BREEDERS' CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

November 2, 2024

Rossa Ryan

Ralph Beckett

Del Mar Fairgrounds

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations, Starlust, Rossa Ryan. What a year you have had, culminating here in this Breeders' Cup win. Take us through the trip. Kind of far back early. Was that sort of the plan with this horse?

ROSSA RYAN: No, it wasn't. To be fair, Ralph left it up to me, filled me up with a lot of confidence going out. I jumped well. I actually spoke to Ryan Moore before the race about just a little bit of guidance and everything.

He said, Look, over five, press to go forward. After you've begun half a furlong, you have to give him a chance.

I didn't have the pace to jump early, so I slotted in behind them. I wasn't fierce coming out of the back when I came off the bridle because he always comes good two out.

It was just one of those days. Luck was on our side. It opened so well. But whatever about it opening, by the time it did open, I was there, I had the horse. This horse has been knocking on the door all year. It's great to see him finally do it on the big stage. He's been a bridesmaid. But brilliant, unbelievable performance.

THE MODERATOR: Ralph Beckett, congratulations. The 10th start for this horse this year. Concerns during the inquiry at all? Were you able to see how the trip had unfolded there?

RALPH BECKETT: Sort of flashbacks to been here before. We had a filly, Secret Gesture, taken down in 2013, somewhat unfairly we felt at the time (smiling). I was expecting the worst.

Obviously the favorite came out. That was why Rossa went right, because it was a domino effect.

Yes, obviously concerned because we operate under different rules. It's an interpretation of them, isn't it? Yeah, there was some concern.

Delighted to get it done. The inquiry certainly didn't take the edge off it, that's for sure.

THE MODERATOR: We'll turn it over to the press.

Q. Rossa, deep down leaving the backstretch, did you think Cogburn might come back? Could you see him?

ROSSA RYAN: No. We were going so fast. The back of my head, I was like, Is he going forward or are we just going too fast?

But by the top of the straight, I actually did thought we'd be in the first four. I was getting a good run through. I thought Cogburn at the top of the straight had slipped me. They couldn't hold up the frenetic gallop we had.

Q. We were commenting how brilliant today is that the inquiry is done so quickly. Do you think that's really good that it sorted so quickly here compared to back home?

ROSSA RYAN: I think it lets you enjoy the moment if it falls your way.

Q. If it goes the other way, could be a different conversation.

ROSSA RYAN: Exactly (smiling).

Q. 10th run this year. A complete campaign. Were you surprised he's as sharp now as he was through the year?

RALPH BECKETT: He's a horse that kind of trains himself. Not a horse how needs a lot of graft. He sort of enjoyed himself in Dubai. He was on his holidays there. He treated it as a holiday (smiling). We couldn't really get him to run the way we wanted him to.

Then he was unlucky in the l'Abbaye in the sense that Rossa got nearly put through the rail. It was a good run, very good run.

The other point about why we came here, an important point, it was around a bend. He was very good around the bend last year in the Juvenile Turf. We really felt that if he was able to hold onto their coattails, that would play for him.

Q. How do you sustain this last few weeks of results into 2025 for your team?

RALPH BECKETT: That will be difficult (smiling).

Q. Will this guy stay in training next year?

RALPH BECKETT: That's a very good question. I don't think anybody's thought about that.

THE MODERATOR: The Breeders' Cup is back here next year. Be nice for a repeat. We will let you go get a good celebration. Congratulations.