Scarborough Has His Eyes On Santa Anita
Friday, 24 October 2008:  | | Bob Scarborough |
The Scarborough-owned mare Mauralakana will contest the $US2 million Breeders Cup Fillies and Mares Turf at Santa Anita, to be run on Saturday morning Australian time.
Scarborough bought the 5YO Mauralakana, by Muhtathir, at the 2007 Keeneland November breeding stock sale for $US900,000 with the object of bringing her to Australia for breeding at his Wood Nook Stud in Victoria.
She was to arrive three months ago but those plans quickly changed when she won five stakes race for Scarborough capped by her victory in the G1 Beverley D Stakes at Arlington in Chicago in August.
The Beverly D success gave the Christophe Clement-trained mare automatic entry to the Filly and Mare Turf.
“The Beverly D. was the changing point," Scarborough told Bloodhorse.
"She stepped up to grade I class, at that stage you go forward because you don't get too many opportunities to finish up a career in the Breeders' Cup."
"I've had many Group 1 experiences but to be in the Breeders' Cup with a mare who I will later have the progeny of is terribly important," Scarborough said.
Mauralakana has already had one shot at the BC F & M Turf, finishing seventh for her previous ownership in the 2006 event at Churchill Downs.
Mauralakana, a 5/1 chance in pre post betting, has won mnoe than $Us1 million prizemoney since she was purchased by Scarborough.
With the Cox Plate the priority for Scarborough, his son Nick will represent him at the Breeders Cup with five wins and two seconds from seven starts in his colours.
Mauralakana will be bred to a Northern Hemisphere sire before she is shipped to Australia.
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