Horse Racing Betting – Bird To Prove Best In Classic Encounter

There’s no doubt the Breeders’ Cup is a magnificent spectacle and one that horse racing fans on both sides of the Atlantic always look forward to with relish. British and Irish raiders have enjoyed some notable triumphs over the years, High Chaparral‘s two victories in the Turf in 2002 and 2003 spring to mind while Oaks winner Ouija Board won the Fillies and Mares Turf twice. Last year, especially, proved a great one for raiders from Europe with John Gosden‘s Raven’s Pass flying the flag for the UK in the Classic, stablemate Donativum landing the Juvenile Turf and Pat Smullen partnering Muhannak to vctory in the Marathon. In addition Sir Michael Stoute‘s Conduit won the Turf and flying French filly Goldikova took the Mile. The latter trio are back at Santa Anita again this year to defend their respective titles and Conduit, in particular, should prove very hard to beat as he bids to become only the ninth horse in history to record more than success at the now traditional end-of-year championships. Already successful in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes this season, the four-year-old’s latest fourth to Sea The Stars in the Arc de Triomphe is top-class form and at a general 5-4, I would have no hesitation in including him as the fulcrum of any Breeders’ Cup bet this weekend. Goldikova‘s task isn’t as straightforward, however, and she may be worth opposing at a general 6-4 having being drawn on the wide outside. Muhannak is available at a general 12-1 for the 2009 Marathon. This year’s Classic has attracted most of the headlines and is being billed as a match between Sussex and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner Rip Van Winkle from Aidan O’Brien‘s yard, and the unbeaten American filly Zenyatta. Both, however, have question marks against them. Rip Van Winkle (2-1 with Stan James) is unproven on an artificial surface and posted wide in stall 10, while Zenyatta (a general 7-2) has never competed against the colts before. John Shireff’s filly has plenty of size about her, however, and rider Mike Smith is confident she’ll hold her own should there be a barging contest to grab the rail. Drawn inside her, though, is what I consider the value of the race. Now it’s never straightforward trying to equate European form to that in the States, nor should one assume that proven dirt performers will adapt to the polytrack-type surface at Santa Anita. But Summer Bird proved himself the best US colt of his generation when beating the smart Quality Road for a second time to land the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont last month (despite being hampered and forced to race wide) and he may well still be on the upgrade. Coral‘s 8-1 looks a cracking bet and the same firm may also get stung by offering 7-4 about Bob Baffert‘s flying grey Zensational in the Sprint.