The Breeders’ Cup gets under way on Friday night at Santa Anita and the Europeans have a terrific record at this venue. Their main hopes of success on the opening night depend on the juvenile races where they are strongly represented.
I cannot remember three top class winners from Europe going for a juvenile race at the Breeders’ Cup before but Vorda, Chriselliam and Al Thakhira have all won important trials in the UK. Vorda is the clear pick on form having won the Cheveley Park Stakes and her prospects of staying the mile will be helped by the fast surface.
Of the other two, I much prefer Al Thakhira who was always travelling like a winner in the Rockfel Stakes. You never quite know how they are going to match up against the Americans but Vorda looks overpriced at 4-1. The European challenge is not as strong in the Juvenile but both Giovanni Boldini and Outstrip have been favoured by low draws.
Outstrip won the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster in great style and then finished third to War Command in the Dewhurst Stakes. That form matches up well against this field and he is tempting at around 6-1 to provide Godolphin with another Breeders’ Cup victory. On Saturday, the European challenge is spearheaded by two super fillies in The Fugue and Dank.
I was confident that Sir Michael Stoute’s filly would win the Beverly D Stakes but I was surprised by just how easily she did so. She looks a stand out bet in the Filly and Mare Turf. The Fugue has her ground at last after missing out on the Arc and the Champion Stakes. I’d say she was a certainty over a mile and a quarter but this mile and a half just causes me a bit of concern. William Buick got it all wrong in the Filly & Turf last year but can make amends here and land a cracking big-race double for the Brits.
I will be opposing Olympic Glory in the mile as his best form is on soft ground and a straight course. He gets neither here and has it all to do to beat Wise Dan. Declaration Of War has had a long old season and runs in a race that has not been kind to Aidan O’Brien over the years. Game On Dude looks very hard to fault and can send the punters home very happy!
Santa Anita (Friday) Outstrip 6-1 Paddy Power, Vorda 4-1 Coral Santa Anita
(Saturday) Dank 2-1 William Hill, The Fugue 9-4 William Hill, Wise Dan 11-10 888Sport, Game On Dude 3-1 Coral.
