clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Point of Entry to Focus on North American Campaign

The winner of the G1-Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap will not travel to Dubai.

Little Mike edges Point of Entry for the BC Turf at Santa Anita in November 2012.
Little Mike edges Point of Entry for the BC Turf at Santa Anita in November 2012.
Harry How

He was not nominated for the Dubai World Cup, but was nominated for the Sheema Classic, worth $5 million. I'm not surprised actually. I think he's better suited staying stateside and making a run at not only the Turf Horse of the Year, but if he can put together a dominant campaign on the grass and grab the G1-Woodford, G1-Arlington Million, and ultimately the G1-Breeders Cup Turf, perhaps he could succeed Wise Dan as the Horse of the Year. (by the way, how impressive would that be, winning those three giant G1 races on the grass? Wait, Little Mike did that! But he walked away with nothing at the end of the year.)

There are a number of runners that are better suited than Point of Entry to go to Meydan and try to nab a big race; Animal Kingdom being one of them. I think Dullahan should head over and try to win the World Cup. I'm not sure there is a better Synthetic runner out there right now than Dullahan. But Point of Entry has a legitimate chance to completely dominate the Classic Turf division this year. In fact, I think Dullahan would be a really smart play in the World Cup. He's show the ability to beat top class runners on synthetic and has a completely different turn of foot on synthetics and even set a NTR at Del Mar in the G1-Pacific Classic this past summer. But I digress.

What I would like is for PoE to take a shot at a major European race sometime this summer. The G1-Woodford is a logical spot for him to run on Derby Day, which is May 4th this year. PoE's connections have already expressed interest in a run in the G1-Arlington Million, which is August 17th. What lies right between the two in mid-June? Royal Ascot.

Perhaps a run in the G1-Prince of Wales stakes run at a mile and quarter? I would really love to see this. You would be hard pressed to find an American-based turf runner with stronger racing credentials as Point of Entry over the last few years. But alas, the only owners that seem even remotely interested at shipping to Europe to take a shot at a big race are the Ramseys.

Right now we have some phenomenal turf runners in Wise Dan, Point of Entry, and Little Mike. I would love to see any of them head to Europe to try to prove themselves against the best turf horses in the world, but Point of Entry would be the one to go and try to nab a major classic distance race on the lawn if I had a say.