French-Bred Talco Earns Breeders’ Cup Mile Position

French-Bred Talco Earns Breeders’ Cup Mile Position: The Breeders’ Cup Challenge races are officially underway as we already have contenders for the Mile, the Classic, and multiple other races. However, one horse surprised everyone over the weekend when he rewarded bettors at odds of 13-1. The son of English stakes winner Pivotal (GB) caught even-money favorite Midnight Storm at the wire to win by half a length. Now, Talco (FR) has earned a paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Mile. While the mile seems to be his best distance, he must still overcome history. Likely to be a large price in the Mile, unless he can string together more wins, Talco (FR) looks to become the first winner of both the Shoemaker Mile and the Breeders’ Cup Mile, which will take place on October 31, 2015, at Keeneland Race Course.

Talco (FR) began racing in France, running six times but failing to win another race outside of his maiden score. He did finish second in a weight-for-ages stakes at Deauville but was then sent over to America where he has been trained by John Sadler ever since. His first race in America was the Del Mar Derby (GII) where he finished third to Midnight Storm and Sawyer’s Hill. After a fifth in his next outing in the Grade II Twilight Derby, he finished third in the Grade I Hollywood Derby behind California Chrome and Lexie Lou. Since then, he finished fifth in the Grade II Mathis Brothers Mile Stakes and then second in an allowance.

Talco finally got his first win on U.S. soil in an allowance optional claimer going one mile on the Santa Anita turf. He gained his first stakes win when he won the Thunder Road Stakes (L) at Santa Anita. He again finished second in a graded stakes, this time in the Grade III American Stakes behind Brazilian Triple Crown winner Bal a Bali (BRZ). Talco finally broke through on the graded stakes scene with his win the Grade I Shoemaker Mile.

With history against Talco, no winner of the Shoemaker Mile has won the Breeders’ Cup Mile. However, Talco is bred to be competitive against the top turf milers in the world. He descends from the Nureyev sire line, which traces back to Northern Dancer as well. Sire Pivotal is out of a mare by Cozzene, who has proven to be a highly influential sire and broodmare sire of turf horses. Cozzene also won the Breeders’ Cup Mile in 1985, which bodes well for Talco to follow in his grandsire’s footsteps. On the distaff side, Talco has traces of Seattle Slew, Northern Dancer, and Forli, an influential turf sire as well.

Talco will likely continue to run in graded stakes throughout the summer, and fans will be able to see the French-bred horse at Keeneland in the fall to take on the best turf milers in not only America but also the world. Talco looks to continue on towards a highly successful career here in the United States, taking on the best American horses and showing off his talent.

Related Links:
Horse Racing News and Replays Saturday, June 13
Breeders’ Cup 2015 Challenge Race Schedule & Results

Shoemaker Mile 2015 Talco Replay: