Lets have a crack at the Breeders cup

Lets have a crack at the Breeders cup


Breeders´ Cup Juvenile Turf (Grade 2) (Colts & Geldings) (2yo) 1m

Looks a tricky start to Saturdays card,The main Protaganists should be the A P O`Briens Viscount Nelson John Gosden`s Pounced and Todd Pletchers Interactif

Viscount Nelson won a listed race at Tipperary before stepping up on that effort with a 3/4L second to Poets Voice in a grp2 at Doncaster,although this form has took a bit of a dunt with Poets Voice defeat last time.

Pounced a lightly raced son of RAHY out of a Storm Cat mare,could go of the likely Fav in Europe but sure the locals will fancy their chances with Interactif who looks the best of the home team and although not too well drawn,but his form on Turf looks the best of these and can`t seem him going of the 9/2 that is available at the moment!

Roughie who could make the money is the consistent King Ledley who had some consistent early season form in Ireland..




Breeders´ Cup Turf Sprint (3yo+) 6 1/2 f

By far the hardest race on the card imo ,find it hard to mix the American and European form in the sprints as racing round bends is not done in top European sprint races, so won`t get too involved in this race.

Would be great to see K Fallon ride a winner at the meeting Strike the Deal is a much improved sprinter the last few months.

His last win at Newbury in the Dubai Duty Free World Trophy (Group 3) beating the Abbey winner Total Gallery and J J the jet Plane into 2nd and 3rd would be good for a place imo but the draw is a leveller and Fallon will have to be at his brilliant best,but the 14/1 is tempting..


Strike the Deal gets the better of
Total Gallery and J J




Sentient Jet Breeders´ Cup Sprint (Grade 1) (Pro-Ride) 6F

This is a cracking race with probably my best bet of the Breeders Cup Zensational at 7/4(massive) will be very hard to beat.Drawn on the rail and with plenty of pace on his outside Bob Bafferts Unbridled Song colt should be dragged into the race well.

If i have to do my money Frankie on Fleeting Spirit would be another boost for J J the jet Plane form ,and at 12/1 a small saver could be the right move.



Zensational looking sensational





Grey Goose Breeders´ Cup Juvenile (Grade 1) (Colts & Geldings) (Pro-Ride) (2yo)

The home team look to be strong here and Bob Bafferts Lookin at Lucky would have been a confient pick here if he had not been drawn in the carpark.his win over track and trip last time was a great run and if he can overcome the draw 3/1 would look silly.

The better drawn D`Funneybone will be a big danger if he stays the extra trip but that is not a give me.

Of the Europeans A P O`Brien runs a couple ,don`t think the fast pace and hustle will suit Beethoven who lacks a turn of foot,his other runner Alfred Nobel has looked a bit dissapointing lately and might be a long season getting on top of him?

One to give an eachway chance to is Radio head who i believe is a massively talented horse who under acheives ,i will never forget the bump he recieved when winning the Norfolk at Royal Ascot,knocked sideways and brought virtually to a standstill he still got up to win by 2L.



Radiohead gets ponied to the start,lets say he
has a mind of his own but at 16/1 a small punt is advised





TVG Breeders´ Cup Mile (Grade 1) (Turf) (3yo+)

Superb renewal of this race with Goldikova looking set to go of a short favourite but with a wide draw and having shown signs last time that she has a short fuse(pulled to hard) im going to take her on with Delegator probably the only horse to have got Sea the Stars of the bridle in his 3yo career,the tight bends and the fast pace will help Frankie settle his mount and at 5/1 an each way bet to nothing imo.


Delegator looks stunning in the sun





Breeders´ Cup Dirt Mile (Grade 1) (Pro-Ride) (3yo+)


Going to take on Mastercraftsman with Goldolphins Midshipman and the Jerry Hollendorfer trained Chocolate Candy .Mastercratsman has had a long hard season and been in some very hard battles and at 6/4 this race might be one too far? Both Midshipman and Chocolate Candy are both consistent performers and at the prices are better value.



Mastercraftsman in a battle with Delegator




Emirates Airline Breeders´ Cup Turf (Grade 1) (3yo+)

This looks like bar a massive shock the trophy will be coming back to the UK with Stoute looking like the most likely recipitent.

Conduit won the race last year and stoute believs he will take some beating again this year,and im not going to disagree,although i have a soft spot for the Filly and possible biggest danger Dar Re Mi im going to punt Conduit at 5/4,im just hoping by this stage in the evening i don`t need to go in to heavy to recoup losses.

Stoutes other runner and 2nd favourite Spanish Moon also has chances but an onform Conduit would be too good for his consistent stable mate..



Last years winner Conduit is off to stand at
stud in Japan after the race




Breeders´ Cup Classic (Grade 1) (Pro-Ride) (3yo+) 1m2f

What a superb race this is and what a great way to round of the European season,the Americans won`t hear of defeat for Zenyatta but im not even sure she makes the places.

The draw looks quite rough on Rip Van Winkle but imo his problem with the draw is the horses on his outside,as there is plenty on his inside that will be held up for a run,including Zenyatta and Mine that Bird so if Murtagh is on his toes at the gate he should be ok from the high draw.

Reading between the lines late last night and early this morning A P is very bullish about RIP and there was relief when he stepped onto the track and showed no signs of his hoof problem.

A P says this about RIP to the press:

"We won't really know if the season has taken its toll until he runs, but Rip is a very brilliant horse, probably the most natural athlete we've ever had.

"This horse gives it all. You have to be careful talking about him because the feel you get from him this morning makes you maybe say too much. The feel, the movement that he has.

"This is a very special horse and I have no doubt that we have never before come here with a horse of this calibre. If we can get him to perform close to what he can do, he should give a really good account of himself."

This above statement says it all to me and i look no further!!!!!



Aidan O'Brien[2nd right] looks down at Rip Van Winkle
as his horses hit the track at Santa Anita on Wednesday

Cheers Hibby superb post

I think its going to be a good meeting for the punters

Here goes, think Zenyatta will run unplaced and Rip Van Winkle will win the big one.

Zensational to lead all the way in the sprint

Goldikova to get back to form and win well

Conduit also looks a winning fav

So keeping with the States flavour a "Yankee" is on the cards

Two bets for me ( i know i am crap at uk but these big races I am tops) Quality Road and Spanish Moon

Great post, hib. You should be part of Timeform or Racing Post team! Now how about Friday's card??

Magic not a patch on the Sat

Midday is no superstar but what a pleasure to run for this stake, we should play Pure Clan?

Ventura hard to beat, but no punts on Friday, unless Hibby is working on another MAGIC post?

Johnny likes Lillie on friday


"She is the best filly we have.

"She is a very smart filly and I couldn't believe she got beaten in the Moyglare (on heavy ground).

"I was very impressed with the way she did it at Newmarket. She did the job well, travelled down the hill well and I think a race like this will really suit her.

"I am only comparing her to last year's race but she is different class really.

"It was nearly a great year last year with three seconds, but with our team it is only winning that matters and we have learned from last year.

"I think we have a very, very strong team this year and there are no weaknesses in any of our horses."

The Ballydoyle string enjoyed their second canter of the week this morning, with Lillie Langtry needing the assistance of O'Brien at one point after becoming upset on the track.

O'Brien explained: "She got a bit confused and went into reverse instead of going forward.

"She saw a coloured horse for the first time and it frightened the life out of her.

"She became detached from the string and became confused. She was like a child losing her mammy and she got a shock.

"Joanne (her work rider) did a brilliant job to hold on to her and we managed to get her back into her comfort zone."

Go boys !

Don't count my filly Junia Tepzia out of things in the Juv Filly Turf. Her draw sucks, but with Fallon up, I bet he figures out a way to compensate for it. She arrived in better shape than the Irish, including Lillie Langtry.

One of my favs could be on target?

Rainbow View aiming to finish season on high

Santa Anita: Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (Grade 1) 1m1f, pro-ride, 3yo f+m

A SEASON that started in deep disappointment could yet end on a huge high for Rainbow View, who becomes an extremely rare British runner in the Zenyatta-free Ladies' Classic.


Having dazzled in the Fillies' Mile on her juvenile swansong, Rainbow View was billed as a potential great, but she has fallen short of those expectations despite adding another Group 1 win in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown.

Only fifth when 8-11 favourite for the 1,000 Guineas, she was subsequently beaten in the Oaks, Coronation Stakes, Falmouth Stakes and Nassau Stakes before finally breaking her three-year-old duck in the Matron.

That victory was followed by another loss when sent to Canada last month, all of which suggests that a semi-shock success will be achieved on Friday only if the John Gosden-trained challenger improves for her first competitive experience of an artificial surface.

Gosden's fellow Newmarket resident Saeed Bin Suroor has two chances to strike, but victory for Music Note or Cocoa Beach, second and third to Zenyatta in last year's race, would go down as one from America not Britain as the fillies form part of the trainer's tremendously successful Stateside string.

America's strongest candidate is arguably the seriously progressive Careless Jewel, winner of her last five starts - most notably the Alabama Stakes - with those five wins achieved by an aggregate of 32 lengths. A front-runner proven on synthetic surfaces, she will be a popular choice.

What they say

Josie Carroll, trainer of Careless Jewel
"She's doing really well. She has done everything right so far. She seems to be steadily improving and I hope that trend continues on Friday."

Barry Abrams, trainer of Lethal Heat
"She is still at the top of her game. She has always been a good work horse but she is even stronger than when she was third to Zenyatta at Del Mar."

Bill Mott, trainer of Mushka
"She is two from two on synthetics, so that's encouraging, and she's also three from four at the distance."

Saeed Bin Suroor, trainer of Cocoa Beach and Music Note "I wasn't happy with either filly at the start of the season, but both are now doing well. Music Note is a different filly to last year and is stronger and better than ever. She won three Grade1 races last year and two this year, so I really like her. Cocoa Beach has been improving with every race and she looks brilliant. I think we have a great chance of winning the race."

John Gosden, trainer of Rainbow View
"She's a tough little character, always has been, and has handled her season very well. I think she is a filly who the more you challenge her, the more she likes it. She has been eating well and looks bigger andbetter.

Gooodluck tonight Barry!!

Strike the deal had a problem with a bruised foot yesterday and will have a fitness test tomorrow.

Man of iron caught the vets eyes yesterday and goes infront of them tonight before running in the Marathon..

ST leger winner Mastery is very strong on the exchanges,shorter than the bookies prices..

My Play for tonight:

Race 1 6-4-7-11
Race 2 9-14-5-1
Race 3 6-2-5-9
Race 4 8-6-4-10
Race 5 3-7-6-10
Race 6 5-6-2-3
Race 7 9-7-2-8
Race 8 1-7-8-5
Race 9 8-11-13-3