Emerald Downs Champion Noosa Beach inches closer towards Breeders’ Cup 2011
The time has come, the bigger stage beckons, and, Noosa Beach and her connections are hopeful that the Emerald Downs champion will be voted for a selection in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
The five year old brown gelding has more than a chance to appear in the Breeders’ Cup when owner, Jeff Howard, declared that he will pay the open enrolment nomination fee, which is worth $25,000, and, that he will meet the deadline, which is 30 June.
That means he is ready to gamble on his gelding and said that he is 99% sure that Noosa Beach will run in the Breeders’ Cup dirt mile.
It is a massive opportunity for Noosa Beach at the bigger stage and it doesn’t get bigger than the Breeders’ Cup. Sired by Harbor the Gold, Noosa Beach has been impressing crowds at Emerald Downs where he won his record tying tenth stakes race.
He has never been able to impress at the big stage simply because the opportunity did not knock on his door. Noosa Beach’s stellar performances have prompted owner, Jeff Howard, and, trainer Doris Howard to enrol their horse in the year’s Breeders’ Cup dirt
mile, which is to be held at Churchill Downs, on, 4th to 5th November, 2011.
On the last outing at Emerald Downs, Noosa Beach showed that he is the king of dirt and whatever may come, be it dry, or, wet, Noosa Beach buckles up on dirt and shows what he’s worth.
The dirt mile at the Breeders’ Cup will certainly suit him but if he gets in he will face competition on an international level and it will be tough but it’s a gamble both trainer and owner are more than happy to take.
Trainer, Doris Harwood, said that just because we pay an enrolment nomination fee before the deadline, it still does not ensure that Noosa Beach will run in this years’ Breeders’ Cup dirt mile.
A committee votes for the horse whether it will race in the Breeders’ Cup, or, not and the inclusion is not solely based on the fee that has to be paid. The only thing keeping Noosa Beach from entering the Breeders’ Cup dirt mile is the nomination and votes.
If the former happens one has to believe in Noosa Beach’s ability, and, track record, that he will get the vote.
Noosa Beach has had 19 starts and from those starts he has won 13 times. A remarkable record indeed and it would be brilliant to see if Noosa Beach has enough juice in his batteries to fire in the Breeders’ Cup dirt mile despite the competition and the massive
reputation looming over trainers and horses of the Breeders’ Cup.
Tags: