European team prepare for Breeders Cup

The European team completed final preparations for their challenge for Saturday's Breeders' Cup with a gentle stretch of the …

The European team completed final preparations for their challenge for Saturday's Breeders' Cup with a gentle stretch of the legs at Santa Anita this morning.

Of the 11 runners, it was Aidan O'Brien's quartet who were asked to do the most serious workout, each breezing along with a pony ridden by their trainer.

Ballydoyle stable jockey Michael Kinane watched the work from the sidelines and declared himself delighted with the way things were going.

"They all seem very well and I am looking forward to tomorrow," he said. "Yesterday and L'Ancresse are two nice fillies and High Chaparral seems in good form for the Turf.

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"It is a probably a hotter race than it was when he won in Arlington last year, which is why his price is longer. But I don't think he will let us down."

Also in action on the turf course was Falbrav, who jogged happily round the track.

"There are no problems and he seems very happy and well," reported his trainer Luca Cumani.

The raiding party appeared to be appreciating the cooler conditions as cloud cover kept temperatures from reaching the stifling high-90s of earlier in the week.

Richard Hughes and Frankie Dettori both warmed up with booked rides on Thursday's Santa Anita card.

Dettori finished second in a couple of claiming events, while Hughes got a taste of racing over a mile on the turf course as he partnered the ex-British Vacamonte into fourth place for Bobby Frankel.

"I got a good feel of racing on the left lead around a bend," said Hughes. "What I did learn was that if you miss the break on the inside, then you just have to sit and suffer.

"At least if you miss it on the outside then you have the option of staying wide or switching to the inside and hoping that you can make up some ground on the bend."