Lion and Spear among Breeders' Cup entries

Qatar Racing flagbearers Roaring Lion and Lightning Spear feature among the pre-entries for the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs.

Initial entries for the Breeders' Cup meeting (3rd and 4th November) were released on Monday and Qatar Racing have both Roaring Lion and Lightning Spear engaged.

Four-time Gr. 1 winner Roaring Lion hold entries in the $6m Classic and $4m Turf. While he has already earnt automatic qualification for the Turf, Sheikh Fahad said in his post-race interview following the colt's success in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on QIPCO Champions Day at Ascot last Saturday that "We are strongly considering the Breeders' Cup Classic on dirt." David Redvers backed up that opinion on Monday when he said: "The plan is to run in the Classic."

John Gosden told the Qatar Racing team on Tuesday that "Roaring Lion has come out of Saturday extremely well. He has this wonderful constitution for his racing which allows him to take it all in his stride.

"He is entered in both the Breeders' Cup Classic and the Turf at the moment and we will just have to take it one day at a time.

"The race is less than two weeks away, we need to allow time for travelling, and we are not sure how he will handle the dirt. It is a big ask! He has though shown us throughout the season what a tough horse he is."

Sussex Stakes hero Lightning Spear wasn't seen to best effect when seventh in the QEII, caught further back than ideal, and he should be better suited by the demands of the Mile. We know a sharp mile and a sound surface won't be an issue, so all we need now is a smooth journey and good draw.