US racing’s flagship meeting is upon us and it’s Day 2 of the Breeders’ Cup on Saturday. Del Mar hosts the festivities this year and there’s plenty to look forward to.
Americans would suggest that the Breeders’ Cup Classic is the main event and whilst there’s usually not much European interest in the 1m2f Dirt event, Aidan O’Brien’s City Of Troy has a date with destiny and will attempt to claim the iconic prize.
We’ve previewed the important Grade 1 races and picked out two of our strongest selections for each, including the eagerly anticipated Classic, which takes place at 9.41.
9.41 – Breeders’ Cup Classic
There’s over £5,000,000 in prize money on offer for the Breeders’ Cup Classic and with the excitement building towards this year’s race, it could be priceless. The main event takes place at 9.41 and a field of 14 has been declared. Ballydoyle’s star three-year-old CITY OF TROY heads the market and will be bidding to be the first European winner of the race since Raven’s Pass in 2008.
Everyone questioned Aidan O’Brien when he stood firm in his belief that City Of Troy would win the Derby after his 2000 Guineas flop, but O’Brien was the one laughing in the end. The son of Justify was imperious in the Derby and won by just shy of three-lengths, despite the fact that plenty went wrong during the race.
Stablemate Los Angeles was six-lengths away back in third and he went on to win the Irish Derby and finish third in the Arc. The drop back to 1m2f proved no issue when becoming the first Derby winner to follow up in the Eclipse at Sandown since Golden Horn in 2015.
Following up in the Juddmonte International at York next time, Champion Stakes runner-up and impressive Royal Ascot scorer Calandagan was a length behind in second.
City Of Troy’s tendency to race a little too keenly over middle-distance trips could end up working in his favour here. A fast break will be essential to his chances from stall three and if he can get near the front quickly, his high cruising speed will give him every chance.
The decision to give him a workout over a mile at Southwell could end up being a wise one and he had no issues on the surface there. Del Mar’s dirt will be a different test however but Wesley Ward suggested that Del Mar’s dirt track is one of the easier courses to convert turf form on to.
It could be a while before O’Brien gets a better chance of adding this illustrious race to his long list of big international successes and in Aidan we trust!
Todd Pletcher’s Fierceness is next in the market and connections are firmly of the belief that their Travers Stakes winner is the one to beat. He won the Florida Derby by a wide margin at Gulfstream Park in March but was bitterly disappointing in the Kentucky Derby. This horse is undoubtedly the home team’s best chance but he may not have enough to repel City Of Troy.
Yoshito Yahagi runs Forever Young here and his very narrow defeat in the Kentucky Derby suggests he has every chance of competing here. If he hadn’t fluffed the start, he almost certainly would have won that day and another big run could be on the cards.
Sierra Leone was narrowly in front of Forever Young that day and has held his form since with a flurry of placed efforts. Fierceness appears to have his measure but this consistent sort should run his race once again. Highland Falls shouldn’t be discounted either, as he was an impressive winner of the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga when last seen.
SELECTION: CITY OF TROY
NEXT BEST: FOREVER YOUNG
9.01 - Breeders’ Cup Turf
Europe tends to dominate in this and have won eight of the last 10 renewals. It’s no surprise then that British, Irish and French horses fill the first six places in the market.
Rebel’s Romance hasn’t done much wrong this year and the jet-setter has won top level races in Dubai, Hong Kong and Germany. Winner of this race in 2022, he looks well set to make the frame once again.
EMILY UPJOHN can be a tricky horse to work out but the fact that she possesses loads of ability can’t be denied. It has been an up and down campaign for her so far but Frankie Dettori is back on board and she was half-a-length behind Arc winner Bluestocking in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh. If on a going day she has the ability to take this.
The market suggests the home team is nowhere near winning this, with the shortest price US runner being 50/1. Japan has a couple of interesting challengers in Shahyar and Rousham Park, whilst the former is the most enticing, he has something to find with Rebel’s Romance.
Brian Meehan’s improving three-year-old Jayarebe might find this a little too hot to handle and Aidan O’Brien’s Wingspan also has a bit to find. Luxembourg can be a frustrating horse to follow but he won the Coronation Cup in May and should find the easy 1m4f to his liking here.
SELECTION: EMILY UPJOHN
NEXT BEST: LUXEMBOURG
10.25 - Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
CINDERELLA’S DREAM has progressed nicely since finishing a respectable seventh in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket. Two successful US raids later and she looks like a worthy favourite here, provided the step up in trip doesn’t stretch her stamina.
Content won the Yorkshire Oaks back in August but her two subsequent efforts have been underwhelming. She looked like a filly that was done for the season when very flat at Ascot two weeks ago and is probably best watched.
War Like Goddess is the best of the home team here and whilst there’s a chance she could get outpaced, it’ll be a surprise if Bill Mott’s filly doesn’t make the frame. Canada-based trainer Kevin Attard sends over impressive E P Taylor Stakes winner Full Count Felicia who looks more than capable of claiming this prize.
Soprano needs to find some improvement but the daughter of Starspangledbanner is trying a new trip for the first time and could surprise a few.
SELECTION: CINDERELLA’S DREAM @ 3/1
NEXT BEST: FULL COUNT FELICIA @ 10/1
11.45 - Breeders' Cup Mile
2000 Guineas winner Notable Speech is excellent on his day but has the propensity to throw in a shocker, which makes him an opposable favourite here.
Consistency is the cornerstone of PORTA FORTUNA’s excellent season however and Donnacha O’Brien’s filly can beat the boys here. She has won three Group 1 races on the spin and was only just denied in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last year.
Ramatuelle returned to winning ways with a very impressive win in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp but is perhaps better over 7f than a mile these days. Diego Velazquez took a while to get going this season but is progressing nicely now and looks ready for the return to Group 1 company.
Carl Spackler is looking to complete a four-timer here and he along with Tim Yakteen’s Johannes provide the home team’s strongest chances.
SELECTION: PORTA FORTUNA
NEXT BEST: DIEGO VELAZQUEZ
