BREEDERS' CUP 2011: Ballydoyle Tabs Twelve To Cross The Atlantic

The plans for Ballydoyle, the racing arm of Coolmore, became clearer today when it was announced that So You Think (NZ) would lead a group of twelve horses to Churchill Downs for the 2011 Breeders' Cup. [Link: Brisnet Handicapper's Edge - So You Think pre-entered in Classic] We already knew that So You Think was headed to the Classic, but the plans for the rest of the contenders had yet to be clarified. Now we know.

Not surprisingly, half of the Ballydoyle horses coming to Kentucky are slated to run in one of the juvenile races, led by Royal Lodge winner Daddy Long Legs.  Notably absent from Aidan O'Brien's contingent is Together (IRE), the recent winner of the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland. As you might recall, Together won that race off of a one week lay-off and has raced four times since Sept. 3rd.

Below is a summary of the Ballydoyle horses scheduled to ship to the Breeders' Cup, the races they are expected to pre-enter on Thursday, and then a quick profile of each horse (below the jump).

So You Think (NZ) - He's won three Group 1 races this year  - Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, and the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.  He was 4th in the Arc and 2nd in the Champion Stakes.

Await the Dawn - Just three races to his name in 2011; he won the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Group 3 Huxley Stakes at Chester.  Recently, he was 3rd to Twice Over and Midday in the Group 1 Juddmonte International at York.

St Nicholas Abbey (IRE) - Won the G3-Ormonde Stakes at Chester and the G1-Coronation Cup at Epsom; he beat Midday at Epsom. Most recently, he was 5th in the Arc.

Zofany (IRE) - Ran 2nd to Frankel (GB) at Royal Ascot but threw in two absolute clunkers at Deauville and Keeneland. He is on horrible form right now.

Daddy Long Legs - Just a single race in his career, but it was a good one as he won the G2-Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket on Sept. 24th.

Crusade - Scored a nice win in the G1-Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket on October 8th.

Learn (IRE) - Well beaten to Camelot (GB) in the G1-Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster on Oct 22nd; won a maiden race at Leopardstown on Aug. 4th.

Wrote (IRE) - Finished 3rd to Daddy Long Legs in the Royal Lodge after back-to-back wins against non-group competition at Cork and Galway (Ireland).

Harrison's Cave (GB) - He's never won a group race in his career, but he recently won a 13 furlong handicap at Navan (Ireland). He's run over synthetic (standard) courses in Ireland, so he's not a pure turf horses.

Misty For Me (IRE) - A four-time Group 1 winner, including two in 2011 (Irish 1000 Guineas and Pretty Polly Stakes). In her last race she finished 3rd behind Emulous (GB) and Together (IRE) in the G1-Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.

Homecoming Queen (IRE) - Second in the G3-Park Stakes at the Curragh in between wins in a couple of non-Group events. She's 10-2-1-2 on the year.

Up (IRE) - Recently broke her maiden at Dundalk over a synthetic surface.