Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf title for Inspiral

A dazzling stretch run in the Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf by Frankel's Inspiral saw her capture her sixth victory at the highest level and her third Group/Grade 1 win this year.

Taken from the Thoroughbred Daily News, 5th November 2023, by Emma Berry/Heather Anderson:

Cheveley Park Stud homebred Inspiral became the first Breeders' Cup winner for her sire with a narrow victory over dual Group 1 winner Warm Heart in the $2-million Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf on Saturday.

One of the back-markers crossing the dirt in the one and a quarter-mile contest, the 5-2 favorite found plenty of friendly cover in the master hands of Frankie Dettori who was looking for his 15th Breeders' Cup success. Glued to the rail into the clubhouse turn behind a half-mile in :46.90 as four-time Grade I winner and last year's runner-up 'TDN Rising Star' In Italian showed the way, the filly was in a good rhythm on the backstretch. Creeping closer on the far turn, Dettori shook his filly up at the quarter pole and she produced a killer burst of speed to win. Any lingering doubts as to whether the four-year-old would see out the 10 furlongs were quashed as she tanked on round the bend after catching Warm Heart in the shadow of the post. The lady was not for stopping after gathering her sixth Group/Grade 1 win, but she will be stopping at the Gosdens' Clarehaven Stables, with her owner/breeder Richard Thompson of Cheveley Park Stud swiftly declaring that Inspiral would remain in training at five.

A champion at two, a champion at three and surely this year's champion older filly, Inspiral's defection from Ascot on Champions Day was very much Santa Anita's gain.

"She was pointing for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot but the rain arrived and we didn't even declare her to run," said her co-trainer John Gosden. "She's very opinionated and very
strong-minded. You go with the flow with her, there's no point getting in an argument."

He added, "I think what is particularly fulfilling is that she's owner-bred."

Cheveley Park Stud's Richard Thompson commented: "This is such a special feeling, obviously, winning the Breeders' Cup with Inspiral. Chris [Richardson] is sitting next to me here. He runs the stuff for us, the family, my mother, et cetera. To have a homebred filly win the Breeders' Cup is just, six in Group 1, it's the pinnacle of everything we strive for at Cheveley, to breed a filly like this."