Boughey Looks to Horizon as Survie Preps for Clement

The sport of Thoroughbred racing is often referred to as a series of ups and downs, and the "downs" were on full display this week in the Newmarket yard of George Boughey. News broke Aug. 11 that the trainer's undefeated star runner Bow Echo (IRE), a three-time group 1 winner and Two Thousand Guineas Stakes (G1) hero, had been retired after six starts with an injury, cutting his career short just as it seemed to be destined for great heights. READ: Unbeaten Group 1 Winner Bow Echo Retired Despite the unfortunate event, two days later the 34-year-old, who has become one of Great Britain's rising stars in the training ranks, expressed hope for the future while in France searching for his next star in advance of the Arqana August Yearling Sale, which will be held Aug. 15-17. "I think the thing we have in this game is there are always things on the horizon," Boughey said. "We're obviously sad to see him (Bow Echo) go, but very fortunate we had such a great horse in the stable and enjoy those memories. The hunt goes on, we're in France at the Arqana sale now trying to buy the next one." Approaching quickly on the horizon is an opportunity for Boughey to once again experience the "ups" as the classy mare Survie (IRE) has a grade 1 test across the pond in the $750,000 Christophe Clement Turf Stakes (G1T) Aug. 15 at Saratoga Race Course, a symbol of the growing power in his yard as his conquests stretch to America. Having worked for a few years in Australia with legendary trainer Gai Waterhouse before returning to Newmarket to work as an assistant for Hugo Palmer, Boughey broke away on his own on 2019. Just two years later, he had his first starter in America when Cachet (IRE) shipped to Del Mar and finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T). The filly would go on to take the trainer's first group 1 and English classic in the 2022 One Thousand Guineas Stakes (G1). Boughey would return to America again in 2024 with the filly Soprano (IRE), who finished second to future champion She Feels Pretty in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland before a 10th-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) at Del Mar. Then came Survie, who gave the trainer his first stateside win Aug. 2 with a powerful late kick that overpowered a quality field and overcame a slow pace in the Glens Falls Stakes (G2T). Just 13 days later, she'll be back in action attempting to double Boughey's win record in America. As Boughey's operation continues to grow in quantity and quality, venturing the United States will likely become a more common occurrence, especially should his mare pick off a grade 1 at Saratoga. "We like traveling horses wherever we go, but it's just having the right horses to bring," Boughey said. "Fundamentally, it's an expensive trip if you don't think that they're going to be coming to win. We've had a couple of visits to the Breeders' Cup and great to have our first runner in New York be a winner." Boughey identified Survie early in the year as one who could benefit from the racing style in America after she ran a strong third on a left-handed course against males in Saudi Arabia's Neom Turf Cup (G1T) in February. That race was her second for Boughey and owner Mrs. Doreen Tabor, wife of Michael Tabor under whose name Survie will run Saturday. Prior to joining Boughey's operation, Survie was trained by Frauke Hermans and Nicolas Clement, brother of the late Christophe Clement for whom Saturday's grade 1 contest at Saratoga was renamed this year. The two then consigned the daughter of Churchill (IRE) at the 2025 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, where she was purchased by her new connections for $2,636,068. Racing for Clement and Hermans, she had earned strong credentials as a group 2 winner that was multiple group 1-placed. Once she ran well in Saudi Arabia, Boughey knew America could be a profitable opportunity in the second half of the year. "I just, for a long time, thought American racing would suit her," Boughey said. "All of her data at home when she was working, she showed us those final splits that she did. She came home in basically 11-second furlongs. The fact she's now able to relax in her races, she can just find a rhythm anywhere in the field, it's a bit of a lethal weapon for her being able to come home so quick." That lethal weapon was on full display against her own sex in the Glens Falls despite racing behind pedestrian fractions of :25.54 and :52.61. The win worked out great as a prep for the Clement, which had always been planned as being the next race for the mare to give her an additional opportunity at the distance. "We wanted to run a mile and a half," Boughey said. "She's a proven stayer, she's a winner last year over a mile and a half. She's a filly that we plan to continue to take around the world and just pleased with everything she's doing so far." That 1 1/2-mile distance also has added importance this weekend as the Clement offers an automatic, fees-paid berth to the $5 million Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) Oct. 31 at Keeneland through the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series: Win and You're In. With the Turf being held at Survie's preferred 1 1/2 miles this year while the Filly and Mare Turf is held at a much shorter 1 3/16 miles because of Keeneland's track configuration, the Clement will determine if she fits on that path while also giving her entry to the field. "The (Breeders' Cup) Turf has been the plan for awhile," Boughey said. "(The Filly and Mare Turf) is just a bit short for her probably, so the turf looks like the race. Obviously, this is a 'win and you're in' for the Turf, so it makes a lot of sense." Boughey's American participation could see an expansion at the Breeders' Cup as he also has a bullseye on the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) with Albany Stakes (G3) winner Libertango (IRE), a daughter of No Nay Never, who is is entered for the Aug. 20 Lowther Stakes (G2) at York Racecourse. "She's in great shape and we're working back from Keeneland with her for sure," Boughey said. Safe to say that even though some dark clouds may have covered up the first half of the week, the horizon is looking bright for Boughey.