Though there’s Flat and jumping domestic action, the main focus for us is the 2022 Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland, one of the homes of horse racing.
Friday 4th November 2022
7.00 Keeneland (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint – Grade 1) – MISCHIEF MAGIC
Home runners American Apple, Lady Hollywood, Tyler’s Tribe and Speed Boat Beach could be competitive, while Wesley Ward’s Love Reigns is probably the best of them and has experience against UK runners.
The Platinum Queen has been admirable but isn’t much better than her fellow British runners and is drawn out wide, while Persian Force is consistent but not massively progressive.
Dramatised can be feared for the Karl Burke team from the 4 gate, but way overpriced next door in five is Charlie Appleby’s Mischief Magic.
He’s been really impressive at times this season and was fancied to win the Group 1 Middle Park only for the race not to suit.
7.40 Keeneland (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies – Grade 1) – CHOP CHOP
Raging Sea, Leave No Trace and Grand Love are drawn wide and it appears the form of the Alcibiades Stakes over course and distance is the line to concentrate on.
In that race, the consistent Wonder Wheel made all but only just held on from the fast-improving Chop Chop who had to come from the back. She can continue her sharp upward trajectory and land this race for Brad Cox.
8.20 Keeneland (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf – Grade 1) – MEDITATE
With form, speed and breeding all taken into account this does look like a good opportunity for Aidan O’Brien’s filly Meditate to score despite being parked in gate 10.
She’s already stayed seven furlongs at the Curragh so I’ve no issue with going an extended mile around these bends, while she also possesses the pace needed to kick on when necessary.
Her form is simply better than that of the others and she can win ahead of Spirit Gal and Midnight Mile.
9.40 Keeneland (Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf – Grade 1) – SILVER KNOTT
Charlie Appleby has an excellent record in this race, winning it with Modern Games last year who we’ll see in the Mile.
His Silver Knott is a proper type. This year’s impressive Solario winner got the better of a very strong Autumn Stakes field last time out and if not receiving bad luck, should take care of this bunch no problem. Victoria Road is next on the list.
Saturday 5th November 2022
12.50 Doncaster (Wentworth Stakes – Listed Race) – ART POWER
At five and as a full horse, Art Power is still getting better. He doesn’t put his very best in every single time, but he’s saved it for this sort of ground including when demolishing a good Group 3 field at the Curragh.
Some haven’t taken that at face value, the official handicapper certainly hasn’t, and this horse is penalised too, but using certain metrics and on a line through the horses he beat, that was a Group 1 performance. He may be too good for Commanche Falls, Rhythm Master and Chipstead.
1.30 Doncaster (Gillies Fillies’ Stakes – Listed Race) – LIFE OF DREAMS
A good number of these may appreciate the very wet ground, but it should also present no problems for Charlie Appleby’s Life Of Dreams who is heading the right way and should be a sound middle-distance Group filly. Sweet Believer and Moon De Vega are next best.
3.13 Doncaster (November Handicap) – ISRAR
This is a very competitive race. With all things taken into consideration, Nathaniel Greene, Metier, Cemhaan and First Officer are pretty hard to split. Israr however stands taller.
The London Gold Cup produces so many future Group winners and I still think Israr will be one of them.
Not only is he of that ability and certainly better than his current mark of 106, but he actually won ever so easily over this course and distance two weeks ago and in heavy ground too, so there’s nothing not to like.
3.50 Keeneland (Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint – Grade 1) – GOODNIGHT OLIVE
As a three-year-old Echo Zulu remains capable while Slammed, Obligatory and Ce Ce have all shown terrific ability.
The selection however is Chad Brown’s Goodnight Olive. She’s unbeaten in five now, has reached a level good enough to be competitive and crucially is still improving unlike many others.
4.29 Keeneland (Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint – Grade 1) – CREATIVE FORCE
Despite the level of attention placed upon the wonderful Highfield Princess and likely favourite Golden Pal, this is actually a very competitive sprint race.
Flotus still remains capable of landing a big one while Wesley Ward’s Campanelle is also a contender. Charlie Appleby’s Creative Force and Naval Crown have been hard to split over the past couple of years, both when you take a close look continue to improve in fast conditions and both are capable in this race.
With Naval Crown stuck out wide, William Buick riding Creative Force and him still being a double-figure price, he is the one to be with.
5.10 Keeneland (Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile – Grade 1) – LAUREL RIVER
Bill Mott and Godolphin’s Cody’s Wish is well fancied, but although his trainer may not be the most popular winner here, Laurel River looks top class and may edge this one. Bob Baffert’s four-year-old Juddmonte colt has been outstanding out in California and may just be too good for them.
6.30 Keeneland (Breeders’ Cup Sprint – Grade 1) – ALOHA WEST
Connections of Jackie’s Warrior will be looking for him to go out on a high, but the odds-on favourite was well beaten in this race last year, is arguably regressing and is drawn a little wide.
Wesley Ward’s runners are often overrated by British bookies and I think that’s been the case again with Kimari, while American Theorem has excellent form with Laurel River and this is his trip.
Strangely last year’s winner at Del Mar, Aloha West, has been overlooked and is very good value to win it again having recovered his form with a Listed win at Churchill Downs.
7.10 Keeneland (Breeders’ Cup Mile – Grade 1) – MODERN GAMES
Kinross is admirable but the mile and his wide draw are against him. Annapolis can be very good so is a danger, but Modern Games is head and shoulders above this bunch as long as he hasn’t had too challenging a season.
What he did in the French Guineas, the French Derby and the QEII are all bonuses. This is really his territory. He was a classy winner of the Juvenile Turf at last year’s meeting and was scintillating in the Woodbine Mile in September.
7.55 Keeneland (Breeders’ Cup Distaff – Grade 1) – MALATHAAT
The last two fillies to have won the Kentucky Oaks for us, Malathaat and Secret Oath, are in the line-up and both can go well.
Malathaat wasn’t ready for this race last year as a three-year-old but she sure is now. She’s less flashy than Nest, but gets the job done and is still improving. Nest is a danger, as is old rival Clairiere.
8.40 Keeneland (Breeders’ Cup Turf – Grade 1) – NATIONS PRIDE
This race marks the end of a fantastic and high-earning career for Mishriff. Aidan O’Brien sends Broome and Stone Age while War Like Gossess is the best of the Americans. Despite having no Adayar, Yibir or Hurricane Lane, Charlie Appleby still has the top two in the market!
Don’t underestimate Rebel’s Romance, but Nations Pride is a genuine Group 1 horse and can win this under William Buick. He was my fancy for the Derby at home and has gone from strength to strength in North America.
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