Wuheida Tops Euro Exacta in Filly/Mare Turf

On a day of upsets, Godolphin's Wuheida (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) played the spoiler in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Turf, coming home a length clear of fellow European invader Rhododendron (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) at odds of 11-1 with heavily favored Lady Eli (Divine Park) finishing seventh. Away well, Wuheida kept a close eye on the leaders from third as Zipessa (City Zip) showed the way through early fractions of :23.86 and :47.50 with Avenge (War Front) close behind. Avenge called it a day shortly thereafter and Cambodia (War Front) took up the place spot with Wuheida waiting patiently beneath William Buick. Cambodia looked ready to spurt clear at the top of the lane, but Wuheida got the jump on her and cruised clear in the final furlong to score. This was the first Breeders' Cup victory for Buick and the second for trainer Charlie Appleby.

“She is incredibly professional,” Buick said. “She has lots of ability and the trip really suited her. I was happy with her position throughout the race and she quickened down the straight really well.”

“I was delighted from the git-go,” Appleby said. “Going from the first turn, and William got into the right pitch, as far as I was concerned. The fractions all looked right. When it was time to send her for home, he had plenty of horse underneath him. So I was delighted for William and the filly. She deserves it. And the team, Godolphin, and His Highness, it's been a great day.”

Rhododendron came running late to collar Cambodia for second and Cambodia held third by a head over Dacita (Chi) (Scat Daddy). That Chad Brown runner was just a nose clear of last term's F/M Turf heroine Queen's Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}) in a blanket finish. Race favorite Lady Eli, who is schedule to sell at the upcoming Keeneland November sale, was slammed by rivals on both sides in the early stages and squeezed back. The popular bay attempted to make a wide rally in the lane, but was passed late by a trio of closers and forced to settle for seventh.

“It's always tougher from a wide draw, but she ran well and I'm delighted with her,” said trainer Aidan O'Brien, whose runner-up Rhododendron broke from post 14.

Chad Brown, who saddled beaten favorite Lady Eli, as well as Dacita and ninth-place finisher Grand Jete (GB) (Dansili {GB}), said, “Irad [Ortiz, jockey of Lady Eli] said he got bumped pretty hard on the first turn and he dropped in. Then he got a little cover and then it seemed like she got hit from behind again, but she did have some clear run. She had a rough trip and did have clear spots to run and she just didn't have it today. I don't know if all the bumping discouraged her or she just didn't have for some reason today. She's never done that before obviously. It's quite a surprise to me, it's unfortunate, but that's horse racing.”

Following her debut win at Newmarket last August with a victory in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at Chantilly in October 2016, Wuheida checked in second in the G1 Falmouth S. in her seasonal debut July 14 at Newmarket. Third in the G1 German Oaks Aug. 6, the chestnut was fourth in both the Sept. 9 G1 Matron S. over a yielding course at Leopardstown and the G1 Prix de l'Opera at Chantilly last time Oct. 1.

Pedigree Notes:

Wuheida is the second foal out of MGISW Hibaayeb, whose most recent produce is a yearling full-sister to the winner. Hibaayeb carried the Godolphin blue to victories in the 2009 G1 Fillies' Mile and the 2010 G2 Ribblesdale S. at Ascot, as well as the 2010 GI Yellow Ribbon H. here in California.

Saturday, Del Mar
BREEDERS' CUP FILLY AND MARE TURF-GI, $1,840,000, DMR, 11-4, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/8mT, 1:47.91, fm.
1–WUHEIDA (GB), 121, f, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Hibaayeb (GB) (G1SW- FR & Eng, GISW-US,$630,316), by Singspiel (Ire)
2nd Dam: Lady Zonda (GB), by Lion Cavern
3rd Dam: Zonda (GB), by Fabulous Dancer
O-Godolphin Stable Lessee; B-Darley (GB); T-Charles Appleby; J-William T. Buick. $1,100,000. Lifetime Record: G1SW-Fr & Ger, G1SP-Eng, 7-3-1-1, $1,456,941. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Rhododendron (Ire), 121, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
1st Dam: Halfway To Heaven (Ire), by Pivotal (GB)
2nd Dam: Cassandra Go (Ire), by Indian Ridge (Ire)
3rd Dam: Rahaam, by Secreto
O-Michael B Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier & Derrick Smith; B-Orpendale, Chelston & Wynatt (IRE); T-Aidan P. O'Brien. $340,000. [bullet ad=”irt-shell”]3–Cambodia, 124, m, 5, by War Front
1st Dam: Sassifaction, by Smart Strike
2nd Dam: Lonely Fact, by Known Fact
3rd Dam: Lonely Beach, by Kennedy Road
O-Winter Quarter Farm; B-Don M. Robinson & Maverick Productions, Ltd. (KY); T-Thomas F. Proctor. $180,000.
Margins: 1, 3/4, HD. Odds: 11.20, 5.60, 11.40.
Also Ran: Dacita (Chi), Queen's Trust (GB), War Flag, Lady Eli, Senga, Grand Jete (GB), Nezwaah (GB), Zipessa, Birdie Gold, Goodyearforroses (Ire), Avenge. Scratched: Kitten's Roar, Responsibleforlove (Ire).
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

 

Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.

Copy Article Link

X

Never miss another story from the TDN

Click Here to sign up for a free subscription.