There is a strong British challenge at this year's Breeders' Cup.(credit:
Thowra UK)
Britain's challenge for the Breeder's Cup out west in California has previously been catastrophic, but with the dirt surface replaced by the new Pro Ride (similar to Polytrack) surface, the odds have been stacked up in our favour.
Santa Anita is set to host back-to-back Cups and I can readily see the challenge from these shores accumulating a healthy total of winners and placed prize money as well.
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Our main hope on the first night (Friday November 6) is in the Marathon where St Leger hero Mastery looks sure to go off at relatively short odds, currently trading at 3.25. The tight track will certainly suit this handy sort, but I can't get over the desperately hard race he had in the final classic of the season and feel last year's winner Muhannak has been overlooked and looks outstanding value at 14.5.
The son of Chester House has been brought along steadily this season and ran a race full of promise last time out when fifth in the Cumberland Lodge. He will be a much shorter price on track.
The Euro challenge could be even stronger in the Fillies and Mares Turf on the Friday with Midday and Dar Re Mi (more likely to run in Turf) sure to go well with the additional back up of Rainbow View.
Again all are handy, well balanced sorts and have most to fear form last year's winner Forever Together.
The current holder has only ever been unplaced once in 14 outings, but I marginally prefer Midday at around 5.0. She will revel on the prevailing fast ground and is very versatile as regards tactics.
The main events on Saturday look harder to unravel...
19:23 - Turf Sprint - California Flag heads the home team, but a lot of his form has been over further and we could hit the jackpot here with Strike The Deal at 11.5, could drift to a bigger price on the day, over our other entry Fleeting Spirit (6.4), more likely to run in Sprint.
20:10 - Dirt Mile - This has been the domain of the home team but they could be vulnerable this year to Godolphin's Midshipman (9.0). The youngster has shown a liking for this surface and although an extra furlong would suit, the pace in the race may compensate for that. Although he could drift further, he is preferred to Mastercraftsman (4.5).
The last named has had a long hard season and this appears to be an afterthought on the part of connections.
Godolphin's Regal Ransom (26.0) would be very interesting if taking up this race as opposed to the Classic as he certainly has the pace for this shorter trip.
20:49 - Juvenile - Most of the European runners come here off a long and hard season and Lookin at Lucky will be hard to beat form the home contingent.
However, we could have one of the value bets of the meeting here in the form of John Gosden's Pounced. Relatively fresh and available at 15.0, could drift closer to the event, will adore the surface and represents the stable responsible for last year's winner. He is my idea of the best outsider of the meeting to make the journey across the pond.
Pounced could run in the Juvenile Turf but is no certainty to get into that race. Whatever his end destination he is worth serious consideration for a win and place wager.
21:28 - Mile - Last year's winner Goldikova (1.9) returns to her optimum conditions, but is not bomb proof at a shade of odds-on.
Zacinto is interesting at 7.5, but I would like to see how he trains on the track and Delegator 9.0 (connections worried by trip) and Gladiatorus (16.0) may not be good enough.
The home-trained Cowboy Cal (21.0) could be the answer to surprise the French filly.
22:12 - Sprint - Can Fleeting Spirit come good on a surface which should suit? It's a hard ask and Goldophin's Gayego (two from two over C&D and available at 5.2) could be the one to overturn strong favourite Zensational (2.8).
A bigger danger to Frankie's mount could come from the Argentinian bred Capt. Candyman Can (7.0) likely to be suited by a strong run race and sure to be finishing to some effect.
22:57 - Turf - With Summer Bird likely to take in the Classic, Conduit (2.6) should prove hard to beat here for the European raiders after his superb run in the Arc and he can confirm the Longchamp form with Dar Re Mi (6.2). Spanish Moon is the other obvious big Euro player, but his quirky nature means he is more of an in running play than an ante-post investment.
23:45 - Classic - The change of surface from dirt to Pro Ride has played in our favour in the Classic more than in any other race, a view confirmed by the European one-two in last year's event.
That has encouraged the raiders to go the jugular again. Rip Van Winkle (3.25) has the best form claims, but as I have previously stated has been on the go for some while and there is better value elsewhere. Of course, were he to turn up here in the same form as displayed in the Eclipse and Sussex Stakes then he would probably win, but it is a big if.
Of the other raiders, Twice Over (15.5) may not be in the same league as the Aidan O'Brien runner, but comes here fit and fresh and at the top of his form. Of the Godolphin entries I would prefer Regal Ransom (34.0) to Girolamo (75.0) though the latter is more likely to take up the engagement.
But whatever turns up Zenyatta (6.0) and Summer Bird (9.0) are my main selections.