Another trip to the Breeders’ Cup is a possibility for Emaraarty Ana after returning to winning ways at Ascot on Saturday.
Kevin Ryan’s consistent speedster had not claimed a victory since tasting Group 1 glory in Haydock’s Betfair Sprint Cup in autumn 2021, but with diligent cheeks and showing plenty of enthusiasm from off the start he produced a gripping performance in the hands of Neil Callan to claim the Listed Rous Stakes in style.
The seven-year-old finished fourth in his first attempt at the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar in 2021 and improved that to second by finding Brad Cox’s American sprint star Caravel a half-length too good at Keeneland last year.
However, with confidence restored at Ascot, the Sheikh Mohammed Obaid-owned sprinter could now have the chance to make it third time in the United States at Santa Anita on November 4.
“To be fair to him, even though he didn’t win last year, he finished second at the Breeders’ Cup and second to Minzaal at Haydock,” said Adam Ryan, his father’s assistant trainer.
“I know people were kind of dismissing him, but Neil pounced on him at York (after the Garrowby Stakes) and said he wasn’t far from what we expect of him, just maybe. -maybe in his old age he became a little “That’s cute. The cheeks obviously did the trick.”
About the Breeders’ Cup, he added: “With a horse like him, we will have to discuss things with our connections and we have to take that into account. But he likes fast ground and showed a lot of natural speed – it looks like that it is getting a little faster, so it would have to be said that this could be considered if everyone agrees.
“He has dined at the top table for most of his career and we know he travels well. He ran a great race there last year and there will be no question marks as to his participation, so we will just have to discuss with our connections and decide what is the best course of action.