Attention returns to Churchill Downs on Friday and Saturday as the course gets ready to stage thoroughbred racing's most prestigious global event – the 28th Breeders’ Cup.
With fifteen races and with prize money in excess of $25 million on offer, it isn’t hard to see why the world famous meeting is regarded as one of racing’s most exciting extravaganzas. With a worldwide audience of more than 130 countries, the world’s leading superstars head to the event and battle it out in a sensational climax to the year-long championship. With the meeting encompassing almost every division of the sport; the Breeders’ Cup really does present racing fans with the grandest spectacle imaginable.
For a spectacle so grand, there must be a star of the show and a headline act worthy of top billing. Last year Zenyatta was the Breeders’ Cup pin up and she appeared to revel in the circus that surrounded her bid for back-to-back successes in the Classic. Devastatingly for her followers, eventual winner Blame didn’t appear to read the script and her heartbreaking defeat in the Breeders’ Cup Classic agonizingly ended her astonishing unbeaten run.
This year it is Todd Pletcher’s Uncle Mo (4/1,
Stan James) who heads the Breeders’ Cup cast and his Lazarus-like recovery from illness will be complete if he can claim the Classic on Saturday.
The superstar is the morning-line favourite for the race and last season’s champion two year old has bounced back to form after being diagnosed with a liver disease earlier this year. Forced to miss the Kentucky Derby and the rest of the Triple Crown, Uncle Mo has since returned to finish second in the King’s Bishop Stake before trouncing his rivals in a sensational victory in the Grade One Kelso.
Now he will step into the unknown and tackle ten furlongs at Churchill Downs, despite the fact many of America’s leading pundits believe he should be hosing up in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.
The vibes coming out of America are far from encouraging and the two-turn mile and a quarter at Churchill Downs has plenty of his followers on the back foot. An incredibly quick individual, Uncle Mo oozes class and he has an abundance of talent that makes him a formidable rival. He has the ability to do something seriously special on Saturday night, but question marks over the trip, his draw and his far from impressive workouts this week will be giving even the most dedicated of his fans a last minute scare.
If the horse is now truly healthy and he manages to get the 1m2f, then we could be on the verge of witnessing a performance akin to his unforgettable display in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
If the chinks in Uncle Mo’s armour do ruin his chances in the feature then there is a whole host of rivals that will be happy to power into the winner’s enclosure. Aidan O’Brien’s So You Think will be a tough nut to crack if he takes to dirt and Havre De Grace ticks plenty of boxes, but Flat Out could be the one to strike if the favourite isn’t up to the task.
However, there are better bets to be had on the card and
STACELITA (7/2,
William Hill) can get Breeders’ Cup punters off to a winning start on Friday in the
Filly And Mare Turf (22.50 GMT).
The former French raider joined Chad Brown in the US last year and has revelled in her new surroundings, racking up easy wins in the Beverly D. at Arlington and the Flower Bowl Invitational at Belmont recently. Both victories have been achieved with consummate ease and both races are recognized as the leading trials for the Filly And Mare Turf.
Even on her European form behind Midday she would head into this race a leading contender and in the absence of Henry Cecil’s superstar, she sits at the top of the shortlist for Friday’s Grade One.
Her tactical speed and the gears she displays to get herself out of trouble will be a potent weapon at Churchill Downs and the 7/2 on offer looks a fantastic price. True, she would rather there was be a little bit of give underfoot, but she is America’s leading female turf horse and she will take some catching on home soil.
Roger Varian’s Nahrain and French raider Announce will make life difficult for the selection, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Aidan O’Brien’s Misty For Me finish the best of the remainder with the use of lasix, a return to 1m2f and the track at Churchill Downs all in her favour.
We must wait until Saturday’s spellbinding card for the next of this weekend’s Breeders’ Cup bets and
SEA MOON (4/1,
bet365) can strike in the
Breeders’ Cup Turf (20.45 GMT).
In recent years there have been some top class horses turned over in this race and the likes of Behkabad, Hurricane Run, Montjeu and Pistolet Bleu are all proof that European form doesn’t always stack up on the other side of the pond. That being said, it would be a huge shock if one of the European raiders doesn’t win this year’s renewal and Sea Moon looks the one to be on in 2011.
Sir Michael Stoute has endured a poor season in light of his high standards and without a single Group or Grade One success under his belt; he will be hoping that Sea Moon is ready to turn the tables on Saturday.
The selection looked a colt of the highest order when he powered to a scintillating victory in the Great Voltigeur at York in August and the lightly raced son of Beat Hallow was sent off a short priced favourite for this year’s St Leger.
Despite finishing well, a poor ride and a whole lot of trouble in running meant he could only finish third behind Masked Marvel and we certainly didn’t see the real Sea Moon at Doncaster.
He looks to have strong claims in this race and he looks exactly the type of horse that Stoute excels with as time goes on. He is sure to have come on leaps and bounds since his defeat in Group One company in September and it is about time he started to deliver on his undoubted potential.
Of course the bet comes with risks attached and the tight circuit and short run for home will be a huge negative if there isn’t genuine pace in the race. Sea Moon’s followers will be hoping that one of the Ballyodyle brigade, St Nicholas Abbey or Await The Dawn, are forced to make the pace otherwise the race could turn into the farce that the selection will be looking to avoid. If the pace isn’t strong and they crawl through the opening stages of the Group One showpiece, the wise money would be on Sarafina who possesses an admiral turn of foot off any gallop.
Hopefully with Stacelita and Sea Moon now in the bag punters will be able to attack the
Breeders’ Cup Mile (22.07 GMT) with some conviction and
GOLDIKOVA (7/4,
Paddy Power) can make it a remarkable four consecutive successes at the Breeders’ Cup.
Freddie Head’s wondermare will go down in history as one of the greatest milers the sport has ever seen and her huge fan club should not be put off by the fact she arrives in America on a two race losing streak.
The French raider has finished second to three of the best milers in the business this season and in the process, has posted top class figures that would suggest her powers are very much intact. Defeats to Canford Cliffs, Immortal Verse and Dream Ahead (all by very small margins) still represent high class performances and she still heads into this year’s Mile with the best form in the book.
None of her conquerors are making the trip to Churchill Downs and though she must contend with the likes of Strong Suit and Courageous Cat, she has been there and done it all before and there is no reason to think she can’t do the same again on Saturday.
Goldikova’s blistering pace, astonishing turn of foot and class edge will see her through a race which will be far from her greatest test of the season.
Six years of age and with 26 starts under her belt, she can prove that she is very much the one to be on and a victory for Head’s stable star would be as popular in America as it will be in France.
Nick Wilby’s Breeders’ Cup selections:
Friday: Filly And Mare Turf (22.50 GMT) –
STACELITA (7/2,
William Hill)
Saturday: Breeders’ Cup Turf (20.45 GMT) –
SEA MOON (4/1,
bet365)
Saturday: Breeders’ Cup Mile (22.07 GMT) –
GOLDIKOVA (7/4,
Paddy Power)
