Stuart Williams plotting first Breeders' Cup runner with improving sprinter

Newmarket trainer Stuart Williams is hoping to break new ground next month with a first ever runner at the Breeders' Cup in the shape of improving sprinter Pandora's Gift.

Williams, who trains from Diomed Stables, is considering supplementing his progressive starlet into both the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and the Filly & Mare Sprint at Del Mar, California on November 1 and 2.

Pandora's Gift has been plying her trade in the US in recent weeks, most recently when finishing third in the Grade 2 Franklin Stakes at Keeneland on Sunday, when she was sent off at 40-1 but was beaten only a length and a quarter.

Doing all her best work at the finish, the three-year-old had performed with similar credit on her previous start when second at the same level at Presque Isle Downs.

The latter effort was on Tapeta and Pandora's Gift had already claimed a Listed race on Polytrack at Chelmsford in the spring, form which has given Williams options with the route he takes at Del Mar.

Speaking at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Williams said: "At the moment the plan is to supplement Pandora's Gift for the Breeders' Cup, which will cost us $30,000, but she won that amount at Keeneland so we're happy enough. We're hoping to be invited for both the Turf Sprint, which is over five furlongs, and the Filly & Mare Dirt, which is over seven, but you only have to pay one supplement."

Pandora's Gift: has form on artificial surfacesCredit: Gareth Copley

Pandora's Gift would be going into the unknown if she tackles the dirt at Del Mar, but Williams is emboldened by a previous Breeders' Cup dirt winner he was associated with.

He said: "I used to ride out Sheikh Albadou when I was with Alex Scott and he won the Dirt Sprint at Churchill Downs in 1991, but no one remembers it because it was on the same card as Arazi. No one knew if Sheikh Albadou would handle it but he romped home."

He added: "The dirt race is worth $1m but never has many runners so maybe that would be the way to go."

Williams intends to give someone the chance to buy into the Breeders' Cup dream. He added: "They are staging an equivalent of the London Sale [held on the eve at Royal Ascot] at Del Mar and she will be in it if someone wants to buy into our dream."

Paddy Power have given Pandora's Gift an opening show of 50-1 for the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

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