Gio Ponti to tackle European talent yet again, this time to defend his title in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland
After finishing second best to Aidan O’Brien trained Irish invader Cape Blanco, now retired, in his last two races, the 6-year-old horse Gio Ponti will defend his title in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile on 8 October, at Keeneland against imports.
The Grade 1 $400,000 Shadwell Mile Turf is also a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” race for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Churchill Downs on 5 November, 2011.
This time around Christophe Clement trained Gio Ponti will face Edward Vaughn trained Irish bred Dance and Dance, who is coming off a difficult trip in the Grade 1 Woodbine mile at Woodbine on 18 September, where he finished sixth.
Though in Great Britain, Dance and Dance improved his form, and prior to the Woodbine Mile he was coming off a strong second place finish in the Group 3 Totepool Sovereign Stakes on 11 August, 2011.
It was a difficult beginning for Dance and Dance in the Woodbine Mile under jockey Jamie Spencer, where he had a poor start and initially was last in the field of 12.
He produced a good rally in the end, but couldn’t manoeuvre well enough to tackle with the traffic which halted him to finish 6th 1 ¾ lengths behind the winner Turallure.
Despite losing Cape Blanco, Aidan O’Brien is throwing his wild card, Zoffany, in the mix, as he comes off a run in France where he ran at a distance of 6 ½ furlongs but was eased in that race on 7 August.
Looking at the entrants, the $600,000 Shadwell Turf Mile will be two dimensional, where Get Stormy, Sidney’s Candy and Wise Dan will inject speed in the race, looking to get away right from the get go.
On the other hand, we have the late runners with the likes of Dance and Dance, Gio Ponti and TajAaweed, who would come off the pace and with their known turn off foots will look to take down the sprinters.
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