El Cordobes returns at Belmont seeking to reopen the doors to the Breeders’ Cup

The winner of the Sword Dancer Stakes (G1) will return this Saturday following a layoff of more than seven months in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1-2400 m, $500,000), where he will headline a strong European contingent alongside Pride of Arras and Fort George. Far Bridge and Program Trading will figure among the main local hopefuls

ELMONT, New York (Special for Turf Diario).— El Cordobes spent the European summer on the sidelines because Charlie Appleby had a different blueprint in mind for him. Now comes the moment to discover if that patience will pay off. The seasoned Godolphin representative makes his long-awaited return this Saturday at Belmont Park as one of the standout figures in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1-2400 m, turf, $500,000), a race that could launch him straight back into the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) picture.

The son of Frankel has not competed since February 14, when he finished fifth in the H. H. The Amir Trophy (G2) in Doha, beaten 4 1/4 lengths by Deep Monster (Deep Impact). That performance came three months after his third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar, behind Ethical Diamond (Awtaad) and Rebel’s Romance(Dubawi).

Appleby frame the extended layoff as part of a tailored master plan: “We simply worked backward with a winter campaign in mind. We felt he would benefit from a breather, and he enjoyed a lovely summer. He is firmly on a winter path,” noted the trainer.

“We hope he can run well, get the win, and insert himself right back into the Breeders’ Cup picture. If he delivers, we will pursue a standard winter itinerary, eventually targeting Qatar and the Dubai City of Gold. That is precisely why he was not seen during the summer.”

El Cordobes found his finest form as distances stretched out. Eight of his last nine starts have come over 2400 meters, and in 2025 he made his definitive breakthrough by capturing the Princess of Wales’s Stakes (G2) at Newmarket.

He then made his initial voyage to the United States, annexing the Sword Dancer Stakes (G1) at Saratoga by a half-length over Rebel Red, with stablemate Nations Pride (Teofilo) in third.

He followed that with a third-place finish behind Rebel’s Romance in the Joe Hirsch, held that year over the turf at Aqueduct, before wrapping up his campaign with that placing in the Breeders’ Cup.

Now he gets his first taste of the renovated Belmont Park. “He enters in very good nick. He has worked well and his entire preparation went flawlessly. We know he favors the fast, flat ovals of the United States,” Appleby added.

Flavien Prat, who navigated him to victory in the Sword Dancer, returns to the saddle from post 3.

The European invasion does not stop with El Cordobes. Pride of Arras will make his American debut for Ralph Beckett following a victory in the September Stakes (G3) at Kempton Park.

The son of New Bay is no stranger to travel, boasting strong credentials over middle and staying distances. During 2025, he scored in both the Dante Stakes (G2) and the Great Voltigeur Stakes (G2) at York, before finishing fourth behind Royal Champion (Shamardal) in the Bahrain International Trophy (G2).

“He particularly favors racing left-handed on a flat track, so Belmont ought to suit him down to the ground,” Beckettexplained. James Doyle replaces Rossa Ryan and will break from post 2.

The third European contender is Fort George, trained by Ed Walker. The son of Territories already has two starts under his belt in the United States. He first finished second by a nose to Ole Crazy Bone (Ghostzapper) in the Bowling Green Stakes (G2) at Saratoga, and subsequently checked in third in the Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes (G2) behind Tiffany (Farrh) and Ethical Diamond.

Between those outings, he had to be scratched from the Christophe Clement Turf Stakes (G1) due to a foot abscess. Walker likewise harbors ambitions of using the Joe Hirsch as a launching pad to Keeneland. “In a dream scenario, he wins here and advances to the Breeders’ Cup, which remains the plan if all goes well,” he noted.

The American defense, however, possesses plenty of firepower to frustrate the visitors. Far Bridge will seek to defend his crown from 2024 in this very race, which was held at Aqueduct that year.

Now conditioned by Miguel Clement following the passing of his father Christophe, the son of English Channel has been off since March, when he captured the Pan American Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park for the second consecutive year.

His high-class resume features G1 triumphs in the Belmont Derby, the Sword Dancer, and the Joe Hirsch, along with over $2.5 million in earnings.

Clement acknowledges that the long layoff introduces a measure of uncertainty. “The question is whether he is 100 percent tight to deliver his absolute best race. I cannot say for certain, but he is training tremendously well and giving us every indication that he has returned to his peak,” he explained.

He neatly summed up the philosophy behind the return: “Sometimes you have to lose a battle to win the war.”

Minaret Station arrives off a effort where he finished just three-quarters of a length behind Survie (Churchill) in the Christophe Clement Turf, earning a career-best 97 Beyer Speed Figure.

Chad Brown, meanwhile, will launch a two-pronged assault. His main hope is Program Trading (Lope de Vega), a three-time G1 winner who appears to have finally regained his peak form following a 14-month hiatus. He posted consecutive victories in the Monmouth Stakes and the United Nations Stakes (G2) before finishing third in the Christophe Clement Turf.

Brown completes his entry with Asbury Park (Frankel), winner of the Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes (G2), who will test the 2400-meter distance for the first time.

A field of seven will go to post, with three arriving from Europe or originating their careers there. Yet a lion's share of the spotlight will settle on El Cordobes.

Appleby kept him under wraps all summer with the winter in mind, and Belmont will be the venue to reignite his engine. A win puts him right back at the forefront of the Breeders’ Cup Turf conversation; even a strong performance might prove enough to keep that dream alive. After seven months away from the action, El Cordobes returns with far more on the line than just the $500,000 purse of the Joe Hirsch.