'The prize-money gets to a certain point and you can't ignore it' - Richmond Stakes star Black Forza goes for $1 million payday

Richmond Stakes winner Black Forza becomes the latest European runner tempted to the US by the huge levels of prize-money on offer at the lucrative meeting at Kentucky Downs on Sunday night.

Trained on the Curragh by Michael O'Callaghan, the two-year-old enjoyed Group 2 success at Glorious Goodwood last month and now takes aim at the $1 million (£760,000/€900,000) National Thoroughbred League Juvenile Sprint Stakes.

Having got off the mark at the second attempt at Fairyhouse, Black Forza backed that up when denying The Strikin Viking by half a length in the Richmond and will once again be partnered by Dylan Browne McMonagle in the 6½f Listed prize. 

He will also be a notable runner for O'Callaghan at Kentucky Downs, which is a unique European-style track, and the trainer could not resist the mammoth prize-money on offer.

"I have had Kentucky Downs in the back of my mind for a long time," he told bloodhorse.com. "The prize-money gets to a certain point and you can't ignore it. This race he is running in is worth four times what the traditional races back home are worth."

On Black Forza's chances, he added: "He has a lot of speed – natural speed, rather than raw, five-furlong speed – but I do think he will stretch out in time too."

Black Forza faces ten rivals and is likely to be one of the favourites. He is one of a host of British- and Irish-trained runners competing at the seven-day meeting at Kentucky Downs, where an on-course casino has hugely boosted prize-money levels.

Bellum Justum won the Nashville Derby on Saturday night, while the Charlie Hills-trained duo Ancient Rome and Khaadem are being readied for $2m (£1.52m/€1.8m) contests, the Mint Millions and Turf Sprint, next week.

The meetings have also attracted Frankie Dettori, who has eight rides on Sunday after ten mounts the day before.

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