Alec Laird has not ruled out the Breeders Cup for J&B Met winner Smart Call.

The brilliant Ideal World mare had to be scratched from her intended preparation race, the Gr 1 Sun Chariot Stakes, which was run over a mile at her current Newmarket U.K base on October 1.

The five-year-old is currently sound. However, the issue which prevented her from lining up in the Sun Chariot was not a bad or “obvious” one, and this makes it difficult for the connections to make a definite decision.

Laird said he would proceed cautiously with her, taking it “a little bit at a time.” If she comes through fine, a decision will then be made on her Breeder’s Cup engagement.

She is due to run in the Gr 1 Filly and Mare Turf over a mile-and-a-quarter at the Santa Anita showpiece on November 5.

KZN’s record-breaking jockey Anthony Delpech was among many who were bitterly disappointed by her late scratching from the Sun Chariot, which was due to her trotting up lame in the stable’s routine pre-race check at Abington Place on the morning of the race.

The race was to be Delpech’s race riding debut in England. The booking was also intended to give him a feel of the mare ahead of the Breeder’s Cup.

Delpech is currently retained by Mary Slack of Wilgerbosdrift Stud and the agreement also included him having first call on horses owned by Mauritzfontein Stud, which is run by Mary’s daughter Jessica.

Smart Call is owned and was bred by Mauritzfontein.

David Thiselton