Breeders' Cup preview
October 22nd 2008 09:14
The final fields have been announced for the Breeders’ Cup meeting to be held over Friday and Saturday at Santa Anita.
There are exceptional races on both days with sprinters, stayers, juveniles, mares and turf track specialists all catered for on the two day program. But the two races of most interest to those of us in Australia would be the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (run over 1 1/4 miles) and the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (run over 1 1/2 miles on turf).
The advent of the synthetic track at Santa Anita has led to a very positive response to stables from Europe as they now believe their horses will be far more competitive (perhaps even advantaged) on the synthetic track. This, and a new eagerness to bring the US more into line with the drug regulations of Europe, has resulted in a significant increase in the number of horses from Europe as stables now no longer feel as disadvantaged as previously.
Curlin has been installed as a very short priced (7/5) favourite to win consecutive Breeders’ Cup Classics. This year he is the world champion (number one ranked) thoroughbred and not the promising and emerging 3 year old as he was last year.
But this time he is to be subjected to challenges (and challengers) far more difficult than the ability to handle the mud heap that was the (unwanted) feature of last year’s event at Monmouth Park. This time he meets some of the best horses from Europe on a playing field not likely to give him a home track advantage. It was only recently after a series of impressive track gallops that it has been decided that Curlin would take his place. This is not turf - but it is not dirt either.
Instead of a wax base, the Pro-Ride surface has a polymer base which allows for more recoil. Trainers who have been training on the surface have given the new track rave reviews. Although the track appears harder - and the horses don’t sink into the surface - it has actually been considered far kinder to the needs of horses. And like a turf track it allows for horses to win from any position - on the speed or further back.
Recent conqueror of Henrythenavigator, Raven’s Pass, has been put up as second favourite and most expected to challenge Curlin. Aidan O’Brien is well represented by Duke Of Marmalade and Henrythenavigator - and this time not having the benefit of an additional starter to make the pace. Not that it is likely that the pace will be missing from this feature race.
Henrythenavigator finally gets out beyond one mile - after one time being highly fancied to win an Epsom Derby. It is an in-between distance that should suit this champion miler. Similarly Raven’s Pass will be stepping out over this trip also for the first time. Duke Of Marmalade is proven at the highest level at this distance and looms as the obvious challenger to Curlin - that is if he is not feeling the effects of a long season.
Or perhaps it will be the Japanese entry of Casino Drive who will reign supreme? He already has a win on this surface and arrives as the fresh horse on the scene.
Henrythenavigator may not be the stable elect - with Johnny Murtagh riding Duke Of Marmalade - but I would not be surprised to find him relish the conditions of this race.
My suggestions are:
1 Henrythenavigator
2 Curlin
3 Raven's Pass
In the Breeders’ Cup Turf Aidan O’Brien will have the services of his perennial pacemaker Red Rock Canyon to set the speed for favourite Soldier Of Fortune. This is a very even race with 9 of the 11 horses quoted at 10/1 or less. Only Red Rock Canyon - who everyone knows is there to set the pace - is not considered any chance of winning.
1 Soldier Of Fortune
2 Grand Couturier
3 Eagle Mountain
Aidan O'Brien will be hoping that I am right with my predictions.
$5 million Breeders' Cup Classic
3YO and Up; 1 1/4 Miles
1 Go Between Garrett Gomez 8-1
2 Casino Drive Victor Espinoza 10-1
3 Tiago Mike Smith 15-1
4 Duke of Marmalade (IRE) John Murtagh 10-1
5 Henrythenavigator John Velazquez 10-1
6 Smooth Air Manoel Cruz 50-1
7 Student Council Shaun Bridgmohan 20-1
8 Raven's Pass Frankie Dettori 6-1
9 Curlin Robby Albarado 7-5
10 Fairbanks Richard Migliore 10-1
11 Colonel John Edgar Prado 20-1
12 Champs Elysees (GB) Alan Garcia 15-1
$3 million Breeders' Cup Turf
3YO and Up; 1 1/2 Miles (Turf)
1 Better Talk Now Ramon Dominguez 10-1
2 Red Rocks (IRE) Frankie Dettori 5-1
3 Grand Couturier (GB) Alan Garcia 6-1
4 Soldier of Fortune (IRE) John Murtagh 7-2
5 Winchester Patrick Smullen 15-1
6 Dancing Forever Rene Douglas 10-1
7 Red Rock Canyon (IRE) Colm O'Donoghue 30-1
8 Spring House John Velazquez 10-1
9 Conduit (IRE) Ryan Moore 6-1
10 Out of Control (BRZ) Garrett Gomez 10-1
11 Eagle Mountain (GB) Kevin Shea 6-1
A video of Curlin working on the synthetic track at Santa Anita:
Curlin preparing for the Breeders' Cup Classic
There are exceptional races on both days with sprinters, stayers, juveniles, mares and turf track specialists all catered for on the two day program. But the two races of most interest to those of us in Australia would be the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (run over 1 1/4 miles) and the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf (run over 1 1/2 miles on turf).
The advent of the synthetic track at Santa Anita has led to a very positive response to stables from Europe as they now believe their horses will be far more competitive (perhaps even advantaged) on the synthetic track. This, and a new eagerness to bring the US more into line with the drug regulations of Europe, has resulted in a significant increase in the number of horses from Europe as stables now no longer feel as disadvantaged as previously.
Curlin has been installed as a very short priced (7/5) favourite to win consecutive Breeders’ Cup Classics. This year he is the world champion (number one ranked) thoroughbred and not the promising and emerging 3 year old as he was last year.
But this time he is to be subjected to challenges (and challengers) far more difficult than the ability to handle the mud heap that was the (unwanted) feature of last year’s event at Monmouth Park. This time he meets some of the best horses from Europe on a playing field not likely to give him a home track advantage. It was only recently after a series of impressive track gallops that it has been decided that Curlin would take his place. This is not turf - but it is not dirt either.
Instead of a wax base, the Pro-Ride surface has a polymer base which allows for more recoil. Trainers who have been training on the surface have given the new track rave reviews. Although the track appears harder - and the horses don’t sink into the surface - it has actually been considered far kinder to the needs of horses. And like a turf track it allows for horses to win from any position - on the speed or further back.
Recent conqueror of Henrythenavigator, Raven’s Pass, has been put up as second favourite and most expected to challenge Curlin. Aidan O’Brien is well represented by Duke Of Marmalade and Henrythenavigator - and this time not having the benefit of an additional starter to make the pace. Not that it is likely that the pace will be missing from this feature race.
Henrythenavigator finally gets out beyond one mile - after one time being highly fancied to win an Epsom Derby. It is an in-between distance that should suit this champion miler. Similarly Raven’s Pass will be stepping out over this trip also for the first time. Duke Of Marmalade is proven at the highest level at this distance and looms as the obvious challenger to Curlin - that is if he is not feeling the effects of a long season.
Or perhaps it will be the Japanese entry of Casino Drive who will reign supreme? He already has a win on this surface and arrives as the fresh horse on the scene.
Henrythenavigator may not be the stable elect - with Johnny Murtagh riding Duke Of Marmalade - but I would not be surprised to find him relish the conditions of this race.
My suggestions are:
1 Henrythenavigator
2 Curlin
3 Raven's Pass
In the Breeders’ Cup Turf Aidan O’Brien will have the services of his perennial pacemaker Red Rock Canyon to set the speed for favourite Soldier Of Fortune. This is a very even race with 9 of the 11 horses quoted at 10/1 or less. Only Red Rock Canyon - who everyone knows is there to set the pace - is not considered any chance of winning.
1 Soldier Of Fortune
2 Grand Couturier
3 Eagle Mountain
Aidan O'Brien will be hoping that I am right with my predictions.
$5 million Breeders' Cup Classic
3YO and Up; 1 1/4 Miles
1 Go Between Garrett Gomez 8-1
2 Casino Drive Victor Espinoza 10-1
3 Tiago Mike Smith 15-1
4 Duke of Marmalade (IRE) John Murtagh 10-1
5 Henrythenavigator John Velazquez 10-1
6 Smooth Air Manoel Cruz 50-1
7 Student Council Shaun Bridgmohan 20-1
8 Raven's Pass Frankie Dettori 6-1
9 Curlin Robby Albarado 7-5
10 Fairbanks Richard Migliore 10-1
11 Colonel John Edgar Prado 20-1
12 Champs Elysees (GB) Alan Garcia 15-1
$3 million Breeders' Cup Turf
3YO and Up; 1 1/2 Miles (Turf)
1 Better Talk Now Ramon Dominguez 10-1
2 Red Rocks (IRE) Frankie Dettori 5-1
3 Grand Couturier (GB) Alan Garcia 6-1
4 Soldier of Fortune (IRE) John Murtagh 7-2
5 Winchester Patrick Smullen 15-1
6 Dancing Forever Rene Douglas 10-1
7 Red Rock Canyon (IRE) Colm O'Donoghue 30-1
8 Spring House John Velazquez 10-1
9 Conduit (IRE) Ryan Moore 6-1
10 Out of Control (BRZ) Garrett Gomez 10-1
11 Eagle Mountain (GB) Kevin Shea 6-1
A video of Curlin working on the synthetic track at Santa Anita:
| 31 |
| Vote |
Shared on
Subscribe to this blog
