Limato trainer’s high hopes for Mile success
Henry Candy reckons his stable star can go close as he prepares to do battle at Santa Anita in the Breeders' Cup Mile
HENRY CANDY has gone out on a Lim with his first-ever runner in the US on Saturday.
And he has high hopes his Limato can get him off the mark on the first attempt in the Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita.
Limato won his last start in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret at Chantilly on Arc day last month.
Candy arrived in California on Wednesday evening with the gelding's owner Paul Jacobs and they were delighted with the final pieces of his preparation.
Candy said: "Apart from half-thinking about bringing Time Charter here, it's never crossed my mind to have a runner in the US, but Limato is probably the best horse I've ever trained and that's what you need out here. I'm very happy with the way he is.
"I think by the time they get to the first bend the field will be fairly strung out. That will suit him, I just don't want anything to be on the outer of him rounding that first turn.
"This horse was a midget as a two-year-old, but he's growing all the time and when I looked at him this morning he looked bigger again.
"I put him through the stalls just now because I thought it was in his interest to hear the bell ring and happily Harry Bentley said that was the quickest he'd ever jumped, so much so that he nearly fell off the back of him - he's certainly in the right frame of mind for Saturday.
"This is as big an occasion as it gets and we're all very excited. It's completely different to European racing, but Limato has got a huge amount of speed and is very intelligent.
"He was having a good look at everything around him on the track, the problem as always will be getting the saddle on him and it was a two-man job doing that this morning, but I think he will enjoy every moment of the occasion and his surroundings.
"It's fingers crossed but everything, touch wood, has gone to plan so far."
