Los Angeles, Anmaat Rematch in Prince of Wales’s Stakes
Nobody will have been surprised that he should turn out this good, but few might have guessed it would be at this trip.
Los Angeles has the tip-top middle-distance pedigree to be expected of a Ballydoyle colt, by 2012 Epsom Derby (G1) winner Camelot and from the family of Anabaa Blue, who won the French Derby (G1) in 2001 when it was still a mile-and-a-half race.
However, Aidan O’Brien didn’t get where he is today by seeing things the way they are usually seen. Rather than stepping Los Angeles up in trip, the trainer decided to bring him back to 1 1/4 miles.
That looked a debatable move when Los Angeles finished a running-on fourth in the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) and ninth in the Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot Racecourse last year, especially as in between he was a fine third in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1) back at a mile and a half.
But O’Brien is right much more than he is wrong, and after a comfortable comeback win over the shorter trip at the Curragh, the colt landed the Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1) there last month, toughing it out to beat top-class rivals.
Is Los Angeles a superstar at a mile and a quarter, the distance of the June 18 Prince of Wales’s Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot? The word O’Brien opted for was “hardy,” which suggests perhaps he is not out of the very top drawer.
“Los Angeles is a hardy customer. He’s tough and loves a battle,” he said. “We knew he would keep progressing from race to race and we think he will come forward again. We’ve been delighted with everything he is doing and his preparation has been very smooth. If nothing wants to go on Continuous will roll along. He stays well.”
Ready for the big rematch is Anmaat . He is now age 7, a real veteran by the standards of group 1 flat racing. Indeed, he would be the oldest-ever winner of this if he came out on top, but he has a serious chance of gaining his revenge on Tattersalls Gold Cup conqueror Los Angeles here.
He certainly shaped as though he would be better for the race when beaten just half a length at the Curragh, moving through smoothly to lead entering the final furlong only to allow the race-fit winner to regain the advantage as he fought back on the far rail.
Improving on what was virtually a career-best effort is only to be expected from Anmaat. He progressed throughout his first two seasons and hit a new high last year after finding form and fitness following a 15-month break, defying odds of 40-1 to land the Champion Stakes here in October.
That was on soft going, and trainer Owen Burrows said: “I hope the ground will be fine and we’ve been very happy with him since the Curragh. He’s a 7-year-old and I’d like to think he’ll take a step forward.
“Continuous is in again and it could be a similar race to Ireland. It was only in the last 50 yards that he tired there and was beaten by a race-fit rival. We hope he’ll take a nice step forward and run well.”
It could be another classic encounter.
Other contenders in the Prince of Wales’s race include Map of Stars , See The Fire , Ombudsman , and Facteur Cheval .
Facteur Cheval, trained by Jerome Reynier, races for prominent United States-based owners Team Valor International and Gary Barber.
The Prince of Wales’s Stakes is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re in, providing the winner with automatic paid entrance into the Nov. 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T) at Del Mar.
