Breeders' Cup 2017 contenders Churchill, Highland Reel to Coolmore
European contenders in the Breeders’ Cup’s two richest races appear set to make their career finales this weekend.
Coolmore announced Classic runner Churchill and Turf favorite Highland Reel, the race’s defending winner, will stand in Ireland in 2018 along with Caravaggio, known domestically for his win in Keeneland’s Grade 1 Phoenix Stakes.
Fees for Churchill and Highland Reel are to be announced given they’ll make two of their careers’ biggest starts Saturday at Del Mar.
In the $6 million Classic, Churchill will move from turf to dirt for trainer Aidan O’Brien. The experiment didn’t work well last time, when O’Brien-trained Gleneagles finished last in the 2015 Classic. But Churchill enters in fine form having run third over soft ground — not his preferred type of turf — in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes Oct. 21 at Ascot.
Contending again for the $4 million Turf, Highland Reel ran third in the QIPCO Champion Stakes, the headliner the same day at Ascot. He’s twice a Group 1 winner this year following last year’s 1 3/4-length score in the Turf at Santa Anita.
Post position draws for all Breeders’ Cup races are set for Monday.