19:00 Vahva (each-way)
19:41 Star Of Mystery
20:21 Thorpedo Anna
21:01 Rebels Romance (each-way)
21:41 Sierra Leone (each-way)
22:25 War Like Goddess (each-way)
23:05 Raging Torrent (each-way)
23:45 Notable Speech
00:25 Seize The Grey
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
It’s here everyone. Breeders’ Cup 2024 and the day City of Troy tries to conquer the world of horse racing on dirt. Every Breeders’ Cup race is live on Sky Sports Racing and I can’t wait for it to get under way. Coverage starts with the Grade 1 Filly & Mare Sprint on the dirt over 7f.
The one I like here is VAHVA each-way for Cherie DeVaux and Irad Ortiz Jr. Vahva was in great form this season winning twice at Churchill Downs before getting stuck on the rail behind Society and Scylla in the Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga. My selection is better than that form suggests.
Now the Grade 1 Turf Sprint. So much speed on here and some much loved performers. The general gist is that you need speed up front at Del Mar, but there is so much here I wonder if a closer can fall in. At long odds I’m happy to chance STAR OF MYSTERY for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. My filly won’t be that familiar to many of you, as the last time she ran in the UK was in August 2023 at York when down the field in the Lowther won by Relief Rally.
On that form she has no chance, but since then she’s got better and better in Dubai and Stateside she took a Grade 3 at Saratoga before chasing home Future is Now in a Grade 2 at Keeneland. She was given hopeless ride that day and should have won. She might just fly home late for a place or more. Risky bet but I’ll take a chance. Remember she has a mighty third to Cogburn in a Grade 1 in June so she’s not out of place.
Next up is the Grade 1 Distaff for fillies and mares over 1m1f. This won’t take long. THORPEDO ANNA should be a good thing here and one for doubles and trebles. Trained by Ken McPeek, Anna is ridden by Brian Hernandez and has won six of her eight starts and chased home Fierceness in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga in August. That is top dirt form and she’s since bound back to score in Grade 1 company at Park. Very hard to stop.
I’m going to be very boring in the Grade 1 Turf over 1m4f. REBEL’S ROMANCE landed this prize in 2022 and he’s just as good now having landed four races in 2024 – including in Qatar, Dubai, Hong Kong and Germany – and finished a fine third in the King George at Ascot behind Goliath.
His draw could have been a little better, but he’ll slot in and he stays well and really should go very well again for William Buick and Charlie Appleby. Just looks too good for me and not a crazy short price. Shahryar might go well at longer odds for those looking for something each-way.
This is it people. The Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic on dirt over 1m2f. It’s all about the best on turf in City of Troy v the best on dirt in Fierceness. But I’m taking them both on, for all that everything in me wants City of Troy to win. I’ll do so with SIERRA LEONE who for me is a cracking each-way proposition.
Stateside people laugh at us Sierra Leone supporters. They say he’s essentially a twicer and doesn’t put it all in. Everyone has given up on Sierra Leone. Not me!
Sierra Leone is a Grade 1 winner who was third in the Travers, third in the Belmont and second in the Kentucky Derby. He’s at long odds and should get a fast pace to run at. He might just fall in. Lets hope so – unless Troy is in front of him with ten yards to run!
Right back down to earth with the Grade 1 Filly & Mare Turf over 1m3f. This is wide open. I’m hoping a local goes well in WAR LIKE GODDESS who tackled Auguste Rodin in the Turf last year and this is much easier, although be warned she’s a quirky strong traveller that doesn’t always find. War Like Goddess is trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Junior Alvarado, who sounds like he should play for Tottenham!
My selection is better than when beaten by Far Bridge at Belmont at the Big A and is likely to show her best against higher quality and a strong gallop. I’ll risk her each-way against Cinderella’s Dream and Content, who needs to get back to her Yorkshire Oaks form.
It’s time for the Grade 1 dirt Sprint over 6f. This is tricky! I’m happy to play RAGING TORRENT each-way for Doug O’Neill and Antonio Fresu. Lightly raced, my hope is getting better and better and is on a four timer after two victories at Churchill Downs and a Grade 2 at this track. Often goes out in front so will be vulnerable to pace pressure but if he gets an easy lead will be hard to peg back.
One of the races of the night in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile. Ramatuelle came out late and surely NOTABLE SPEECH will outclass the field for Charlie Appleby and William Buick. The 2000 Guineas hero looks made for this track after his wins at Kempton earlier in the campaign and you can forgive him a flop in soft ground in the Moulin. Should come late and fast with a finishing kick.
Breeders’ Cup closes for 2024 with the Grade 1 Dirt Mile. SEIZE THE GREY will have to bounce out on the front end and try and make all which is never easy, but when he gets on the lead he’s hard to pass, as he showed in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby when last seen at the Parx in September. That was a great effort and it’s not impossible he can do the same here under Jaime Torres for D Wayne Lukas.
So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?
19:00 Vahva (each-way)
19:41 Star Of Mystery
20:21 Thorpedo Anna
21:01 Rebels Romance (each-way)
21:41 Sierra Leone (each-way)
22:25 War Like Goddess (each-way)
23:05 Raging Torrent (each-way)
23:45 Notable Speech
00:25 Sunday Seize The Grey
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at the time of publishing but subject to change.
The latest racing odds are on PaddyPower.com now
