Izzi Top Wins Barclay's Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland and Gains Automatic Berth into Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf

THE CURRAGH, IRELAND (July 1, 2012) - The 4-year-old filly Izzi Top (GB), trained by John Gosden, won today’s Barclays Pretty Polly (G1) at The Curragh under William Buick and became the first horse this year to earn an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (GI) through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge series.

The Breeders’ Cup Challenge is a global series of 73 stakes races whose winners earn automatic starting positions into a corresponding racing of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which will be held on November 2-3 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

Owned by Helena Springfield Ltd., Izzi Top overtook pacesetter Sapphire (IRE) in the final furlong of the 1 1/4 mile race. Due to heavy ground, just four horses ran with I’m a Dreamer (IRE) third, followed by Up (IRE).

The winning connections of Izzi Top receive free entry into the 1 1/4 mile, US$2 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and will also receive a US$20,000 travel allowance to ship Izzi Top to California for the Breeders’ Cup.

A bay filly by Pivotal (GB) out of the Zafonic mare Zee Zee Top, Izzi Top won her fourth consecutive race dating back to October 25 of last year, and is now 5 for 9 in her career. She came into the Pretty Polly with a win in Betfred Middleton Stakes (G2) at York on May 17, which was preceded in March by a victory in the Dahlia Stakes (G3) at Newmarket.

"We'll look at all the big Group 1s over a mile and a quarter for her, races like the Nassau, Prix de l'Opera and possibly even the Breeders' Cup could be a possibility for her,” Gosden told the Racing Post following the race.

Gosden has trained four Breeders’ Cup race winners, led by Raven's Pass, the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner. Gosden also trained Royal Heroine (1984 Mile); Donativum (GB) (2008 Juvenile Turf) and Pounced (2009 Juvenile Turf).

Meon Valley Stud will also receive a US$10,000 bonus from the Breeders’ Cup as the foal nominators of Izzi Top.