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Bolshoi Ballet is one of four European winners
in six Turf Triple events last year | Coglian
The Caesars Turf Triple, the New York Racing Association’s (NYRA) 3-year-old grass-court tournament, kicks off July 9 at Belmont Park and could include a major European team. The NYRA issued invitations on Saturday for both the $1 million GI Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational and the $700,000 GI Belmont Oaks Invitational. Both men and women started at 1 1/4 miles. Of the six races in the series – three for ponies and stuffed animals – four were won last year by coaches from Europe.
Aidan O’Brien, who attended the 2021 Belmont and Belmont Oaks Derby against Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), respectively, yes Aikhal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) for the Derby and Concert Hall (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) for this year’s Oaks. Joseph O’Brien, operator of the state of rest (Ire) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) to catch the 2021 GI Saratoga Derby (second leg), won an invite for Agartha (Ire) (Caravaggio) for Oc cows. Charlie Appleby won the 2021 Jockey Club Derby (second leg) against Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and has National Pride (Ire) (Teophilo {Ire}) for this year’s Derby, as well as With The Moonlight (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) for australian cows.
Other Europeans include Charlie Johnston with Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) (Match); Pia Brandt with Perform (Structure) (Derby) and Hot Queen (Fr) (Recorder {GB}) (Oaks); Fabrice Chappet with Machete (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) (Derby); and Francis-Henri Graffard with Know Yourself (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (Oaks).
“It looks like the ride, the track and the ground – all conditions at Belmont – will be just right for him,” said Royal Patronage’s Johnston. “I look forward to getting him out there.”
Many coaches from Europe echoed Johnston’s comments about their athletes. All Europeans are expected to ship and arrive on Friday, July 1.
A total of 26 combined horses for the two races were invited, including candidates from Todd Pletcher’s stables, Shug McGaughey, Chad Brown, Mike Maker, Ken McPeek, Bob Hess, Christophe Clement, Brendan Walsh and Graham Motion .
“You get the best out of it and that’s why the series was designed,” Pletcher said as he met the top foreign horses on the track. “That’s what you would expect in these big multi-million dollar races. It will be a challenge, I’m sure.”
The second stages of the Caesars Turf Triple are scheduled in Saratoga on August 6 (GI Caesars Saratoga Derby) and August 7 (GIII Saratoga Oaks) at 1 3/16 miles.
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This story was posted in News is shared, Top News and tagged Aidan O’Brien, Belmont Oaks Invitational, Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational, Caesars Turf Triple, Charlie Appleby, Charlie Johnston, European, Fabrice Chappet, Francis-Henri Graffard, Joseph O’Brien, New York Racing Association, NYRA, Pia Brandt.
