Turf no trouble for Encino at Indiana Grand

Encino picked up a third Stakes success on a third different surface as he lowered the course record in the Jonathan B Schuster Memorial Stakes at Indiana Grand, USA, on Saturday, 5 July. 

The Brad Cox-trained Nyquist colt was making a first turf appearance, having won the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes on Tapeta and the G3 Lexington Stakes on dirt during the spring of 2024. 

After breaking half a stride slow, Encino soon recovered to race in second behind Runaway Storm, with the leader kicking into a five-length lead heading into the back. 

The pack closed on Runaway Storm with three furlongs left and Encino loomed up to press for the lead at the top of the straight. 

Runaway Storm rallied but yielded to Encino inside the final furlong, with Luan Machado easing the Godolphin four-year-old near the line for a length-and-a-quarter verdict in a record time for Indiana Grand’s extended-mile course. 

Michael Banahan, Director of Bloodstock, Godolphin USA, said: “Today was a bit of an experiment to see how Encino took to the grass, and it looks like he did very well on it. Luan said Encino really enjoyed the surface and he broke the track record, so it leaves a lot of options for us now. He has won on the synthetic, dirt and grass, and hopefully we can pick up another turf race or two this season.”