Queally steers Midday to Santa Anita success Midday, third in the Irish Oaks at The Curragh earlier this year, gave the legendary Henry Cecil his first Breeders' Cup success in the Emirates Airline Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita tonight. Despite being at the top of the game in England for decades, the Newmarket handler had failed to hit the target at America's showpiece event. But given a textbook ride by young Co Waterford man Tom Queally, who has come of age this season, Cecil's filly stamped her authority on the race over a furlong out. The 15-8 favourite had plenty in hand over the fast-finishing Pure Clan, with last year's winner Forever Together third. Visit, formerly trained by Sir Michael Stoute but now in the hands of Bobby Frankel, set only a steady pace up front. Queally was content to sit a few lengths off the pace early on but when John Velazquez attempted to quicken the pace, he was alert to the move. Going down the back straight, Queally, having his first ever ride at the meeting, moved up on the rails to sit just off the lead and asked his mount for everything turning into the straight. The response was not immediate but when she began to kick into top gear, the daughter of champion sprinter Oasis Dream soon put daylight between her pursuers to win well at the death. Cecil said: "The main thing was to have a nice position and when she hit the straight she could go for home. "But after my first runner (Father Time), who I really fancied (in the Marathon), didn't run very well I was just wondering what was going to happen." Owner Khalid Abdullah confirmed Midday will stay in training as a four-year-old. He said: "She will go back to Europe next year and she will compete, she will continue." Queally said: "This crowns my year. Even if she had run well but not won it would have topped a great season, but this is the icing on the cake. "She is a peculiar filly as she has loads of class and a great turn of foot but she does hit flat spots. "She came off the bridle but that didn't worry me as I knew she would respond when I asked her. "I knew there wasn't a lot of pace in the race and I didn't want to give too much ground to the leaders. "Henry told me to keep it simple and I knew she had heart, attitude and the ability to dig deep when it mattered."
