Danie Toerien - Neither Captain’s Ransom nor Jet Dark will be heading to the USA despite earning a guaranteed starting spot in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held on November 4 and 5 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky.
Jet Dark earned an automatic berth into the $2-million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) with his victory in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate (G1) over 1600m at Kenilworth, while Captain’s Ransom gained a free starting position into the $2-million Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) with her victory in the Cartier Paddock Stakes (G1).
Both horses are trained by Justin Snaith.
“We did consider it, but the transport is impossible,” said Snaith “It’s very sad, but the export protocols make it almost impossible, as we saw with Queen Supreme last year.
“In a dream world you only have about a 20% chance of getting it right. But there will inevitably be some hiccups, so that will bring your chances of success down to say 5%. Do you take that risk with a top horse? No.
“Unfortunately, with regard to the export protocol, instead of it becoming easier, it has actually become harder.
“I’m probably the trainer at the front of the line who wants to take on overseas horses, but in the last ten years it’s become harder, not easier,” said Snaith.
Now in its 15th season, the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.
As a part of the benefits of the Challenge series, the Breeders’ Cup would have paid the pre-entry and entry fees for Jet Dark and Captain’s Ransom to start in the Fan Duel Breeders’ Cup Mile and the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, respectively.
Breeders’ Cup would also have provided a $40,000 travel allowance each for both Jet Dark and Captain’s Ransom to compete in the Championships as they are based outside North America. The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of 24 October this year.
The Breeders’ Cup World Championships consist of 14 Championship races over two days. – additional information from breederscup.com