Dermot Weld and Jessica Harrington hopeful of Breeders’ Cup breakthrough

DERMOT Weld believes Tarnawa will go to the Breeders’ Cup next weekend as “unquestionably” holding a better chance of winning than any other horse he has sent to the meeting previously.

Surprisingly for a trainer who has won big races all over the world, particularly in the USA, Weld has yet to win a Breeders’ Cup race. Tarnawa bids to put the record straight when she takes on males in the 12-furlong Turf. She goes to Keeneland having won the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera and Group 1 Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp on her most recent two starts.

Addressing a Breeders’ Cup teleconference this week, Weld said the filly was training well since returning from France and he confirmed that Christophe Soumillon would retain the ride. Asked why he preferred to run Tarnawa in the Turf rather than the nine-and-a-half-furlong Filly & Mare Turf, the trainer said: “It’s a pretty tight track with a short straight and there will likely be a bigger field in the Filly and Mare race, so the chance of getting a bad draw increases.

“Keeneland has a very short straight and the draw will be vital in the shorter race. I feel she will be better suited by the longer trip at this track.”

Tarnawa’s absence from the Filly & Mare Turf is a boost for the chances of the Jessica Harrington-trained Cayenne Pepper in that race. Winner of the Group 2 Blandford Stakes on her latest start, the daughter of Australia was once considered more of a stayer by her trainer. She was sent off favourite for the Irish Oaks and finished second, but her Blandford success over 10 furlongs gave cause for a rethink.

“I think she is fast enough [for the Filly & Mare Turf],” said Harrington. “She has a high cruising speed and can quicken off it. I think we were blunting her speed trying to go a mile and a half. I love her to be drawn in three or four, towards the inside and not out wide. Good ground would be ideal, as long as it is not either extremely fast or extremely heavy.”

Cadillac, with proven Group 1 form with Van Gogh and Mac Swiney, will represent Harrington in the Juvenile Turf, while Moyglare Stud Stakes third Oodnadatta runs in the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf.