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This weekend showcases some of the best American and European Horses at Santa Anita for the Breeders Cup. I’m going to preview 3 of the biggest races in the Breeders Cup Mile, Turf and the Classic:
Breeders Cup Mile:
Europeans have a strong record in recent years in this race, they’ve won five out of the last ten renewals including three time winner Goldikova.
The race holds a lot of interest mainly because the second best rated European miler Excelebration comes up against the highest rated American horse this year in Wise Dan. Throw into the mix handy sprinter turned miler Moonlight Cloud and there is a genuine class field in this years race.
Excelebration was very impressive in the QE11 at Ascot two weeks ago however he has a quick turnaround and the ground to contend with. His best form seems to be in soft going.
His trainer Aidan O’Brien “He oozes class and has loads of speed – that’s his greatest weapon, you must remember, though, that it’s only two weeks since he ran on soft ground. He seems to be in good form, but the reality is that you don’t really know until they run again”
Meanwhile Moonlight Clouds trainer Freddy Head claims “I think she is the one to beat,” and “She is handy, she is fast and she can turn”, he should know he was trainer of the mighty Goldikova.
Two runs back Moonlight Cloud did not get luck in running when 4th to Excelebration in a French Group 1. Last time out she defeated the progressive Farhh. Back at Royal Ascot she was 2nd only to the great Black Caviar over 6 furlongs, shes a horse on the up this year.
Wise Dan is the best of the local horses, hes has now won 3 in a row at a mile on the turf, 2 of them at Grade 1 level. He is the highest rated horse in America this year. Another American contender is Obviously, a fast front runner who has yet to win a Grade 1.
Breeders Cup Classic:
This is the big one, certainly for the Americans. The only European to land this was John Gosden with Ravens Pass in 2008.
Leading American three year olds I’ll Have Another and Bodmeister are missing from this race so the main three year old threat comes in the from of Bob Baffert trained Game on Dude. With two Grade 1’s to his name this year, Baffert claims that “He’s been traing great and figures to run that way too.”
Other contenders include Mucho Macho Man, third in last years Kentuck Derby and two Grade 2 victories to his name this year, and Fort Larned, winner of a Grade 1 handicap two runs back.
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