The expectations from Caravel might have been muted when Qatar Racing bought her out of Fasig-Tipton's 2021 The November Sale, considering Sheikh Fahad Al Thani's racing operation acquired her as a replacement for its multiple grade 1 winner Shedaresthedevil, who sold out of the same sale for $5 million.
They knew Caravel was a good racehorse—a grade 3 winner—with the potential to improve, but she far exceeded all expectations Nov. 5 at Keeneland when she rocked the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1T) with a front-running victory at nearly 43-1.
The 5-year-old daughter of Mizzen Mast, who had not been tested in grade 1 company since a 12th-place finish in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, defeated an exceptionally deep field that included two-time Breeders' Cup winner and even-money favorite Golden Pal and three-time group 1 winner Highfield Princess.
"She was running back in 20 days but had a race over the course. She was doing extremely, extremely well," said trainer Brad Cox. "She's a filly that has had a hard time keeping on weight and since the end of the summer, she's really blossomed. We decided to take a swing and it worked out."
The race did not unfold as anticipated, with jockey Tyler Gaffalione expecting to be in a stalking position behind Golden Pal, but the heavy favorite was shuffling around right before the gates sprung and was back in 14th at the break. Caravel and Gaffalione quickly found themselves in the lead.
"No one really went, so I decided to take control of things," the jockey said. "Coming into the stretch, she just kept finding more. She's a very solid filly. She shows up every time. She's trained by one of the best in the country, Brad Cox. He brings them over ready to fire."
Fahad co-owns Caravel with Marc Detampel and Sol Kumin's Madaket Stables.
"A huge amount of credit to Fergus Galvin and the team at Hunter Valley, who found her and saw her potential," said David Redvers, racing manager for Qatar Racing. "Marc Detampel has been a longtime partner and a great friend. There's nothing quite as much as fun as doing it with friends, and we're very lucky to have great friends, great resources with Sheikh Fahad. And it's all about the party now."
Fahad said he had a lot of confidence heading into the Turf Sprint because Cox had so much confidence in the mare.
"She has been working really well. As (Cox) said, she's been working the best she ever has since he's had her. That gave us a lot of confidence; watching her in the morning gave us a lot of confidence," he said. "And having Tyler on board is amazing, really. He is one of the most gifted jockeys I've seen, and thankfully he's on our side and not against us."
Gaffalione won his first Breeders' Cup race Nov. 4 aboard Wonder Wheel in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and had already notched a win Nov. 5 in the second race, an allowance optional claimer, at Keeneland. He also has had a lot of experience on Caravel, having been aboard for four of her seven races prior to the Breeders' Cup. They paired up in her start prior to the World Championships, a 1 3/4-length win in the 5 1/2-furlong Franklin Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland.
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"She's shown speed before. She's versatile: She can lead or sit off them, and after she broke that well today, there was one place to be and that's the lead," Fahad said. "And thankfully she just kept going. When the other horse came upside her, she just found another few lengths, which is fantastic to see."
Godolphin's Emaraaty Ana rallied in deep stretch to finish second, a neck in front of Godolphin stablemate Creative Force who was third. Golden Pal never threatened and finished 10th. The favorite's trainer Wesley Ward was not available for comment.
Elizabeth Merryman bred Caravel in Pennsylvania out of the winning Congrats mare Zeezee Zoomzoom, who has also produced multiple stakes winner Witty (Great Notion ). Merryman started Caravel's racing career as her trainer and won six of her first eight starts. In the summer of 2021, she took on celebrity chef Bobby Flay as a partner and they eventually sent the filly to trainer Graham Motion.
After Caravel's unplaced run in the 2021 Breeders' Cup, she was entered in The November Sale, where Hunter Valley Farm co-owner Galvin spied her as an opportunity for Qatar Racing. She was purchased for $500,000 from ELiTe's consignment.
"She was bought as a replacement for Brad since we were selling Shedaresthedevil," Galvin said. "(Caravel) ran some big races, some big numbers. Her form tailed off in her last few races and that probably made her more affordable. She's had a great year, and Brad has done a tremendous job. He spotted her in the right races and she got better and better."
Caravel has been entered in the upcoming Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, where she will be selling as Hip 224 in the first session Nov. 7. Hunter Valley is her consignor.
"She's in the sale, and we'll have to discuss with the partnership and Fergus and Marc and Brad and we'll see what's going on," Fahad said. "She's improving, which is going to make it very tough trying to sell her or keep her, but we'll see."
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