The Breeders’ Cup is a two-day star-studded race meeting on Friday and Saturday this week. America’s biggest meeting of the year alongside the Kentucky Derby, it returns to Churchill Downs for the first time since 2011 but a record-equalling ninth time in the 35-year history of the event with only Santa Anita in California having hosted the Breeders’ Cup as many times as Kentucky.
Best known as the home of the Kentucky Derby, the weather is typically cool at this time of year in Louisville and there has been plenty of rain around this autumn meaning that the Turf course, on which most of the European challengers will be racing, is likely to ride much slower than when the Breeders’ Cup is held in Southern California. The Dirt track, or main track as it’s known locally, could be a little faster than at meetings earlier in the year.
Churchill Downs Dirt Track doesn’t suit every horse so it often pays to note those who have performed well there in the past. The home stretch on the Turf and Dirt tracks are a bit longer than is common on most American courses but the sprint course is devilishly sharp and an inside draw is usually a big advantage.
Breeders’ Cup History
The Breeders’ Cup is the climax of the racing season in North America. The right to be called the best of the best generally belongs to the winner of the day’s final and richest race – the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Classic – though many on this side of the Atlantic would argue that it’s the Turf races that are more reflective of ability.
Racing’s richest event is a movable feast. Each autumn, a different North American track plays host to the Breeders’ Cup and major course compete for the right to stage the championship races.
The Breeders’ Cup first took place in 1982 as a vehicle to promote the sport and provide a grand finale to the racing season. The Championship races quickly became the cornerstone of the US calendar, with more than $380 million in prize money paid to owners and breeders since the inaugural event in 1984.
Since then, the Breeders’ Cup has become a truly international celebration of equine sport with, in addition to the Classic, 13 other championship races.
Queen and the cream of Europe’s middle-distance performers, ENABLE heads to the United States after successfully defending her crown in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. It’s very rare for an Arc winner to run at the Breeders’ Cup because of the short time frame between the two events but the four-year-old filly has only run twice this season and trainer John Gosden claims she still wasn’t fully fit when bravely holding off Sea Of Class at Longchamp.
Her owner, Khalid Abdullah, tried to do the Arc-Breeders’ Cup double with the brilliant Dancing Brave in 1986 but his run in America came at the end of a long season and he only managed fourth. All the signs are that the Gosden filly is just hitting her seasonal peak and, though only a best 4/7 for the Breeders’ Cup Turf, she’ll attract plenty of interest from punters motivated by loyalty and patriotism.
Gosden runs Roaring Lion in the Breeder’s Cup Classic, the most lucrative race in the Breeders’ Cup, but his profile is completely opposite to that of his stablemate. He’s already had nine runs this year, though has won his last four and all at a high level. However, the consensus is that he hasn’t done any favours by the draw and will be taking on proven Dirt performers. Out to a general 10/1, this may be a race too far. MIND YOUR BISCUITS looks a huge price at 14/1 with Coral in the finale. His best form ties him in closely with those at much shorter odds and he beat Toast Of New York in a trial for this at Churchill Downs with his head in his chest. He’s never been this far before but it shouldn’t be a problem.
Breeders’ Cup Classic Current Best Odds
Accelerate 4/1
Mckinzie 5/1
Catholic Boy and West Coast 7/1
Mendelssohn and Roaring Lion 10/1
Yoshida 12/1
Mind Your Biscuits 14/1
Thunder Snow 16/1
Collected, Discreet Lover and Pavel 40/1
Gunnevera 50/1
Axelrod and Lone Sailor 66/1
Toast Of New York 100/1
(Odds Correct at 1.45pm October 31)
Godolphin’s WILD ILLUSION, ridden by William Buick, is a general 2/1 for the Filly And Mare Turf and looks to have a favourite’s chance but there are four Irish fillies in the line-up who could make Charlie Appleby’s Goodwood and Longchamp winner work hard for her hat-trick.
