Rebecca Menzies celebrated an 'absolutely magical' first US success when she landed her maiden Group race victory on Sunday. The Durham trainer had never saddled a runner outside Britain and Ireland until two-year-old gelding Adonius lined up in the £264,000 Group 2 Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland, the stage for the Breeders' Cup on October 30-31.
Adonius's path to Keeneland
Adonius had earned the trip after recording two wins at Musselburgh and one at Chester before finishing second in the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and runner-up in a Listed contest at the York Ebor Festival. New American owners bought into the son of Soldier's Call who is set to stay in the US and not return to Menzies at the end of the trip.
Adonius ensured he would run at least once more for Menzies when overcoming a slow start to finish wide of the field and fastest to snatch victory on the line by a head under John Velazquez.
Menzies on a 'magical' victory
Menzies said: “My heart sank a little bit when he broke badly, but they were going a good gallop, and he’s never had a pace to aim at in the UK before, and Johnny got him really settled.
“I was pretty happy because I know he’s a very honest horse and when he pulled him out wide and came late, I know he always tries to the line. I actually thought, ‘Oh, great, he’s probably going to finish fourth here’. Then when I saw him really rallying and putting his head down, it’s a testament to the horse.”
“I have so many people to say thank you to. There’s an absolute army of people at home and here, since we got here, that helped us get him to this stage. It’s our first winner, our first runner abroad, and it’s absolutely magical.
“The plan has just been executed beautifully and we had such a smooth prep into this race. We were full of confidence with our horse; we just didn’t know what we were going to be up against. It’s absolutely amazing that he pulled it off. The American dream is all right, isn’t it?”
Breeders' Cup preparation
Adonius will remain at Keeneland with his groom Diaz Gibson to prepare for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Menzies added: “We will cancel Diaz’s flight tomorrow, and I’ll go home on my own. We’ll extend the hirse car and he can stay here in Brendan Walsh’s barn and his team.”
