Grade one win for Peace and War ahead of Major weekend
Stevens, who is based at Robins Farm Racing in Surrey, had worked as an assistant trainer across the Atlantic - he met his wife Hetta while they were employed by Kellyn Gorder -and his knowledge of the American racing programme stood him in good stead when he picked the contest for the two-year-old daughter of War Front.
Bred in the USA, she was purchased as a yearling by David Redvers Bloodstock for $300,000, and won on her racing debut at Lingfield in May - she followed that up with a good effort when sixth of 21 at Royal Ascot and then ran second at Haydock before her transatlantic flight.
Julien Leparoux was entrusted with the ride in the $400,000 race, run over a trip just in excess of a mile. Held up in the early stages, she did not have a completely trouble-free passage through the contest, but hit the front inside the final furlong and won pulling clear by half a length from Top Decile - 12 ran.
Stevens told Kentucky.com: "I fell in love with the filly here and fell in love with my wife here. I was terrified watching [the last 16th of a mile]. She had a terrible trip, she got cut off and I could see her finishing fourth after a bad trip. I thought it was game over but she showed a lot of guts. It's a testament to her bravery."
Leparoux had one eye on the forthcoming Breeders' Cup meeting in California when he said: "I knew as soon as I got her some room, she would have a nice kick because that's what she had done in the morning. She's very nice, very relaxed and nothing seems to bother her. They brought her here to give her a test on dirt. Now the big test will come at Santa Anita."
Following this win Peace And War is guaranteed a run at the Breeders' Cup, and Stevens confirmed that was in his plans.
Another exciting weekend of racing in Europe is headed by Longchamp's Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe meeting in Paris. Qatar Racing is represented by two stalwart sprinters in tomorrow's Gr.1 Prix de l'Abbaye (13.00), with Jamie Spencer teaming up with Pearl Secret and Oisin Murphy riding Hot Streak - the same horses were one and two in Haydock's Gr.2 Temple Stakes earlier this year when Hot Streak prevailed.
Today, at Newmarket, the highlight is the Gr.1 Sun Chariot Stakes (15.30) in which Spencer partners Kiyoshi following her impressive return to form last time out in Doncaster's Gr.3 JRA Sceptre Stakes. Trainer Charlie Hills reports that she emerged from that test in flying form, although she faces a tough assignment against the likes of French raider Fintry and consistent Integral in today's fillies and mares' test.
Curiously the winner's prize is dwarfed by that given to the first horse home in the non-graded Tattersalls Millions £500,000 2yo Trophy (14.20) in which Spencer rides Pipe Bomb for Kevin Ryan.
Mind Of Madness, who runs at Redcar today
Redcar's feature race is the Listed Totepool 2YO Trophy (15.05) in which Qatar Racing's Mind Of Madness concedes weight all round to a field that includes another Qatar runner, Wet Sail. The David Brown-trained Mind Of Madness has been performing with great credit all season and looked unlucky not to grab the Listed Harry Rosebery Stakes at Ayr last time when he had to weave through rivals but the post came a stride too soon. Colin Keane flies in from Ireland to ride the colt for the first time, while Freddy Tylicki partners Wet Sail, who won at Salisbury recently for trainer Charlie Fellowes.
Oisin Murphy will be at Ascot today when his mounts include the Stevens-trained Green Door in the Gr.3 John Guest Bengough Stakes (15.15) and Queen Catrine for Hills in the Listed Totepool EBF Stallions October Stakes (16.25).
Qatar Racing's runners this weekend are concluded by Brendan Brackan, who runs in tomorrow's Gr.3 Concorde Stakes (14.40) at Tipperary.
Pictures: Laurence Squire