A stellar cast of stars descend on Santa Anita for the 31st running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships this Friday and Saturday. BOYLAN OVER tunes up and eyes the strong team crossing the Atlantic to do battle with the home side. It should produce some memorable moments and heart-pounding finishes. Here are some of his thoughts on the action over the next couple of days in California.
FRIDAY:
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (9.25pm GMT)
This is a race which has been dominated by the European raiders who’ve landed the spoils on each occasion with the exception of two renewals. Royal Ascot winner Hootenanny is the favourite for this year’s contest but in truth, I can’t see him seeing out the one mile trip and it’s most likely that he’ll go off at a lightening pace and fade in the closing stages as speed appears to be his greatest asset. I feel this could be another happy hunting ground for the visiting party with Commemorative leading the charge for Charlie Hills. His performance in the Autumn Stakes at Newmarket was very commanding and I feel that the conditions at Santa Anita will suit James Doyle’s mount very well. Ireland’s War Envoy looks as if he is going in the right direction with his encouraging run at the Arc De Triomphe meeting and he could easily be in the shake-up with Ryan Moore on board. Wet Sail’s form with promising juvenile Limato should be respected also and could figure in this contest.
1 – Commemorative (9/1)
2 – War Envoy (5/1)
3 – Wet Sail (16/1)
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (10.05pm GMT)
My nap of the day comes in this event in the shape of last year’s winner Goldencents. He showed great early speed at the World Championships last year from the outside gate providing a powerful performance from pillar to post and this year he finds himself drawn in stall one making this an even more workable task than last year. The five year-old Golden Ticket ran a fantastic race in this contest a year ago and could outrun his price and sneak a place late on.
1 – Goldencents (5/4)
2 – Golden Ticket (16/1)
3 – Carve (25/1)
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (10.50pm GMT)
The European raiders could once again play a major role over the mile trip with the Moyglare Stud Stakes (G1) fifth and sixth, Osaila and Qualify looking very strong here. Over the past few years, a strong finishing kick has been an important asset in landing this prize (Chriselliam striking late last year) and both of these fillies saw out their previous starts very well over seven furlongs. Osaila has been very strong all season with her only two defeats coming at the hands of antepost second favourite for next year’s 1,000 Guineas, Cursory Glance. Qualify is steadily improving and will need to step up another notch to get her head in front but appears to have the potential to do so. The Wesley Ward trained Sunset Glow is touted to be his best runner at the World Championships but I would have concerns that her early speed may leave her vulnerable to be caught in the final furlong. It’s a difficult one to call but I’ll just side with Osalia for the Richard Hannon team.
1 – Osaila (6/1)
2 – Qualify (7/1)
3 – Sunset Glow (4/1)
Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (11.35pm GMT)
This looks to be a sparkling clash between five-time grade one winner Close Hatches and Kentucky Oaks winner Untapable with the rest of the field looking a decent stretch behind the pair. Close Hatches had a rare off-day at Keeneland last time out and might prove difficult to catch if given too much of a lead. Nevertheless, if Untapable were to turn up on top form, she could easily put it up to last year’s runner up and make a bid for home coming around the home turn. I think Close Hatches will just have enough to fend off her three year-old rival for Joel Rosario and the Mott barn and round off another spectacular season for Juddmonte Farm’s star in the United States.
1 – Close Hatches (7/2)
2 – Untapable (7/2)
3 – Unbridled Forever (33/1)
SATURDAY:
14 Hands Winery Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (7.05pm GMT)
Saturday’s opening Breeders’ Cup contest appears to be wide open with a number of fillies capable of further improvement lining up here. With no great conviction, I’ll be siding with By The Moon who looked quite smart when landing the Frizette Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park earlier this month. The favourite Angela Renee has to be respected, especially considering her esteemed connections but there would appear to be more value in the market with Michelle Nevin’s runner. Majestic Presence who finished fourth to Angela Renne at Santa Anita last time out may out-run her long odds and sneak a place in the top three this also.
1 – By The Moon (10/1)
2 – Angela Renee (11/4)
3 – Majestic Presence (33/1)
Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (7.43pm GMT)
Last year’s Filly and Mare Turf heroine Dank bids to round off an injury plagued season against some very accomplished rivals in this mile and one quarter grade one. My major concern for Sir Michael Stoute’s filly is her lack of race fitness having been off the track for almost one hundred and forty days but her recent workouts have been pleasing her connections in California. I can see the sole Irish raider Fiesolana relishing this step up in distance after never truly getting involved in the Foret at Longchamp on her previous start over seven furlongs. Just The Judge comes into this race in good form and should produce a solid showing for Qatar Racing in the hands of first choice rider Jamie Spencer. Stephanie’s Kitten was subject to a horrific ride from Frankie Dettori at Arlington Park on her penultimate start but bounced back under the guidance of John Velazquez at Belmont Park in the Flower Bowl Stakes (G1) last time out. Her current odds of 11/2 look far too big for a mare of her quality and she looks bound to be in the shake-up with Velazquez aboard again.
1 – Stephanie’s Kitten (11/2)
2 – Fiesolana (12/1)
3 – Just The Judge (15/2)
Draftkings Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (8.21pm GMT)
This looks to be another wide open renewal of the Filly and Mare Sprint with four contenders for the crown, very firm at the head of the market. Leigh Court was very impressive in the TCA Stakes at Keeneland earlier this month, a race in which the last five winners of the Filly and Mare Sprint took in, before going for glory at the World Championships. Judy The Beauty ran very well in this race last season behind Groupie Doll after being taken very wide on the home turn. She has a better draw this year and the booking of all-time leading Breeders’ Cup jockey Mike Smith is an enormous positive.
1 – Judy The Beauty (4/1)
2 – Leigh Court (6/1)
3 – Thank You Marylou (25/1)
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (9.05pm GMT)
Last season’s Breeders’ Cup Mile runner up (behind Wise Dan) Za Approval lines up over a shorter distance at this year’s World Championships, which I feel could really play to his strengths in this race. He produced a commanding performance from the front over seven furlongs at Belmont Park last time out which would suggest that the drop back to six and a half furlongs should be no issue. He is currently available at 25/1 and this could be far too big a price for a horse with his experience. Local form can also be a useful asset in this race and with that in mind, Reneesgotzip and Home Run Kitten should play a part in this year’s renewal.
1 – Za Approval (25/1)
2 – Reneesgotzip (11/2)
3 – Home Run Kitten (16/1)
Sentinet Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (9.43pm GMT)
After the withdrawal of favourite American Pharaoh earlier this week, Todd Pletcher’s unbeaten colt Daredevil finds himself at the top of the market coming into this race off the back of an impressive grade one win at Belmont Park. He may prove too strong for his rivals from the front but I’m hoping that The Great War will utilise his dirt pedigree and take victory for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore. Although disappointing at times this season, his win at the Curragh on his previous start was very eye-catching and a similar performance could make him a tough nut to crack on the dirt for the first time on Saturday. Carpe Diem was scintillating under John Velazquez when winning a grade one at Keeneland by over six lengths earlier this month and if he were to produce a similar performance, he would surely become favourite for next year’s Kentucky Derby. Calculator’s form with American Pharaoh has to be respected and One Lucky Dane’s breath taking performance at Santa Anita last time out makes him a contender for this year’s renewal also.
1 – The Great War (11/1)
2 – Carpe Diem (7/2)
3 – Calculator (14/1) / One Lucky Dane (14/1)
Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (10.22pm GMT)
My nap of the day and perhaps my strongest fancy of the World Championships will run in this race in the shape of Telescope. On unsuitable ground, he was defeated twice by three-time grade one winner Noble Mission (Frankel’s brother) before annihilating his stablemate Hillstar at Royal Ascot, who has since gone on to win this year’s Canadian International (G1) at Woodbine. Telescope then got within three lengths of Oaks winner Taghrooda in the King George (G1) when conceding fifteen pounds to the filly before running a respectable third to dual classic winning three year-old Australia. The firm ground is definitely to the liking of Sir Michael Stoute’s charge and this appears to be the perfect opportunity for the colt to land his first grade one. Flintshire’s performance in the Arc De Triomphe should see him in the shake-up here and former England footballer Michael Owen’s Brown Panther could figure too if he remains relaxed in the preliminaries.
1 – Telescope (11/4)
2 – Flintshire (11/4)
3 – Brown Panther (16/1)
Xpressbet Breeders’ Cup Sprint (11.01pm GMT)
The Moyglare Stud bred Rich Tapestry is the market leader for this year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint and rightly so after a powerful performance at Santa Anita, narrowly defeating Goldencents earlier this month. Although this is a very competitive renewal of the Sprint, his odds of 5/1 could prove a steal if the Hong Kong raider produces his best form to land the spoils. Bob Baffert’s Indianapolis is very unexposed and is thrown in at the deep end which would suggest the trainer holds him in the highest regard and Fast Anna may be a decent each-way wager at her current odds in the market.
1 – Rich Tapestry (5/1)
2 – Indianapolis (12/1)
3 – Fast Anna (25/1)
Breeders’ Cup Mile (11.40 GMT)
In the absence of Wise Dan, I strongly feel that this year’s Mile will be heading back to Europe and in particular – France. Freddy Head’s Anodin will be my selection for this race after plenty of very positive performances throughout the season, which include a second place finish to champion older horse Cirrus Des Aigles, another second place finish to star miler Kingman and a third place finish behind the favourite for Saturday’s Mile, Toronado. Racing in the colours of three-time winner of this race Goldikova, I strongly fancy Anodin to land the spoils on the turf for master rider Oliver Peslier. French 2,000 Guineas winner Karakonite is also a key player in this race and Dermot Weld’s Mustajeeb should produce his best on the firm surface at Santa Anita.
1 –Anodin (7/1)
2 – Karakonite (14/1)
3 – Mustajeeb (6/1)
Breeders’ Cup Classic (12.35am GMT)
Although unoriginal, I can’t see past Shared Belief in the feature of the World Championships – the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic. This unbeaten three year-old appears to be a very special individual and has already notched up three grade ones in his short career, most recently the Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita.
The question on everybody’s that rings out around Santa Anita is whether or not Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome can bounce back to form and land the Classic. It would be a fairytale story if this colt could return to the electrifying form that saw just fall short at the final leg of the illustrious Triple Crown but I’m not entirely convinced he will deliver his best on Saturday after a tough campaign this season. I can see him running to a decent standard, but not quite enough to land the Classic for his charismatic connections. Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist can also be counted as a live contender as his running style ahould be very beneficial to his chances, sitting in the middle of the pack before making his bid for home. With everything considered, Shared Belief should be too classy for his rivals and just accelerate away from the field to land yet another Classic for Mike Smith. Tonalist should give the favourite a real race and California Chrome will hopefully regain some of his early sparkle to see him pinch a place in a very exciting contest to bring the World Championships to a close.
1 – Shared Belief (2/1)
2 – Tonalist (6/1)
3 – California Chrome (15/2)
Best of luck for the meeting and enjoy the fantastic stars on show at Santa Anita!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Sun2QZyaoI
Mark Boylan of Ireland plays to the crowd at Kentucky
