by Mike Curry
Rip Van Winkle confirmed his Group 1 class on Saturday at Ascot and cemented his credentials as a leading contender for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) with a dominant performance in the Sony Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Eng-G1).
The bay Galileo (Ire) colt earned a breakthrough win at the highest level in the BGC Sussex Stakes (Eng-G1) in his previous start on July 29 at Goodwood. At Ascot, he proved he is an improving three-year-old and a force to be reckoned with approaching the major fall races.
From the Ballydoyle stable of trainer Aidan O’Brien, Rip Van Winkle stalked Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (Fr-G1) winner Aqlaam from second under Johnny Murtagh, took charge on cue with more than a quarter-mile remaining, and drove to a 1 1/4-length score. He completed one mile in 1:38.82 on turf rated as good to secure a starting spot in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) on November 7 at the Oak Tree at Santa Anita Park meeting via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge "Win and You’re In" series. His connections, however, are leaning toward pointing Rip Van Winkle to the Classic.
“We’ll really look forward to the Breeders’ Cup Classic with him because he’s a horse that cruises and stays," O'Brien said. "His preparation was interrupted coming into this and, hopefully, we’ll get a smooth run through to the Classic.
“Rip Van Winkle is not just a good horse, he’s a great horse. He’s brave, he stays, and his biggest asset is his class and early speed. We didn’t run a pacemaker today because he would have had to have been a Group 1 sprinter to have led them, and we don’t have a horse fast enough to do that. So it was brilliant that it worked out today with Aqlaam going on. Johnny rode a masterful race on him."
Rip Van Winkle improved to four wins in eight starts for owners Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith. Out of the stakes-placed Stravinsky mare Looking Back, Rip Van Winkle could get another shot at dual classic winner Sea The Stars in the Breeders’ Cup. Sea The Stars defeated Rip Van Winkle in each of their three meetings this season in the Stanjames.com Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1), Investec Epsom Derby (Eng-G1), and Coral Eclipse Stakes (Eng-G1).
“I think the Breeders’ Cup Classic will be the ideal race for Rip Van Winkle,” Murtagh said. “He’ll love the track at Santa Anita, the distance is right, and he has the tactical speed to go round there.”
Earlier on the Ascot card, two-year-olds Hibaayeb and Joshua Tree wrapped up starting spots in the Breeders’ Cup via the challenge series.
Seeking her first career victory, Hibayeeb surged to the front from the inside in the final furlong and powered to a three-quarter-length win in the Meon Valley Stud Fillies’ Mile Stakes (Eng-G1). Trained by Clive Brittain for owner Mohammed Jumah Al Nabouda, the Singspeil (Ire) filly completed the mile in 1:39.78 to earn a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on November 6 at Santa Anita.
“I’ll talk to the owners and if they want to take her to America, I’ll see how the filly is; she’ll tell us whether she wants to go,” Brittain said. “She’s gone from one step to the next and never stopped improving. Whatever she does this year, I think the [Epsom] Oaks (Eng-G1) could be on the cards for her next season.”
Hibaayeb entered off a runner-up finish in the DFS May Hill Stakes (Eng-G2) on September 11 at Doncaster.
Lady Darshaan finished second with You’ll Be Mine another 1 1/2 lengths back in third. Long Lashes faded late to finish eighth as the 5-to-2 favorite.
Joshua Tree closed with a sustained rush in his third career start to win the Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Eng-G2) by 1 1/4 lengths under Colm O’Donoghue. He wrapped up a spot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) on November 7 with the victory, covering a mile in 1:39.55.
“All the races like that are under consideration and come into the equation but we won’t be in a hurry with him,” said O’Brien, who trains the Montjeu (Ire) colt for Magnier, Tabor, and Smith. “He’s a lovely moving horse and appreciated the decent ground and pace today.”
Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor