R ACING BREEDERS' CUP:COMPARED TO previous years Aidan O'Brien's four-strong Breeders' Cup team have arrived in America very much under the radar but despite that lack of public profile Together can strike for Ireland's champion trainer when the two-day €17.5 million extravaganza kicks off at Churchill Downs tonight.
O’Brien also runs the Irish Cesarewitch winner Bright Horizon on day one as he pursues back-to-back wins in the €352,356 Marathon, which the Ballydoyle trainer won last year in Santa Anita with Man Of Iron.
That was just the fourth ever Breeders’ Cup success for O’Brien, a relatively disappointing tally considering that over the years he has sent some of the best horses seen in Europe in the last decade only for the likes of Galileo, Hawk Wing and Rock Of Gibraltar to fail in the US.
Neither Beethoven (Mile) or Master Of Hounds (Juvenile Turf) tomorrow can be categorised with some of those illustrious names, but the addition of more turf races over the years has expanded European options in the Breeders’ Cup as was proved last year with six victories for the raiders.
Santa Anita had a synthetic surface then, however, and back on traditional dirt there is a notable absence of European raiders on the most lucrative races, including tonight’s Ladies Classic which is an all-domestic affair.
There are no such concerns for Together who contests the €700,000 Grade Two Juvenile Fillies Turf with an outstanding piece of form under her belt that makes her a first-rank contender.
That form saw her just fail in the Ascot Mile to White Moonstone and a repetition of that would make it hard for her 13 opponents, which includes three British fillies, to cope with Johnny Murtagh’s mount.
The worry is that in Together’s subsequent start in a valuable Sales race at Newmarket, she threw away what looked a certain victory by veering dramatically left. There is also a wide draw to contend with but a similar drift this time on a left-handed American track might not be the end of the world.
“She is a hardy lady and we think going left-handed on fast ground will suit her. She has had a long season (seven runs) but she is still in good form which is unusual for a filly at this time of year,” O’Brien said.
Bright Horizon is venturing into new territory on the surface today but a mile and three quarters on dirt is new territory for most thoroughbreds with the exception of those who race in South America.
“It will be his first time on dirt so we don’t know how that will work but he does stay and once he got a step up in trip for the Cesarewitch it suited him,” O’Brien said.
Stamina will be the concern for the home hopes, most of whom have never gone beyond 10 furlongs. Awesome Gem is a hardy campaigner though who can boast a Grade One Hollywood Gold Cup victory this season.
The Marathon apart it is an all-female cast on the first day and there is no doubting Midday’s position as Europe’s central character as she pursues back-to-back successes in the Filly and Mare Turf.
Henry Cecil’s star has won her last three Group One’s in Europe and her Irish jockey, Tom Queally, is convinced Midday is a more formidable customer this time round than at Santa Anita.
Even slight concerns about the ground being too fast may not be enough to stop her although an each-way alternative on the going could be Godolphin’s Hibaayeb who can’t have the ground quick enough and won the Yellow Ribbon last time.
Acoma, a triple course winner at Churchill Downs may represent similar value in the Ladies Classic after graduating to Grade One glory in the Spinster at Keeneland last time.
R Heat Lightning was very unlucky in the Frizette at Belmont and can reverse that Grade One form with the favourite A Z Warrior in the Juvenile Fillies.
