Fridays Breeders Cup Tips and Preview

By Carl Harris

Carl Harris looks at the 2009 Breeders Cup and gives you his bets bets….

The Breeders Cup take place at Santa Anita again, in California USA, billed (mainly by the Americans) as the World Championships of horseracing. Without being cynical it is excellent racing and the European’s have a strong challenge which could do very well given the climate and the surface. Last year was a success for European raiders, will it be better this term?

It all kicks off on Friday, over two days with the big night being Saturday but Friday is a decent card, to say the least. We will pick the best bets on the card, focusing on the home challenge.

Fridays Races, 6 November…

20:35, Breeders’ Cup Marathon (Synthetic)
21:08, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf
21:45, Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Synthetic)
22:23, Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf
23:02, Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (Synthetic)
23:45, Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (Synthetic)

Here are my suggested bets for Friday at The Breeders Cup…

The Marathon

When you say Marathon you think of a long distance, its 1m 6f, hardly what we would call a marathon but there you go! This is a race that should go to a British trained horse and it is Mastery that heads the market, from the inform Godolphin yard. He won the St Leger over this ‘marathon’ trip and assuming he has recovered can show his class and win the opener. Best price is on Betfair, as many will be for the Breeders Cup meet.

Frankie Dettori rides for Godolphin at the Breeders Cup

Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint

Ventura won this race last year, in good style and is a warm order to do so again. There is some difference in price ranging from 10/11 to 5/4, but I suggest she will be about evens. Just watch last year’s race (from Youtube);

Ventura has the class, she won the grade one Woodbine mile in September and could have run in the mile but she is better at a shorter trip say connections who would love to defend their title. I think she will and the form book says she should. Here she is winning the Woodbine mile, her turn of foot is her strength, a class mare who is banker bet material.

Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic

I am tempted to back Rainbow View each-way in the closing race on Fridays card. Firstly John Gosden is one man who knows how to win at Santa Anita having spent many years here as a trainer. He showed that last year with Ravens Pass who was a nearly horse for the first part of the season. Rainbow View may flourish here and at the 6/1 on offer I think we are getting some value. 1m 1f may be her idea trip, she has the speed and the class and is certainly worth a sporting bet. Frankie Dettori takes the ride, another positive. She looks well, here is her workout earlier this week…