Amiloc to spearhead Beckett’s Breeders’ Cup challenge

Ralph Beckett is aiming for more Breeders’ Cup glory with his Royal Ascot winner Amiloc.

Beckett was on the mark last year with Starlust in the Turf Sprint and he also won the first running of the Breeders’ Cup Marathon in 2008 with Muhannak.

Joining Amiloc will be shock 150-1 Sussex Stakes winner Qirat but that has been the sole Group One strike for the yard this year, 12 months on from a season when nearly everything he touched turned to gold.

“Well it (Starlust) was only four weeks after Bluestocking’s Arc. Inevitably, last year was a year when everything went right, particularly that autumn. So, yes, it couldn’t have gone any better,” he said.

Of Amiloc, who only recently lost his unbeaten record at the hands of Melbourne Cup-bound Al Riffa in the Irish St Leger, he said: “Ascot took plenty out of him and he took a while to come back from that.

“We missed the King George and I’m sure that’s going to count for us now and in the long run. It was a proper effort in the Irish St Leger, behind a good horse. I think he’s a handy, well-balanced horse so he’s ideal for that tight, turning turf track at Del Mar.

“It’s as much about how the race will set up and the way the race is run that’s important for this horse. He is the right horse to take for that gig, whether he’s good enough is what we will find out.”

As for Qirat, he runs in the Mile which Beckett came close to winning with Kinross who was third in 2022.

He added: “He’s a track specialist when it comes to Goodwood, a turning track suits him really well and with a good draw, everything evens out. You shouldn’t underestimate him.

“He will enjoy that style of racing. Anything can happen. Kinross, with a better draw, he would have gone very close. Hopefully the draw Gods will be kind to us this week.”