GEORGE BOUGHEY TARGETS BREEDERS’ CUP FOR A SECOND TIME
N.B. Since this story was published, Via Sistina has been scratched from the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
George Boughey has been going from strength to strength since starting his operation on the Hamilton Road in Newmarket in the summer of 2019.
2022 has already been a landmark year for the young British trainer, as he registered a first Classic success with Cachet in the Group 1 QIPCO 1,000 Guineas.
That filly has been somewhat of a flagbearer for Boughey, as 12 months ago, she became the stable’s first Breeders’ Cup runner, finishing 4th in the Juvenile Fillies' Turf at Del Mar.
A year on and Boughey has his eyes set on the US end of season showpiece once again, this time with Via Sistina. The four-year-old, owned by Mrs. R.G. Hillen, is booked to run the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
In a ‘Team British Racing’ feature produced by Great British Racing International, Boughey reflects on the prospect of another Group 1 runner on the world stage:
“She’s a big filly and a fast finisher. We’re ready to give it a crack. It’s a big test as she’s only had two runs this year. She comes here as a fresh horse.
“The Breeders’ Cup epitomises everything we want to do. You got to have a tough horse, one that will travel well. I’m interested in taking Via over as she’s fresh and one that we’re excited to ship over. The goal is to compete and win in the biggest races, especially the Breeders’ Cup.”
From only a handful of friends at the start, Boughey now counts the likes of Amo Racing, the Niarchos family and Highclere amongst his growing stable of owners and knows he needs to continue to find the best horses so he can continue to grow:
“With the horses winning at the big meetings and, I think, the trust of us creating the plans for these horses and executing a few of them, enables you to get a better horse. Hopefully, we have bought some nicer yearlings this year, and have been active in the HIT and breeze-up sales. It’s where we bought both of our Royal Ascot winners last year. It’s about trying to buy a nicer horse and keep building the stable.”
Looking to the future and building upon a Classic win in 2022, Boughey continues:
“We obviously want to be competing at the highest level and to have done it in year three was fantastic. We had winners at the Craven meeting, Ascot and Goodwood. It’s a bigger operation each week. It’s building all the time.”
Via Sistina is one of 21 British horses scheduled to travel to Keeneland this weekend, with the British contingent representing 15 different stables in a display of the strength in depth that exists within the British training ranks.
So far in 2022, 11 different British trainers have celebrated Group 1 success overseas in 2022, with 18 horses winning 23 top-level contests across Europe, North America and the Middle East.