The Breeders’ Cup, which is going to be held in Santa Anita on November 4, is the richest Equestrian turf race in the United States. While it was extremely difficult to get in, prodigy King of Steel, a Kentucky-bred colt, avoided a hefty $50,000 entry fee for its owner by winning it.
The son of retired veteran Wootton Bassett and mare Eldacar, he is a 3-year-old colt with winnings of over 2 million and 600 thousand dollars in the 3 years that he has raced. With valuable genetics from his parents, the young colt succeeded in the Breeders Cup, but what are the problems he is facing now?
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King of Steel’s Breeders Cup Dilemma
On Saturday, King of Steel with Jockey Frankie Dettori won Group 1 of the Champion Stakes. While this makes it possible for the colt to enter the Breeders Cup, trainer Roger Varian said that it will not be determined until next week. His reasons for saying so were due to King of Steel’s placement in the dirt field.
This could become a problem, as in all his seven-race career, King of Steel has never raced on a dirt field. “The storm is our priority,” said Roger. While it was an ordeal, Roger said that he would assess the condition of the horse before making any further decisions.
It depends completely on the condition of the colt as to whether it will be flown to California next week or not. “We’ll make a decision later in the week,” Roger said. “It’s too soon. That’s the reason we can’t answer any questions seriously,” she added further. Varian said that preliminary indications are that King of Steel has recovered from his win on Saturday, showing no loss of appetite.
High Hopes: Equestrian Community’s Anticipation
“He has a great constitution,” commented Roger upon his preliminary observations. “He’s good and sound,” he added optimistically. The Breeders’ Cup is a competition where the large entry fee of $50,000 prohibits many horses from entering. Here, not having to pay is a great advantage to the horse and its owners. As said by Roger “That’s a good position to be in.”.
The horse is not only a prodigy by skills but a great partner too. It was the first time that his jockey, Frankie Dettori, rode with him in the championship stakes. The duo’s flawless combination allowed them to conquer all and snatch victory.
With its condition not optimum, King of Steel is keeping many equestrian fans in anticipation of its participation in the Breeders Cup. His being paired with arguably the most popular rider, Frankie Dettori, just increased the excitement that people had. With him getting a hard-earned entry into the Breeders Cup, it’s difficult for trainer Roger to take away his opportunity. Will he be able to run, or will the fans witness him missing the opportunity of a lifetime?
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Edited by
Shifa Jahan