Tiburtina sent to seek recompense in California

Tiburtina, the Sylvester Kirk-trained filly who lost a Listed contest at Cologne in September in the stewards' room, has been sent to the States to seek compensation for that sore reverse.

She runs in the $100,000 Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes at Del Mar on Saturday, and Kirk revealed it is unlikely to be the end of her American odyssey.

"We'll see what the travelling has taken out of her, but the intention is to stay there over the winter and maybe for good," he said. "She's only a small filly and the owners decided it would be better to try her over there than keep going here and maybe keep banging their head against the wall, finishing third and fourth."

Tiburtina will still run under Kirk's name on Saturday, and is being looked after by stable apprentice Mitch Godwin, but should she stay in the US she will find a permanent home with Patrick Gallagher.

Of the race, Kirk said: "If she can show the form she has over here she'll be competitive, as it doesn't look as strong as a Group 3 would be in Europe. She has the style for the American tracks, too, and we've got Victor Espinoza to ride. He can usually do a job!"

Tiburtina's main rivals could be minor-stakes winners How About Zero, who won on the Breeders' Cup undercard at Santa Anita earlier in the month, and With Honors. Both have earnings around the $150,000 mark, which illustrates the potential upside to Tiburtina's move should it materialise.