In a thrilling conclusion, El Cordobes navigated between competitors in the final stretch to secure victory in the $750,000 Grade 1 Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer Stakes on August 9 at Saratoga Race Course. The 4-year-old entrant from Europe overtook Rebel Red and his stablemate Nations Pride to achieve his first Grade 1 triumph.
The Sword Dancer served as a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series event where the victor receives automatic qualification. El Cordobes’s victory secured him a guaranteed entry into the $2 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf, scheduled for November 1 at Del Mar.
Under the guidance of trainer Charlie Appleby for Godolphin, and with Flavien Prat in the saddle, El Cordobes completed the 1 1/2-mile distance in 2:25.04 on firm turf, winning by a half-length. This victory marked Appleby’s inaugural Sword Dancer Stakes win; he is the head of Godolphin’s European division.
Vote No, the longshot contender, initially dictated the pace in the three-turn Sword Dancer, facing pressure from the favored Far Bridge, who advanced through a half mile in a swift :47.40. Later, Nations Pride moved into second position midway through the final turn as the favorite and initial leader began to falter. Nations Pride surged to the forefront, establishing a temporary lead of 2 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining, while El Cordobes and Rebel Red pursued, closing the gap swiftly from behind.
Navigating between Nations Pride and Rebel Red in the closing strides, El Cordobes, guided by Prat, seized a narrow lead inside the sixteenth pole and maintained it until the finish line.
“Upon entering the home stretch, I found an opening between horses, and he responded with a tremendous effort,” Prat commented.
Rebel Red, trained by Cherie DeVaux, launched a late rally, securing second place by three-quarters of a length over Nations Pride, who finished third.
Far Bridge, after winning three of his preceding four races, faded to sixth. Miguel Clement, Far Bridge’s trainer, stated, “We’ll examine him back at the barn and determine the cause.”
This victory marked the fourth in 10 career starts for El Cordobes, who previously won the Group 2 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket Race Course.
“Achieving this win, our first, with a horse demonstrating significant progress and finishing exceptionally strong, bodes well for the future,” remarked Chris Connett, Appleby’s assistant.
Connett indicated that both El Cordobes and Nations Pride would be returning to Europe the following week.
Before the race, it was announced that the Sword Dancer would be renamed in 2026 to honor the late trainer Christophe Clement, who passed away on May 25 at the age of 59 and held the record for five wins in the Sword Dancer.
Connett conveyed profound respect for Clement on behalf of Godolphin.
“He was an exceptional individual,” Connett said. “I was fortunate to have known him since 2005, and he was a strong proponent of international horses participating in these races. I believe Christophe would have been pleased to see an international runner triumphing here. He always treated us with kindness.”
