Carnegie reflects on weekend of outstanding British success

Carter Carnegie, International Executive of Great British Racing International, was present at Santa Anita for the 30th anniversary Breeders Cup this weekend to witness four outstanding British-trained winners. Reflecting on a weekend of outstanding British success in both hemispheres, Carnegie said: "British trainers are among the best in the world and the amazing results from America and Australia over the weekend reflect the skill in the British training ranks. "To prepare a horse to run at the top of its game in a different country, with all of the challenges that travelling and unfamiliar surroundings present, is something at which British trainers excel, and we look forward to many more international successes in the coming months.” As a former Senior Vice President of Sales for Breeders’ Cup Limited, Carnegie well understands the challenge faced by European raiders at the Breeders’ Cup, as well as those runners in Australia for the feast of top racing on offer during Melbourne’s Spring Carnival. British trainers Charlie Appleby, Charlie Hills and Jo Hughes all celebrated their first Breeders’ Cup winners on Friday night. Outstrip, trained by Appleby for Godolphin, triumphed in the Grade 1 Juvenile Turf; Chriselliam, trained by Hills, took the Grade 1 Juvenile Fillies Turf; and the Hughes-trained London Bridge set the ball rolling in the Grade 2 Marathon. Sir Michael Stoute, no stranger to Breeders’ Cup success over the years, added to the tally when Dank was victorious in the Grade 1 Filly & Mare Turf, a race he has won previously with Islington in 2003. In Australia, Andrew Balding and Ed Walker flew the flag for Great Britain with two great victories. Side Glance, trained by Balding for Pearl Bloodstock, triumphed in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington under Jamie Spencer. Earlier on the same card, Ruscello claimed victory by a head in the Group 3 Lexus Stakes for Ed Walker. Ruscello will now form part of a strong British contingent in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday, in which more international success could well be on the cards.