No Breeders' Cup for Holloway Boy as Burke outlines Guineas aim

Holloway Boy will bypass the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland next month with connections already eyeing next year’s Qipco 2,000 Guineas.

Trained by Karl Burke for Nick White, Holloway Boy finished third in the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster on Saturday despite drifting from one side of the course to the other in the closing stages of the mile contest.

Holloway Boy had been a 12-1 shot for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, but Burke indicated a winter break before a Classic campaign was the plan for his talented colt.

“He's not going to America and we've decided instead to give him a break and train him for the Guineas next year – that'll be our big aim,” Burke said. “I was really pleased with him at Doncaster although he's never done anything like what he did in the race before.

“He was maybe in front a bit too soon and I'd have loved Danny [Tudhope] to have gone the other way out of the stalls, but that is what it is. I did think he was going to go with them on the near side to begin with and then he chose the other side.

“I think if he had come near side he'd have travelled every bit as well as the others and then he'd have probably been outstayed in that ground at the end. I think he would have been a good second.”

Holloway Boy wore a visor for the first time when finishing third behind Auguste Rodin and Epictetus and Burke said there was every chance the headgear would be retained next year.

“We'll reassess it in the new year but I certainly wouldn't be against it,” he said. “It seemed to help him in the race and he's just a lazy horse. Danny isn't convinced he needs it, so we'll see.”

The Breeders’ Cup has also been ruled out for Bay Bridge, who had been among the favourites for the Breeders’ Cup Turf, and for Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner Blue Rose Cen, 100-30 favourite for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.

Her trainer Christopher Head said: “The filly has stepped on a stone and made a bruise. Unfortunately, this will not allow her to complete the final stages of training before the race. We are confident Blue Rose Cen will have some great races to run in 2023, perhaps also in the United States.”

Dreamloper: Breeders' Cup Mile the target for dual Group 1 winnerCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

A trip to Keeneland looks on the cards for Dreamloper, though, with trainer Ed Walker likely to opt for the Breeders’ Cup Mile rather than the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf with his dual Group 1 winner.

Writing in the Racing Post Weekender, Walker said: “I'm really looking forward to my first visit to the Breeders' Cup and shemust have a big chance. She'll be nominated for two races at Keeneland but I'm leaning more towards the Mile.

“She didn't stay ten furlongs in the Nassau Stakes and she's very good at a mile – she's probably one of the best in Europe at the trip. I'd rather run her to her strengths than second guess the strength of the opposition.

“I'm amazed she's a 12-1 shot with Kinross at 9-4. I don't care about the prices but I think Dreamloper has got a favourite's chance.”

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