Blast from the Past: 2009 Breeders’ Cup Turf

Sir Michael Stoute is a master trainer of slow-developing staying types, and Conduit was a terrific example of the Freemason Lodge handler’s prowess with a slow developer. The son of Dalakhani didn’t make his debut until the August of his two-year-old season, breaking his maiden tag at the third attempt at Wolverhampton five weeks later, but he went on to become a top-class performer. The 2009 edition of Racehorses picks up Conduit’s story towards the end of his second season…

“Conduit won one of the strongest St Legers for years - his thirteen rivals included Irish Derby winner Frozen Fire and Oaks winner Look Here - and he followed up to crown his three-year-old campaign with a top-class performance to win the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita. Conduit had always been well thought of, but he hadn't taken up any of the big-race entries made for him as a two-year-old, getting off the mark on the all-weather at Wolverhampton on the last of three starts as a juvenile. He progressed hand-over-fist as a three-year-old, however, after winning a handicap by six lengths at Epsom on Derby Day, his stable running Chester Vase winner Doctor Fremantle and Dee Stakes winner Tajaaweed in the Derby, as well as Tartan Bearer who had won the Dante. Conduit ended the campaign the highest-rated horse in his stable and the highest-rated of the European-trained three-year-olds that remained in training.”

Kept in training as a four-year-old, Conduit finished placed in the Brigadier Gerard and Eclipse, both at Sandown, before leading home stablemates Tartan Bearer and Ask in a 1-2-3 for Stoute in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot that July. Conduit was kept fresh for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp (creditable two and a quarter lengths fourth to Sea The Stars, staying on well) 10 weeks later, and was then aimed firmly at America once more…

“While there was much speculation about whether or not Sea The Stars would go on to the Breeders' Cup, Conduit's ticket to Santa Anita had already been booked and paid for. The Breeders' Cup Turf has become something of a benefit for European runners and Conduit's second victory - emulating the double achieved by Ballydoyle with High Chaparral - took the score to fourteen and a half victories for Europe and eleven and a half to North America (including the dead-heat in 2003, when High Chaparral achieved his second victory). Unlike the previous year, Conduit ran on lasix, permitted medication in the States - but not in Europe - which is ostensibly used on horses who have bled in the lungs. The race was not a vintage renewal and the field of seven was the smallest in the race's history. Conduit started at odds on and won in workmanlike fashion, briefly stumbling and becoming unbalanced after improving between horses rounding the home turn before catching front-running Presious Passion inside the final furlong to win by half a length, with European runners Dar Re Mi, Spanish Moon and Red Rocks third, fourth and fifth. Conduit's was one of a record six victories at the Breeders' Cup meeting for European-trained challengers.”