Cercene rated '50-50' to take up Breeders' Cup challenge Joe Murphy had a winner at Tipperary yesterday when Grey Leader recorded the fifth victory of his career and the Fethard trainer had news of stable star Cercene who has the option of running at the Breeders' Cup meeting in Del Mar next month. The daughter of Australia gave Murphy a famous victory in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot in June before finishing second in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood. On her latest outing she was beaten three lengths when fifth to Fallen Angel in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown. She holds an engagement in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf over 1m3f on Saturday November 1st and would be a first runner at the meeting for the trainer.  Murphy, who has good chances in the first two races at Killarney this afternoon with market leaders Alphecca and Lady Lilac, said of Cercene: “We’re 50-50 whether we go to America or not. Her coat has gone off a little bit which is natural given the time of year. "She came out of her race in Leopardstown brilliant, but at this time of the year fillies can go over a week. She’ll only go if she is 101%. "She'll probably do a bit of work on Tuesday morning and we’ll make a decision at the end of the week.  "It'll be Del Mar or nothing this year.  "If she doesn't go to Del Mar, she'll be coming back racing next year and will be staying with us. We'd have races like the Pretty Polly in mind, and maybe the Nassau again, those type of races over a mile and two (furlongs). "We'll see about a mile and a half but we'll definitely be going in the mile-twos." Additional reporting by Alan Magee 
