Cercene to return next year as Breeders’ Cup bid ruled out

Cercene will stay in training as a four-year-old after trainer Joe Murphy decided against a trip to the Breeders’ Cup with his Royal Ascot heroine.

The daughter of Australia gave her handler a day to remember when holding off Zarigana for Coronation Stakes glory and has consistently held her own against the best around all season.

With the majority of Cercene’s appearances coming over a mile this term, connections had toyed with the idea of stretching out to a mile and three furlongs for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar.

However, the decision has been made to pull stumps for the current campaign, before exploring options up in distance next season.

Murphy said: “She’s changed in her coat very quickly over the last week, so we’re not going to run her at the Breeders’ Cup and that’s her done for the year now.

“She will stay in training next year and I think races like the Tattersalls Gold Cup and Pretty Polly Stakes will be on the agenda.”

Cercene appeared six times in total during 2025 and although her only victory came at Royal Ascot, she finished outside the first three only once and placed in both the Irish 1,000 Guineas and Nassau Stakes at Group One-level.