After winning a pair of Breeders’ Cup races on November 5 at Keeneland with Cody’s Wish and Elite power Hall of Famer Bill Mott is now the coach of two potential finalists for the champion male sprinter Eclipse Tournament.
Juddmonte’s Elite Power claimed its title by rallying to win the Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) championship, and Godolphin’s Wish could also garner support for a determined victory his. Cyberknife in Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) about two turns. Before that, he won the Seven Road Bet (G1) in the sprint.
“This is the first time it comes to my mind. … I’ll leave that to the voters,” Mott said of the possibility. “I mean, look, we saw him on the track yesterday, and I guess that’s something to look at.”
The more Mott talked, the more he admitted that both of his sons Curlin qualified to participate in the championship discussion. Though by Kirk and Judy Robison Jackie’s Warrior coached by Steve Asmussen, had a successful campaign in 2023 and can be considered the frontrunner for the award, Elite Power beat him in the Sprint, where Jackie’s Warriors finished third behind the finisher. second Missile CZ and Cody’s Wish defeated Jackie’s Warrior in Forego.
The Eclipse Awards are determined by year-end ballots from voters from the NTRA, Daily Racing Form, and National Turf Writers and Broadcasters.
“I’ve been in situations where I think the work a horse has done throughout the year doesn’t count for what they do in the Breeders’ Cup — the case is War Like Goddess “he said.
Mott believes her for the third time last year in the Mark Breeders’ Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar could make her lose the championship to win Only love you a Japanese star who raced only once in North America last year.
“So the Breeders’ Cup is very important, you know, and I think the voters will actually have a very good view of that,” he said.
Breeders ‘Cup Sprint’ winners are often awarded the championship as men’s sprinters, although last year Jackie’s Warrior took the title after placing sixth behind Breeders racers’ Sprint Cup Hello West . Flight route definitely Horse of the Year in 2022, coming third in last year’s male sprinter poll behind Jackie’s Warrior and Aloha West on the strength of their loss to Runhappy Malibu Stakes (G1) in late December.
Godolphin announced Sunday afternoon that Cody’s Wish will continue training until 2023 towards another Breeders’ Cup.
The immediate plan has yet to be decided for Elite Power.
Mott also has War Like Goddess and Olympiad reached the table in the Breeders ‘Cup races on Saturday, with War Like Goddess finishing third behind men in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) and the Olympiad trailing Flightline in the Classic (G1).
“The Olympics are going to Gainesway in a week,” Mott said. “It’s sales time and people want to see him, and I guess they’re going to have a meeting next week and decide if he’ll run again or go to the school in person or what will happen. “
The Olympiad is expected to stand next year, although sometimes ranchers choose to race a top dirt horse in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) at Gulfstream Park in late January before the breeding season begins in February.
