All systems go for Animal Kingdom ahead of the Breeders’ Cup Mile
The 2011 Kentucky Derby winner, Animal Kingdom is certainly on the move, as he has had nine workouts at Fair Hill in Maryland since 21 August, 2012, and the first four workouts have been on dirt and the last five on turf, as all these turf works were justified
when trainer Graham Motion opted for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita’s hillside turf course scheduled to undergo on 3 November, 2012.
Team Valor International’s Animal Kingdom is scheduled to have his final work out ahead of the Breeders’ Cup race on Keeneland’s turf course on 26 October, 2012, and then the very next day he will be flow out to South California from Lexington via a charter.
“I think it might be good for him to get on a van, do something different, maybe get him more focused,” Motion said from Maryland. “He’s been here quite a while and gotten in a routine. I’m all set up there at Keeneland, so I just thought this would be the
best way to put some final touches on his training. I just want him to have an easy, sensible work on a normal, flat turf course before we head out there.”
The son of Leroidesanimaux, Animal Kingdom ran in all three Triple Crown races, and in the Belmont Stakes incurred a hock injury which ruled him out for the rest of the season, and since then the Kentucky bred colt has raced only once, and that too an allowance
optional claimer at Gulfstream Park’s turf course this February.
Animal Kingdom won the 1 1/16 mile event, which served as a prep race for a much ambitious goal by his connections, the Group 1, $10 million Dubai World Cup at the Meydan.
However, it didn’t work out as planned, as Animal Kingdom suffered a pelvic injury while preparing for the Dubai World Cup in March.
On the back of his preparations, Graham Motion and president of Team Valor, Barry Irwin are satisfied with the colt’s progress, and if everything goes according to plan, Animal Kingdom will run in the 2013 Dubai World Cup.
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