Cymric & Birchwood Up For Juvenile Turf

Time/Date - 15.30hrs local time/Friday, October 30, 2015
Racecourse/Country - Keeneland/USA
Surface/Distance - Turf/1m

Cymric and Birchwood go after G1 success in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf over a mile on day one of the Breeders' Cup meeting, staged this year at Keeneland, USA, on Friday, October 30.

The Godolphin duo have already proved themselves among Europe's top two-year-old colts.

Cymric (John Gosden/William Buick) stayed on strongly when just failing by a short-neck to beat Ultra in the mile G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere Sponsored By Al Hazm at Longchamp, France, on October 4.

The son of Kitten's Joy won two seven-furlong events at Sandown Park, UK, and in between was third over the same distance in the G3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at York, UK, on August 19.

Birchwood (Richard Fahey/James Doyle), a Dark Angel colt, steps up to a mile following three appearances over seven furlongs, most recently when finishing third in the G1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh, Ireland, on September 13.

He came home a close fifth after meeting trouble in the G2 Qatar Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, UK, on July 28 and broke the course record with an impressive win in the G2 bet365 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket, UK, on July 11.

John Gosden said: "Cymric is well and should be fine on the ground but being drawn 13 is not good news."

Richard Fahey commented: "Birchwood travelled over to Keeneland well and has settled in nicely.

"There has to be a question mark over whether he'll stay a mile at this stage of his career but he would have a chance of doing so around two turns.

"He's a very good two-year-old and looks to be in really good form."

Barry O'Dowd, travelling head lad to John Gosden, said: "The trip over was uneventful for Cymric, he has settled in fine and is doing light exercise in the mornings."

Cymric, drawn 13, and Birchwood, exiting from stall six, oppose 12 other two-year-olds including G3 Dixiana Bourbon Stakes winner Airoforce, Irish Listed victor Hit It A Bomb and G2 With Anticipation Stakes scorer Azar.