Conduit Tops In Turf

Sir Michael Stoute's Ladbrokes St Leger winner Conduit ran out a hugely impressive winner of the Breeders' Cup Turf to give Ryan Moore his first winner at the showpiece meeting.

Red Rock Canyon set a fierce gallop for stablemate Soldier Of Fortune and it was the latter who made an aggressive move three furlongs out.

Kevin Shea looked to have done everything right on Eagle Mountain who cruised into the lead and looked all over the winner.

However, Moore timed his run to perfection on the Classic winner who found the drop back in trip to a mile and a half no problem at all to give Stoute his third win in the race.

Moore said: "They did go fast early on and I know that he stays really well and he's improving.

"I wasn't sure I'd get to them early on but they were stopping when we turned in. I switched outside and he found his stride."

Stoute added: "He's a good-actioned horse and I had no qualms about the ground."

Moore added: "I rode him to make the best use of his proven stamina and when he picked up he really flew.

"After the Derby this is the best race to win for me."

O'Brien said of Soldier Of Fortune: "He ran well but on reflection I think he needed a bit more time than the three weeks between this race and the Arc. Hopefully he'll carry on next year."

Murtagh added: "It's just one of those days."

Dettori said of Red Rocks: "He had a couple of problems prior to the race and I was beaten at the half-mile pole."

Smullen said of Dermot Weld's Winchester: "He was just a little bit disappointing, he didn't pick up as well as I'd hoped and there are no excuses. It was a true mile and a half race in every sense."

Peter Reynolds, racing manager for Conduit's owners Ballymacoll Stud, said: "He was going to retire (for the season) after the St Leger but Michael said he was so well that it would be worth considering spending a couple of hundred thousand dollars and hope to get the prize money back. It worked.

"We've a lot of time to think about the horse's future.

"We're lucky, it's a wonderful thrill and honour for us."

Stoute, comparing Conduit with his previous Turf winners Pilsudski and Kalanisi, went on: "He's a very promising horse, a three-year-old; Pilsudski was four and Kalanisi was four as well.

"He keeps getting better this horse, that's the exciting thing about him.

"The plan is to keep this fella in training as a four-year-old."

He added: "The jockey rode a masterful race and had him in the right position.

"When he asked him, the jockey got him into gear and I thought from a long way out that he was going to come and pick them up and he did.

"I was not worried about the heat today because he's a young horse and quite fit.

"Ryan is rushing to get a plane for France because he's riding at Longchamp tomorrow. I'm thrilled for him. He's just 25, he's a got a good racing brain and he's a big talent and you'll be hearing a lot more of him (in the USA)."