Jump to User Comments HONG KONG (April 26, 2009) – Sight Winner became the first horse to qualify for this year's $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. I) through the international Breeders' Cup Challenge series following his shocking victory in Sunday's Champions Mile (G1) at Sha Tin Race Course. Sent off at 64-1, the 5-year-old, ridden by Brett Prebble, prevailed in a stretch duel by a short-head over the front-running Egyptian Ra.

The Champions Mile was the first race of the 2009 international Breeders' Cup Challenge, a global series of stakes races, whose winners earn automatic starting positions in the 14-race, $25.5 million Breeders' Cup World Championships, to be held Nov. 6, 7 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif.

Sight Winner, a New Zealand bred gelding by Faltaat, is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Tam Wing Kun and trained by John Size, the reigning champion trainer, who had four starters in the race. Sight Winner completed the mile in 1:34.97 over a yielding turf course.

The fast-finishing Australian runner Dao Dao finished just a head behind in third and the race favorites, defending champion Good Ba Ba and Collection ran fourth and fifth respectively in the 11-horse field.

"It's a nice surprise but John seemed quietly confident in the paddock beforehand so that got my confidence up a little," said Prebble following the race.

"We had a game plan to sit outside Egyptian Ra because we knew he would lead and at the top of straight I went past him. My fellow kept giving me more because he can stay 1800m and 2000m. He fought hard and he loved the ground – his action felt really comfortable on it."

Sight Winner finished fifth in his previous start, the one mile Chairman's Trophy (G2) on April 5, beaten 2 ? lengths at Sha Tin.

Size expanded on the victory, saying: "Two factors can explain the win. The yielding track condition was extremely important and not letting Egyptian Ra get it too easy in front as he so often does was also vital."

Regarding future international races, Size said, "We'll see how he comes out of the race first and then we'll examine our options," Size said, "but it's possible we might go overseas with him."

About Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup administers the Breeders' Cup World Championships; Thoroughbred racing's year-end Championships consisting of 14 races and $25.5 million in purses. The organization also administers the Breeders' Cup Challenge qualifying series, and the Breeders' Cup Stakes Program. Breeders' Cup has offices in Lexington, Ky., and in New York City. Breeders' Cup press releases appear on the Breeders' Cup Web site, www.breederscup.com.

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