juddmonte Farms’ Breeders’ Cup hopes, cleared the 42-hour
quarantine at Santa Anita Monday morning and went to the track.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Conduit toured the turf course at 10 a.m.
(PST) in a leisurely stroll with his stablemates, Turf rival SPANISH MOON (El
Prado [Ire]) and Mile (G1) contender ZACINTO (GB) (Dansili [GB]).

Conduit, a Ballymacoll Stud homebred, was most recently fourth to Sea the
Stars in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1). Two starts back, the
four-year-old chestnut captured the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S.
(Eng-G1) at Ascot.

Spanish Moon, a Juddmonte Farms homebred, is coming off victories in the
Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Fr-G1) and Prix Foy (Fr-G2).

Fellow Juddmonte colorbearer Zacinto was most recently a gallant second in
the Queen Elizabeth II S. (Eng-G1) at Ascot, beaten 1 1/4 lengths by Classic
(G1) threat RIP VAN WINKLE (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]).

Juddmonte’s Filly & Mare Turf (G1) threat MIDDAY (GB) (Oasis Dream [GB]),
trained by Henry Cecil, was also out and about. Victorious in the Nassau S.
(Eng-G1) two back, the sophomore was third in the Prix de l’Opera (Fr-G1) on Arc
Day.

Spanish Moon (left) and Zacinto stretch their legs
(Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com)

Juddmonte’s Classic candidate TWICE OVER (GB) (Observatory), another Cecil
charge, likewise cleared quarantine Monday morning and visited the track. The
four-year-old is exiting a career-best triumph in the Champion S. (Eng-G1) at Newmarket.

Augustin Stable’s Ladies’ Classic (G1) contender RAINBOW VIEW (Dynaformer), last year’s
European champion juvenile filly and a smart winner of the Matron S. (Ire-G1)
two back, went to the track at 6:30 a.m. (PST) Monday.

The John Gosden trainee came to Santa Anita by way of Canada, having
finishing second as the favorite in the E. P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) at Woodbine in
her latest venture.

Several other European shippers were still in quarantine Monday.

Defending Mile champion GOLDIKOVA (Ire) (Anabaa) arrived at Santa Anita
Sunday afternoon after a flight from Europe and is in quarantine until Tuesday.
She is expected to visit the track Wednesday morning.

Multiple Group 1 stars Rip Van Winkle and DAR RE MI (GB) (Singspiel [Ire]),
the latter a Turf contender for Gosden, are also scheduled to clear the 42-hour
quarantine Tuesday and are expected to visit the track for the first time on
Wednesday morning.

Others who shipped in Sunday include Godolphin’s Mile duo of multiple Group 1
winner GLADIATORUS (Silic [Fr]) and Group 2 victor DELEGATOR (GB) (Dansili
[GB]), as well as the Brian Meehan-trained RED ROCKS (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]), the
2006 Turf hero who will be taking part in that event for the fourth time.