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Pavel plays on his nerves and powers home for Stephen Foster victory

Pavel: finished fourth in the Dubai World Cup this year
Pavel: finished fourth in the Dubai World Cup this yearCredit: Edward Whitaker

Report: USA, Sunday

Churchill Downs | Stephen Foster Handicap | Grade 1 | 1m1f | dirt | 3yo+

Doug O'Neill's decision to allow Pavel to become worked up prior to his latest Grade 1 assignment paid off handsomely, as the four-year-old surged to a maiden victory at the highest level.

The son of Creative Cause was allowed to run on his nerves, with O'Neill understanding that to get to the colt to perform to his best, he had to be allowed to become edgy.

"Most horses don't run their race when they get worked up," O'Neill told the blood-horse. "But we realised Pavel does.

"We had really hoped he would get all worked up, because in the past when he's won, he'd get lathered up and washed out. He did tonight, and he ran his race."

Rather than try and calm down Pavel pre-race, O'Neill allowed him to become keyed up, and added: "I think, as horsemen, when you get a horse that gets worked up, you do everything to calm them: school them, put cotton in their ears, whatever you can do to get them relaxed.

"We took all that off of the table and said, 'You know what? We are going to lead him over here, and he'll be however he's going to be, and that's when he's on his best'."

Drawn widest of all in stall nine, Pavel had to race on the outside throughout, alongside favourite Backyard Heaven for much of the race.


Stephen Foster result


Chad Brown's odds-on shot briefly put his head in front on the final turn, but Pavel swept past instantly, and pulled clear in the stretch from the chasing pack.

Backyard Heaven faded into sixth, with Honorable Duty taking second while Matrooh was third. Graham Motion's Irish War Cry, who was prominent for the first half of the race, was pulled up by Jose Ortiz having been adversely affected by the hot and humid conditions at the track.

Last year Pavel finished tenth of 11 behind Gun Runner in the Breeders' Cup Classic, and O'Neill suggested that race could be on his agenda again.

David BaxterReporter

Published on 17 June 2018inInternational

Last updated 13:17, 17 June 2018

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