Racing Tips: Johnb’s Breeders Cup preview

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DEL MAR Racecourse is an American Thoroughbred horseracing track at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in the seaside city of Del Mar, California, 20 miles north of San Diego.

Operated by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, it is known for the slogan: “Where The Surf Meets The Turf.” It was built by a partnership including Bing Crosby, the actor Pat O'Brien, Jimmy Durante, Charles S. Howard and Oliver Hardy.

187 horses are due to run with 9 of those being previous winners.

Breeders Cup Classic

Man of the moment Aidan O'Brien sends 13 to Del Mar and the one he wants to win most is the Classic. He came closest in 2000 when Giants Causeway was beaten a neck, other horses to not land the big one for Coolmore include  Galileo, Gleneagles, Declaration of War, Henrythenavigator  and George Washington,

This year Aidan O'Brien sends two horses into the Classic, WAR DECREE who looks extremely logical, being by Claiborne Farm stallion War Front and coming off an impressive victory on the all-weather track at Dundalk,

His other runner is well known to the thread as he was our 2000 Guineas antepost selection CHURCHILL who incidentally was Aidan O'Brien's first Group 1 winner in a record breaking season.

What a story it would be if he also became his last Group 1 winner this season, Churchill is interesting as he wouldn't come across as a Classic horse as it is his first run on dirt but you can see why connections are sending him, I have always mentioned Churchill's physique and he is built to act on the dirt surface, he is a big strong hose, just what you need.

Last year's winner ARROGATE has drawn the rail for Saturday’s $6 million race, Crowned North America’s richest racehorse and the world’s best following a win in the inaugural $12 million Group 1 Pegasus World Cup and a win in the Dubai World Cup.

Arrogate has not been quite the same since returning to the States, finishing a lacklustre fourth of five at 1/20 and rallied late to be second to stablemate Collected last time at Del Mar for the Group 1 TVG Pacific Classic in August.

Arrogate is to be retired to Stud after this race, since his return from Meydan Bob Baffert noticed less meat on the champion’s bones, particularly in his neck and withers, he gave him time off and the word is he is looking as good as ever now and after watching his latest piece of work at Santa Anita he definitely looks back to his best.

GUN RUNNER trained by Steve Asmussen is the favourite and he has been in really good form, a five length plus win in the Whitney Stakes in August was followed by a win in the Woodward Stakes in September beating Rally Cry by ten and a quarter lengths.

He has since been kept away from racing but he has worked well at Del Mar this week, he is a horse that likes to race up with the pace, and if he sits on the hindquarters of the front runners early doors and pounces with two furlongs or more to go, he could  take some catching.

Jockey Florent Geroux will be quite aware of the short home stretch and of those who like to come with a late run, with the track an advantage to his running style, he seems a very worthy favourite at this stage.

WEST COAST is an improving three year old, after coming second on debut beaten a head he has gone on to win his last five. His latest win was in the Travers which is always an informative race, Arrogate and Keen Ice the previous two winners of the Travers. West Coast's win in the Travers was by seven and a quarter lengths, his workout at Santa Anita last Sunday looked extremely impressive and he is still improving, also trained by Bob Baffert West Coast has an outstanding chance.

As I said Arrogate looks back to his best to me and I have to like connections going for something new with Churchill and if acting on the surface he is too big a price, I think he will act on it, West Coast is also looking impressive and Gun Runner can't be ruled out.

Johnb's Selections

• Breeders Cup Classic (Saturday)
• WEST COAST 6-1 betfred totesport
• CHURCHILL 25-1 paddy power eachway 1/5 odds 1-2-3

Breeders Cup Turf

The Breeders Cup Classic is the biggest race of the meeting for the Americans but for the Europeans the biggest attraction is the Breeders Cup Turf race.

Irish horses have dominated this race with a staggering 13 Breeders Cup Turf winners from the last 22 years, with all but one of them shipping in from overseas to win, Britain, France, and Germany have also produced winners of the Breeders’ Cup Turf,

HIGHLAND REEL is going for back to back wins in the Breeders Cup Turf race. He has had a globetrotting career racing in Britain, France, the United States, Australia, Hong Kong, Dubai and has won £6,148,572 in prize money.

Since last year's win at Santa Anita he has had six races, second in Sha Tin to Satono Crown, last of seven to Jack Hobbs in Dubai followed by wins at Epsom in the Coronation Cup and then Royal Ascot in the Prince Of Wales Stakes before a fourth to Enable in the King George V and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and finally third to Cracksman in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.

A similar performance to last year's win would be enough to win again and there is no reason why he won't run to that level again.

ULYSSES was back in fourth that day when beaten over six lengths and receiving 4lb, Ulysses went on to also run six times since that Santa Anita run, winning a group 3 at Sandown, then third to Highland Reel at Ascot's Prince of Wales's Stakes, winning the Eclipse at Sandown, second to Enable at Ascot, winning the Juddmonte at York and finishing with a third in the Arc behind Enable.

This race last year was the only time Ulysses has travelled further than France so it's still an unknown as to whether it affects him. On pure form he is certainly one of the top European contenders here. On the home front the Chad Brown has a strong contender in BEACH PATROL, who is coming off back-to-back Grade 1 victories in the Arlington Million on August 12 and a five length win last time out in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on September 30.

He really is in the best form of his career and could surprise many here and continue his winning ways, Beach Patrol has also run well at Del Mar in his one run here he was second in last year's Hollywood Derby.

FANCIFUL ANGEL has run twice in America, both runner-up efforts to Beach Patrol in the Million and Hirsch, Fanciful Angel has shown better form here than in previous efforts in England and Dubai, and is now also trained by Chad Brown after moving from Marco Botti.

It's hard to see anything else winning this race, I have to go for Highland Reel but the main danger for me is Beach Patrol, Ulysses for third and Fanciful Angel fourth

Johnb's Selection

• Breeders Cup Turf (Saturday)
• HIGHLAND REEL 9-4 various bookies

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