Team Europe averted a Breeders’ Cup shutout when English representative Kalanisi finished strong on the outside to overtake Canada’s Quiet Resolve and win the $2,271,680 Turf.
“He was trapped on the inside,” said John Murtagh, Kalanisi’s jockey. “But when I took him to the outside for the straight he kept his head down and just got there.”
Kalanisi’s margin of victory was a half-length. In finishing second, Quiet Resolve nosed out the best of the American horses, 9-year-old John’s Call.
A thoroughbred blueblood bred and owned by the Aga Khan and trained by Michael Stoute, Kalanisi went off as the 4.60-1 second choice in the wagering. The 3.20-1 favorite was French envoy Montjeu, who’d finished second behind Kalanisi last time out in Newmarket’s Group I Dubai Champion Stakes.
This time Montjeu wound up seventh, never a factor in the 1 1/2-mile race that Kalanisi won in 2 minutes 26.96 seconds. Kalanisi paid $11.20, $7.20 and $4.60.
“Unfortunately it was a very slow pace,” said John Hammond, Montjeu’s trainer. “When I saw the half-mile in 50 seconds, I knew we were going to be in trouble.
“He has won a lot of good races coming from off the pace, so I wasn’t unhappy to see him at the back for the first mile. But when you’re in that position it all depends on what’s happening up front. If there had been more pace it would have been a different result.”