Algiers to take his talents stateside for G2 Woodward

A strong run of form in Dubai this winter from Algiers has English based conditioners Ed and Simon Crisford thinking that the multiple group stakes winner is worthy of a try in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Santa Anita Park. But should he make the journey to California, he’ll first audition by way of New York when contesting Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Woodward going nine furlongs at Belmont at the Big A.

Owned by Rabbah Bloodstock, Algiers has not raced since finishing a game second in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup in March at Meydan Racecourse, finishing 2 3/4 lengths behind Japanese invader Ushba Tesoro. The 6-year-old Shamardal gelding captured two of the three rounds of the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge by open lengths. He took the one-mile Round 1 on January 6 by 6 1/2 lengths before stretching out to 1 3/16 miles for Round 2 on February 3, winning by six lengths.

“Obviously, he ran a super race in the Dubai World Cup but there’s nothing really for him here in England. We wanted to keep him on dirt because he seems so effective on it,” said Ed Crisford. “He had a hard campaign last winter. He started racing around this time last year and went all the way through to April, so we gave him a nice summer holiday and aimed him for the Breeders’ Cup. He needs a prep run for the Breeders’ Cup, so the Ack Ack at Churchill and the Woodward were what we were looking at. It’s a good prep. If you go well in the Woodward, you have options basically.”

Bred in Ireland by Godolphin, Algiers is out of the Platini mare Antara – a group-stakes winner in Germany and England, who was also Group 1-placed in England, France and Italy. Algiers has banked $3,026,934 through a record of 21-7-6-2.