18.45 - Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf
There is strong European representation here as Aidan O'Brien runs probably one of his best juveniles in Viscount Nelson. I think that he is going to be well suited by the step up to a mile and I reckon he has a good chance of running well and looks well drawn to boot. This went to a British-trained runner last year in Donativum and it shows that the Europeans can win at this meeting with their juveniles.
19.23 - Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint
An interesting runner here is Lord Shanakill, who is now trained in America and was formerly with Karl Burke. He is dropping back to six and half furlongs when most of his best form has been over a mile - that is a bit of a question mark. Jeremy Noseda runs Strike The Deal, the mount of Kieren Fallon, and Kieren really seems to have found the key to him. He has stormed from the back of the field to win his last two starts and clearly has a lot of speed. Both those were over five furlongs and I think that is his best trip. Whether he can show the same potency over this distance remains to be seen.
20.10 - Breeders' Cup Sprint
This is run on the Pro-Ride and represents one of Britain's best chances in Fleeting Spirit. She may not have got the best of the draw but she is tremendously consistent and game and a high-class as well. She was second last time in the Prix de l'Abbaye and before that was just stretched on softish ground in the Haydock Park Sprint. She won the July Cup and I think that her best trip is six furlongs and the fast surface will also suit her very well. There is a very strong American contender in Zensational and also Godolphin's Gayego but I think Fleeting Spirit is one of the best sprinters we have seen in this county in a few years and has a great chance.
20.49 - Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Aidan O'Brien has a couple of runners in this with Alfred Nobel and Beethoven. The latter won the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket and now steps up from seven furlongs while Alfred Nobel was beaten by the draw last time out. Vale Of York is a very consistent juvenile for Godolphin while Radiohead represents Brian Meehan. Whether the latter will stay this extended mile trip, I would not be at all certain as he has shown a lot of speed. A difficult race to win and Beethoven might be the best of the raiders - I am not sure whether he can convert that into a victory.
21.28 - Breeders' Cup Mile
This was won in stunning fashion by Goldikova 12 months ago and she is a brilliant filly at her best. She comes into the race this time on the back of what is best described as a mixed preparation. She was deeply impressive winning at Deauville in August but then was beaten last time at Longchamp where things did not seem to go her way. She sat very close to a fast early pace and really had nothing left at the end. If they go off quickly here and she can be ridden with a bit more restraint then she is likely to be coming through strongly at the finish. She is poorly drawn in stall 11 of 11 and that has to be a worry. I am very keen on Sir Michael Stoute's Zacinto, who really looks a horse on the up. His run behind Rip Van Winkle in the QEII at Ascot gives me the impression he is really improving and I think he could take another step forward here. To get to within a length and a quarter of the winner at Ascot was a terrific effort. I think he will confirm the form with Delegator, who seems to have stamina limitations even over this easy mile if the pace is as fast as expected with it likely to come from Godolphin's Gladiatorus, who goes off at a million miles an hour. Zacinto looks the one to be on although Goldikova deserves a lot of respect.
22.12 - Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile
This is a slight imponderable as Mastercraftsman runs in this and he is completely unproven on the surface. He did win at Dundalk last time on the Polytrack and does represent very strong form this season having won the St James's Palace Stakes and then finished placed twice behind Sea The Stars. I think the opposition will be tough but Aidan O'Brien thinks he has plenty of speed as he drops back to a mile and seems to be a leading contender. But looking at the market, I don't think he represents a great deal of value.
22.57 - Breeders' Cup Turf
Conduit won this last year and he looks well placed to go close again. He has had an exemplary season winning the King George, finishing second in the Eclipse and also fourth in the Arc at Longchamp, one place ahead of Dar Re Mi (who reopposes here). Conduit also looks to have the beating of stablemate Spanish Moon on a line through Vision D'Etat. The home defence does not look too strong here and I think it has to be Conduit and Ryan Moore for a repeat of last year's win.
23.45 - Breeders' Cup Classic
This is the most prestigious race of the meeting and it features Aidan O'Brien's Rip Van Winkle, who is one of the best three-year-olds of the season. He has really flourished over the last few months and developed so well. He gave Sea The Stars a terrific race in the Eclipse at Sandown and that form has worked out exceptionally well - Twice Over was seventh and meets him again. He then went on to win the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and then the QEII at Ascot. In those last two races Johnny Murtagh has been very aggressive on him but he steps up to a mile and a quarter now and I expect he will be ridden with a little more restraint. I rather feel that if this had not been the season of Sea The Stars we would have been lauding Rip Van Winkle as an exceptional three-year-old colt and he will take an enormous amount of beating. He has had little foot problems throughout the campaign and quite recently too but the latest bulletin from Aidan O'Brien was pretty positive. Twice Over, winner of the Champion Stakes, is in really good form at the moment but his Newmarket form does not quite look good enough here - he is capable of a bold show however. The Americans have plenty to shout about with the very special Zenyatta as she has never been beaten in 13 starts but this is her first run against the colts. Summer Bird is another leading player for the home team but Rip Van Winkle has to rate as one of the European team's best chances this year.
Preview posted at 2130GMT on 05/11/2009.
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