Twice in the last five years, the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint has gone to a horse coming from Europe, with Glass Slippers breaking through for the international set in 2020 at Keeneland, and Starlust upsetting the race last year at Del Mar. The international contingent coming to Del Mar for this year’s renewal will become clearer after this weekend, with who runs – or doesn’t run – on British Champions Day Saturday playing a role.
The international candidates for the Turf Sprint, prior to the pre-entry stage, include European hopefuls Arizona Blaze, Big Mojo, Bucanero Fuerte, Mgheera, Rosy Affair, and She’s Quality; English-based Khaadem, who has been training in Kentucky since August; and Japanese candidates Invincible Papa and Puro Magic.
Big Mojo and Rosy Affair both currently hold entries to the Group 1 British Champions Sprint on Saturday at Ascot. Of Big Mojo, trainer Mick Appleby said the weather and course conditions in England will make the decision as to whether the Group 1 winner contests the Champions or ships to the Breeders’ Cup.
“We’re having a dry spell at the moment and it’s still decent ground, but if it’s soft at all, we won’t be running and he will go to the Breeders’ Cup if we have to bypass Ascot,” Appleby told the British press. “He won’t do both, it will be one or the other, and we would prefer Ascot but the ground has to be good.”
This year, Big Mojo finished second in the Group 1 July Cup before winning the Group 1 Sprint Cup. If he participates in the Breeders’ Cup he will be a major threat for Europe, and not just because of his current form. He finished fourth, beaten just a length, in last year’s Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar. Both previous internationally based winners of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint had previous U.S. experience, or experience on a similar track. Glass Slippers had raced over left-handed courses prior to coming to America. Starlust had finished third in the 2020 Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar.
Along with Big Mojo, this angle applies, most prominently, to Arizona Blaze and Khaadem. Arizona Blaze, a Group 1 winner this year, was second, beaten just half a length, in the 2024 Juvenile Turf Sprint at Del Mar. Khaadem’s third start in the U.S. was a victory in the Grade 2 Woodford Stakes on opening weekend at Keeneland, and has now had a steady period of training in Kentucky.
The Japanese-based horses aiming to join their country’s contingent for Del Mar are both Grade 3 winners – and Invincible Papa, in particular, brings his own international twist to the story. Invincible Papa was born in Australia – in September 2021, on Southern Hemisphere time – and was purchased by his current connections as a yearling, making all 10 of his starts in Japan, with six wins.
Invincible Papa would become just the fourth individual Australian-bred horse to run in the Breeders’ Cup. Strawberry Road finished fourth in the inaugural edition of the Turf in 1984 before finishing second the following year. Starspangledbanner was 10th in the 2012 Turf Sprint, and Oleksandra was ninth in the 2020 edition of this race.
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