Rebecca Menzies’ Breeders’ Cup dream shattered as Adonius set to miss cut

Despite his victory in a Group 2 race at host site Keeneland, the gelding is only sixth reserve for the Juvenile Turf Sprint at the same venue a week on October 30

Adonius: set to miss cut for Breeders' Cup(Image: PA)

Rebecca Menzies’ Breeders’ Cup dream with Adonius was shattered on Wednesday as her stable star is set to miss the cut.

Adonius has earned a huge following after wins at Musselburgh, twice, and Chester and second place finishes at Glorious Goodwood and York’s Ebor Festival. He then took his Durham stable to previously unscaled heights by winning the Grade 2 Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland this month to give Menzies the biggest win of her 12 year training career with her first runner on US soil.

Menzies and the American owners who had bought into the gelding expected that victory would put him in contention to secure a start in the £750,000 Juvenile Turf Sprint over the same course and distance a week on Friday.

But when the pre-entries were released on Wednesday, Adonius was listed as ‘not selected into the field’. As a result he has been placed on the also-eligible list as sixth reserve to get into the 12 runner final field following an assessment by a panel of international handicappers.

The horses that have made the field include Hell Of A Spin, who finished behind Adonius in the Molecomb Stakes before running third in the Middle Park Stakes. Two of the horses he beat at Keeneland are also above him on the reserve list.

Rebecca Menzies: hoped to run Adonius at the Breeders' Cup

“Our dream looks to have been dashed,” said Menzies. “I am disappointed for the horse and the owners.

“I don’t understand why he is so far down the list and he has not been put up for winning the Indian Summer. You would have thought the course and distance win would have stood for something.”

Adonius (nearest, red cap): gets up to win at Keeneland

She added: “This was a massive opportunity for our yard and now it looks like the trip has been cut short. We need a minor miracle to get in.”

Adonius has stayed in the US to prepare for the Breeders’ Cup since his victory and will continue his career in the US.

“We have a fit horse who is ready to run but nowhere to run him,” Menzies said.