Breeders' Cup Mile: Kate aiming to Excel

Elusive Kate (right) is on target for the Breeders' Cup Mile

Elusive Kate is likely to renew rivalry with Excelebration in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita next week.

John Gosden's Elusive Kate has shown admirably consistent form this season and has clashed with the best colts as well as the best fillies.

Having returned to action when second in the Falmouth Stakes she went over to France and won the Prix Rothschild.

She then finished close-up behind Excelebration in the Jacques le Marois, lost a shoe when second to Siyouma in the Sun Chariot and was then third behind Aidan O'Brien's colt in Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

A Group 1 winner as a juvenile, she was out of luck in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf 12 months ago when only eighth but hopes are high she can perform better this year.

"She's very likely to go to the Breeders' Cup," said Patrick Barbe, owner Teruya Yoshida's racing manager.

"So far, so good, I haven't heard from John Gosden.

"If she's well we'll run her. She will have had two weeks to recover.

"Although she has run in a lot of big races she did not start in the spring, her first race this season was the Falmouth in July.

"So, it's not as if she's had a long season, even though it has been quite a tough one. We'll see how she gets on in the Mile."

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