Wuheida © Eclipse Sportswire
DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 4, 2017) – Godolphin Stable’s Wuheida ($24.40) took charge at the top of the stretch from Zipessa and held off a late bid from Rhododendron by a length to win the 19th running of the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) Saturday afternoon at Del Mar racetrack.
Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, Wuheida covered the 1 1/8 miles on a firm turf course in 1:47.91. Wuheida is a 3-year-old Great Britain-bred daughter of Dubawi who was getting her first victory of 2017 in five tries.
She was forced to miss a scheduled start in Keeneland’s Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on Oct. 14 because of a minor hoof injury.
The victory was the first for Buick in a Breeders’ Cup race and the second for Appleby but first in this race.
Rhododendron finished three-quarters of a length in front of Cambodia, who finished third with favored Lady Eli finishing seventh.
Winning trainer Charlie Appleby (Wuheida) – “She deserves this. This ground suited her.”
Winning jockey William Buick (Wueheida) – “She is incredibly professional. She has lots of ability and the trip really suited her. I was happy with her position throughout the race and she quickened down the straight really well.”
Second-place trainer Aidan O’Brien (Rhododendron) – “It’s always tougher from a wide draw, but she ran well and I’m delighted with her.”
Second-place jockey Ryan Moore (Rhododendron) – “They didn’t go quick enough. She rolled a bit in the straight, but she is very brave.”
Third-place jockey Drayden Van Dyke (Cambodia) – “I had a perfect trip. No excuses. She ran great.”
Trainer Chad Brown (Dacita, 4th, Lady Eli, 7th as favorite & Grand Jete, 9th) – “Irad (Ortiz) said he got bumped pretty hard on the first turn and he dropped in. Then he got a little cover and then it seemed like she got him from behind again but she did have some clear run. She had a rough trip and did have clear spots to run and she just didn’t have it today. I don’t know if all the bumping discouraged her or she just didn’t have from some reason today. She’s never done that before obviously. It’s quite a surprise to me, it’s unfortunate but that’s horse racing.”
Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr (Lady Eli, 7th as favorite) – “Going into the first turn out of the chute she got a little bump and got rank. She was a little keen and I had to fight a little bit with her. After that I had a good trip. She didn’t give me that same kick in the end.”
Trainer Sir Michael Stoute (Queen’s Trust, 5th) – “She ran well, but it didn’t go quite right for her in the race. Although, she was running on at the finish. She may just lack instant acceleration and maybe needs a little further.”
Jockey Andrea Atzeni (Nezwaah, 10th) – “She was in a good position behind ht ewinner, but she just flattened out in the stretch. She’s had two runs on soft ground and they’ve taken their toll a little. And, her travel schedule from Canada was tough on her. She has not had a lucky year.”