Bacio blitzes Turf Sprint rivals at Keeneland
Royal Ascot and Nunthorpe hero turns it on at his home track.
Bacio cemented himself as one of the world’s leading sprinters when proving unstoppable on home soil in the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland.
Having successfully beaten some of the best speedsters Europe has to offer with blistering displays at both Royal Ascot and when dazzling in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York, it was time for the raiders to step into the backyard of Wesley Ward’s pacey son of Maclean’s Music.
Away quickly with Karl Burke’s Prix de l’Abbaye winner Miss Yechance matching strides under young Jack Nicholls, Bacio slipped an extra gear entering the stretch, with Juan Hernandez able to soak up the adulation from the bumper home crowd as Bacio cruised the line in splendid isolation.
Last year’s Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Cy Fair made it a one-two for the US, with Ralph Beckett’s former winner Starlust the best of the Europeans in third.
Bacio runs in the colours of the MyRacehorse micro-syndicate, and Ward said: “He’s a special horse and was a sought after horse, but my daughter in law put together a syndicate to keep him in our barn.
“It’s so nice to have thousands of owners in this horse and then to win at the Breeders’ Cup with him.
“Our sport needs all the help it can get and he is a big boost to it.”
He went on: “He’s not a big horse, but is quick and agile like a cat.
“He really stood well (in the gate) today and Juan got him out and got him going. When we got off clean I was feeling really good.
“We have big plans for him going to Australia in February (Lightning Stakes at Flemington) and he will go into quarantine for that this evening.
“I hope he can go there and conquer something we never have, and we will of course be going back to Britain.”
Hernandez – winning his first Breeders’ Cup race – said: “When I was riding in California everyone told me I must stay with this horse and he would win a Breeders’ Cup for Wes.
“He was all fired and ready to break out of the gate and I was in front at the second jump.
“Down the back he was trying to go faster, but he came back to me and off the turn switched leads and took off again.
“I think three times I was beaten by a nose, but I will work hard and hope I can get more wins at the Breeders’ Cup.”
Billy Loughnane was fifth aboard Donnacha O’Brien’s dual Group One winner Comanche Brave and said: “It was a bit tight for him, while Bacio had experience of the track.
“I would love to take him on in a straight line. We will see the best of him next year.”