Breeders' Cup Turf contender Ulysses could run Saturday at Ascot
The 2017 Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del is the ultimate goal for dual Group 1 winner Ulysses, but another start in Saturday’s QIPCO Champion Stakes at Ascot may be in the cards.
According to The Telegraph, a decision for Ulysses will be made on Thursday. Due to the recent rain at Ascot, some trainers are waiting until the deadline to see how the turf turns out. Racing manager Alan Cooper said the timing between the Champion Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup would be at the forefront of their decision.
Ulysses was fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita Park won by Highland Reel. Back at age 4, the son of Galileo figures to be among the betting favorites next month.
“We’ve said from a long way out the aim is Del Mar,” Cooper told The Telegraph. “It was natural to leave him in this after the Arc. The other thing is the ground and we will have to see what the weather is doing.”
Ulysses was third last out in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, won by the filly Enable. He picked up two Group 1 wins this year in the Coral Eclipse Stakes and the Juddmonte International Stakes. He was also second in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Trainer Sir Michael Stoute prefers a more firm turf course for Ulysses, which will likely be the case in southern California. The surface did not play to Ulysses’s favor in the King George nor the Arc.
Post time for the Champion Stakes, run at 1 1/4 miles, is 10:45 a.m. ET Saturday.
By Christine Oser