Audarya Delights Fanshawe With Breeders' Cup Victory

Audarya (4f Wootton Bassett - Green Bananas, by Green Tune) provided James Fanshawe with his first Breeder’s Cup victory when digging deep to land the Grade 1 Fillies’ & Mares’ Turf at Keeneland on Saturday.

The progressive mare gained her first top-level success in the Prix Jean Romanet in August and next took third in the Prix de l’Opera won by Tarnawa- herself also a winner on the Keeneland card. Pierre-Charles Boudot took the ride and positioned the bay in midfield, creeping forward from four furlongs out, pushing his mount a furlong later. Driven out in the straight, the mare stayed on well to lead close home and rallied to deny the favourite Rushing Fall by a neck on the line, as Harvey’s Lil Goil (American Pharoah) ran on for third.

Boudot later commended Audarya’s attitude, saying, “She did it well and was very courageous. It's a great achievement for me to win here and I'm very happy for the owner and trainer.” An elated Fanshawe said, “I can't believe it – it's absolutely fantastic. It was a fantastic ride and I thought she'd get tired, but she kept going. She's been running on soft ground in Europe, but she's thrived since she's been here.”

Owned by Alison Swinburn, Audarya was bred by Haras D’Ecouves and hails from the family of Group 1 winners Jim And Tonic and Mauralakana. She is one of three top-level winners by stallion sensation Wootton Bassett, whose current three-year-old crop includes eight Stakes winners, while his 2020 juveniles are headed by Group 2 winner Chindit.