Smullen looks to round off year in style

RACING NEWS:CHAMPION FLAT jockey-elect Pat Smullen goes to Hollywood this weekend when he will attempt to put a Grade One seal on yet another memorable year on board the Dermot Weld-trained Winchester, writes BRIAN O'CONNORRacing Correspondent

The Secretariat Stakes winner remained in Los Angeles after his unplaced effort in the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita and will line up on Saturday night in the $250,000 (€197,000) Hollywood Turf Cup, which is run over over a mile and a half.

It represents a gamble by Weld, who turned down the chance of taking part in the Hollywood Derby over a mile and a quarter in order to wait for this race over the Hollywood Park track.

"I am well aware that 10 furlongs is the horse's optimum trip but the main reason we are taking a shot at this race is that Hollywood is a very tight mile and a half. Only time will tell if we're right," the Curragh-based trainer said yesterday.

"Pat goes out to ride and he delivered one of his great rides at Hollywood when Dress To Thrill won the Matriarch Stakes. It's been a lucky place for us because we've also won an American Oaks there.

"The horse is in great form and after taking into consideration the opposition and the track we have decided to take our chance at a mile and a half," Weld added yesterday.

Winchester beat the Aidan O'Brien-trained Plan by over seven lengths on his first American start at Arlington in August. He had earlier broke his maiden at Leopardstown when getting the better of the subsequent Irish Oaks heroine Moonstone.

Smullen has a seven-winner lead over his nearest rival Fran Berry ahead of the final flat meeting of the year in Ireland at Dundalk on Friday night. He is in line to secure a fifth title.