Although the jumps season is about to get into full swing, the worldwide Flat season is rounded off by what looks like a fabulous two days of action at Del Mar for the 2021 Breeders’ Cup.
We have tons of information across both days in California, as well as some from the last day of Flat turf action at Doncaster.
Friday 5th November 2021
On Future Stars Friday Hierarchy may prove to be too big in the Juvenile Turf Sprint and Koala Princess is interesting in the Fillies Turf, but these three stand out more.
10.30 Del Mar (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies – Grade 1) – HIDDEN CONNECTION
The unbeaten Echo Zulu is likely to go off favourite here, but the money is beginning to come in for Hidden Connection and it’s easy to see why.
These runners, and many more in this contest in years gone by, have followed a similar path of progression from race two to race three (or to their first Grade 1), and in the case of Hidden Connection there is enough in her profile to suggest she can improve past her rivals.
She simply destroyed her Grade 3 field in the Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs and looks more than ready for this test.
11.50 Del Mar (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – Grade 1) – CORNICHE
Champagne winner Jack Christopher is the big dog here on known form, while Commandperformance remains solid.
It’s all eyes on Bob Baffert this year though, and regardless of past mishaps he will still be in there pitching for many of these prizes.
He saddles Pinehurst, who is not without a chance, and Corniche who is the selection. A good winner of the American Pharoah Stakes, Corniche would have been a confident choice had he not been drawn out wide, but this race can often be a fight to the line and its down the stretch where I think his qualities can show.
12.30 Del Mar (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf – Grade 1) – MODERN GAMES
The likes of Dakota Gold, Glounthaune and Dubawi Legend are all in with place chances here. Charlie Appleby has had the most wonderful year though and he holds the key to this race.
His Albahr has as much chance as any of the aforementioned runners, but is comfortably behind his stablemate Modern Games on form and ability and it’s William Buick’s choice who gets the nod.
Experienced enough to handle the conditions, Modern Games is a strong traveller, will love the quick conditions and his latest Group 3 win showed him up to be potentially top-class.
Saturday 6th November 2021
Saturday is the big one in California. Bella Sofia has a chance in the Filly & Mare Sprint against champ Gamine, Jackie’s Warrior is a class act in the Sprint if a little too short and Eight Rings can go well at a price in the Dirt Mile. We begin however at Doncaster.
12.55 Doncaster (Gillies Fillies’ Stakes – Listed Race) – BASHKIROVA
William Haggas’s runner Bashkirova is three from three now and improving in lumps. She jumps into Listed company for the first time but won with absolutely no fuss last time and handles soft underfoot conditions just fine.
She may prove to be the class act here, with Glenartney, Zawara, Vesela and Via Sistina all competitive.
2.40 Doncaster (November Handicap – Class 2) – FIRST LIGHT
Traditionally the last big betting race of the season, the November Handicap can go the way of a Gosden runner once again.
This time around there may still be a competitive price to grab about First Light, a double winner with plenty more left to give. Only a three-year-old, he was well beaten in Listed company last time but this is more up his street and he can make a mockery of his handicap mark.
7.40 Del Mar (Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint – Grade 1) – EMARAATY ANA
Favourite here should be Wesley Ward’s Golden Pal, but while he was an easy Grade 2 winner last time there are loose threads to pick at.
The horse he beat latest was regressing, while he was also market leader for the Nunthorpe at York when somewhat predictably finishing down the field. Last year’s winner Glass Slippers has a tougher task now, and at the odds I’d much rather be with Emaraaty Ana.
Kevin Ryan’s five-year-old is not only getting better, but quicker. Second in the Nunthorpe before landing the Sprint Cup at Haydock, he is proven at this level and can land another biggie.
8.59 Del Mar (Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf – Grade 1) – OCEAN ROAD
Audarya won this last year and will be pitching again, Love is class but could be going a little backwards, Rougir may want it softer, Loves Only You has chased home Mishriff and War Like Goddess has a great chance.
At prices of around 40/1 however we can take a small chance on Hugo Palmer’s Ocean Road. Thought of as an Oaks filly, she’s never had the right conditions, came back to action with a good prep run last time and is in a race that favours three-year-olds.
10.20 Del Mar (Breeders’ Cup Mile – Grade 1) – MASTER OF THE SEAS
Once again, Charlie Appleby holds the key. Space Blues looks made for this race, although as a perceived seven-furlong specialist he still needs to prove he can stay.
I couldn’t put anyone off backing him and he is the choice of Buick, however it’s hard to ignore the call of Master Of The Seas at double-figure prices.
He won the Craven from an impossible position before just being touched off in a strong 2000 Guineas. After an enforced break, he was an unlucky-in-running third in the Joel Stakes as the Newmarket track record was broken and it’s his turn of foot that could be decisive as he reaches the stage of his career at which he is likely to peak.
11.00 Del Mar (Breeders’ Cup Distaff – Grade 1) – MALATHAAT
Letruska has done precious little wrong and deserves to be favourite, however I’ve been with Malathaat all year and there’s no reason at all to ditch her now.
Although she stays and battles well, her speed figures in the States have progressed for every one of her seven runs. The Kentucky Oaks winner is great value to prove she is a champion.
11.40 Del Mar (Breeders’ Cup Turf – Grade 1) – YIBIR
A whole bunch of these high-profile horses could prove capable; Domestic Spending, Tarnawa, Rockemperor, Walton Street, Teona et al.
Yibir however may be different class. A Great Voltigeur winner and an impressive scorer in New York for Charlie Appleby, his connections thought during the spring trials that he may be up there in ability with Adayar and Hurricane Lane.
His gelding operation has been the making of him and he can reach a new high.
12.40 Del Mar (Breeders’ Cup Classic – Grade 1) – ESSENTIAL QUALITY
The biggest event of them all and Brad Cox is in the enviable position of having the two market leaders.
Last year’s Dirt Mile winner Knicks Go has been imperious at around nine furlongs this year, though his trainer thinks he’ll stay. Cox did mention that he wants Knicks Go to break well and hit the front, feeling that will give him the best chance of victory.
Speed figures for the Classic however are perennially way below other well-regarded ratings. The reason is that the race takes some getting, and it’s the powerfully-built Belmont Stakes winner Essential Quality who can excel – his teammate may even set it up for him.
Juvenile winner at last year’s Breeders’ Cup, the Godolphin colt finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby, covering around 8½ lengths more than the potentially disqualified winner Medina Spirit for a 1¼-length defeat after being bumped out wide. He went on to win the Belmont over 1½ miles before battling all the way to the line to land the Travers Stakes.
He has reportedly strengthened up even more, gets a weight pull which in his case will be very handy, is a proven stayer (by Tapit) and has the form in the book.
He is undoubtedly a better horse than Medina Spirit, who is now four gates wider, while he has also beaten Hot Rod Charlie at Grade 1 level more than once and those two are also in the first four in the betting.
No comments:
Post a Comment