Audarya on course to clash with Teona in bid for back-to-back Breeders' Cup wins

Leading mare Audarya is on target for a historic bid to land back-to-back runnings of the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar next month.

James Fanshawe's flagbearer ran down Rushing Fall in the $2 million contest a year ago when the championships were staged at Keeneland.

The only horse ever to win the Filly & Mare Turf twice was the mighty Ouija Board in 2004 and 2006. She also finished second in 2005 when the race was staged at Belmont Park.

Audayra has enjoyed another productive campaign this season, finishing second to Love in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and filling the same position when just touched off in the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet at Deauville in August.

Owned by Alison Swinburn, the five-year-old weakened only close home when finishing a close fourth in the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera on heavy ground at Longchamp on October 3.

James Fanshawe: 'Audarya seems in good form and we're hopeful of going'Credit: Edward Whitaker

Connections had been considering whether to retire Audarya but having returned from Paris in top form, she is likely to run for the final time at Del Mar on November 6.

Fanshawe, who was enjoying Breeders' Cup success for the first time a year ago, said: "We're on schedule to go back to the Breeders' Cup with Audarya, although a final decision will be made at the weekend.

"She seems to have recovered well from Longchamp where she got stuck in very soft ground which she won't be getting at Del Mar. It will be a very different trip this year but she seems in good form and we're hopeful of going."

Another runner in the mix for the Filly & Mare Turf is Group 1 Prix Vermeille winner Teona, who bypassed an intended crack at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe after the ground at Longchamp went against her.

The Roger Varian-trained filly has worked nicely in Newmarket since that missed engagement and is expected to encounter her favoured fast ground in California.

Teona is a general 6-1 chance, with Audarya priced at 8-1 behind US-trained favourite War Like Goddess, who heads the market at 4-1.

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