There will be a record number of European-trained horses running at this year’s Breeders’ Cup meeting, staged for the first time at Del Mar near San Diego in California. The 35 runners exceeds the 30 that ran at Santa Anita, also in California, in 2009 when six were successful. Percentage-wise, however, that success rate was eclipsed in 2013 at Santa Anita, when Europe had five winners from just 16 entries – will that feat be bettered this year?
Breeders’ Cup – A Brief History
The Breeders’ Cup was staged for the first time in 1984. Racing is staged on both the Dirt track, prevalent in the USA, and the Turf course. The meeting is staged over a Friday and Saturday with the second day being the big one in terms of prize money and status as it features nine Grade 1 contests, all being designed as championship races – there are only four Grade 1 races on the Friday.
The United States has hosted every Breeders’ Cup meeting since its inception, apart from in 1996 when Woodbine in Canada staged the event. This is the 10th year in which the meeting has been split over two days.
Runners have to qualify to earn an invite to the Breeders’ Cup with a maximum of 14 runners allowed in each Grade 1 contest. D. Wayne Lukas has trained most Breeders’ Cup winners, followed by Bob Baffert and Ireland’s Aidan O’Brien. Mike Smith is the most successful jockey in Breeders’ Cup history having ridden 25 winners – Frankie Dettori is the leading jockey from Europe.
In 2016, a staggering $160million was wagered through the on-course betting pool at Santa Anita. Many Americans, of course, don’t have access to internet betting sites because of State legislation.
Having broken Bob Baffert’s long-standing record for Grade 1 or Group 1 victories in a season in last week’s Racing Post Trophy, Aidan O’Brien is hoping to inflict further misery on the Americans by winning at least one of the big races on Saturday.
Ballydoyle’s best hope may be RHODODENDRON in the Fillies and Mare Turf. Second in both the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks earlier this year, the Galileo filly came good again in the Prix de l’Opera at Chantilly last month and is 7/2 for this Saturday’s contest with several bookmakers, including 888sport. Unfortunately, she’s been handed the outside stall so Ryan Moore will need to get her smartly out of the gate to grab a decent position.
Marsha and LADY AURELIA lock horns again in the Turf Sprint having finished 1-2 in the Nunthorpe at York. Many believe the latter and Frankie Dettori should have won on the Knavesmire and Wesley Ward’s three-year-old is very much back on home Turf for this one and she’s odds-on in some places to take her revenge with John Velazquez back in the saddle.
RIBCHESTER is 7/2 with 888sport and carries many of Britain’s hopes of success in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Trained by Richard Fahey in North Yorkshire, he runs in the colours of Godolphin, who have earned more prize money in Breeders’ Cup than anyone else. He will relish the opportunity to run on decent ground for the first time since winning the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, though isn’t as well drawn as likely market rival World Approval.
The $6million Classic is a fitting finale on Saturday and is being billed as a clash between ARROGATE and Gun Runner. The former came out best when the pair clashed in the Dubai World Cup at the start of the year and, despite the latter’s subsequent exploits, will do well to reverse the form with Bob Baffert’s superstar, who has been trained with this race in mind – the 11/4 with sportingbet is unlikely to be available nearer the off!
Breeders’ Cup Classic Current Best Odds
Gun Runner 2/1, Arrogate 11/4, West Coast 6/1, Collected 7/1, Churchill 16/1, Mubtaahij 25/1, Gunnevera 40/1, Pavel and War Decree 50/1, War Story and Win The Space 100/1
