Hi all,
tonight is day 1 of the 2008 Breeders' Cup & it's ladies day. All 5 races are live on Racing UK (Channel 432 on Sky Digital & Channel 536 on Virgin Media) mixing the ESPN coverage with studio chat with Mark Johnson, Steve Millar & Mary Pitt. From 8pm to midnight.
FWIW Here are my thoughts on the races - feel free to add your tips too...
8:35 Filly & Mare Sprint:
A race full of speed at the front, which should set the race up for a closer. Ventura is all the rage with the run style to suit but she may need some luck in running breaking from stall 12. Indian Blessing & Zaftig are the class horses of the race & both could sit just off the pace & swoop past in the home straight. Of the front runners, Dearest Trickski could have the best chance. She is lightning from the stalls and, if she can get to the rail from stall 9, she is tough to past once on the lead.
1. Dearest Trickski
2. Zaftig
3. Indian Blessing
9.15 Juvenile Fillies Turf
April Pride, Beyond Our Reach & Heart Shaped represent Europe in ths race & the general feeling is that our turf horses are streets ahead of the American's. That said, these 3 are not in the greatest of form & the Santa Anita turf will be like a road, so it may not suit them. I like Laragh, who made all to win at Keeneland & quickend away nicely. There's not much pace in the race, so she could have things all her own way. Of the others, Saucey Evening & Sugar Mom both come from off the pace & can pick the leaders up if they go too fast.
1. Laragh (Nap)
2. Saucey Evening
3. Sugar Mom
9.55 Juvenile Fillies (G1)
Some nice fillies in here & Stardom Bound is a worthy favourite. She has a run style made for the movies, she sits in last place & then makes a huge move leaving the back straight & sweeps past them all in the final furlongs. And she's a grey too! However, at 6/4 and 12 other runners in front of her, she may need some luck in running & I'm going to have a punt on a couple of others. C.S.Silk blitzed the field in the Arlington Lassie in September, making all & quickening away to win by 6 lenghts. The extra half a furlong shouldn't be a worry for her & she's a nice price at around 10-1. Doremifasollatido should run a big race from stall 13, she sit's just off the pace & has a nice turn of foot (for a great call from Tom Durkan check this out:
http://www.ntra.com/video.aspx?id=34842)
1. C.S.Silk (next best)
2. Doremifasollatido
3. Stardom Bound
10.35 Filly & Mare Turf (G1)
As stated earlier, our Turf horses are much better than the Americans & this should be our best chance of picking up a Breeders' Cup win. Halfway to Heaven , trained by the genius that is Aidan O'Brein, has been keeping some good company this year & her wins in the Sun Chariot, Nassau Stakes & Irish 1000 Guineas suggests she likes to be on the front & then is very hard to pass in the final stages. She may be joined on the lead by Godolphin's Folk Opera & it could turn into a tactical affair between Frankie Dettori & Jonny Murtagh. Of the American horses, Wait A While is much the best & she will be dangerous if the European horses are not at their best. She just loves the Santa Anita Turf (3 from 3) and the 1m 4f distance (3 from 4).
1. Halfway to Heaven
2. Folk Opera
3. Wait A While
11.15 Ladies Classic (G1) (formerly the Distaff)
Zenyatta is probably the banker of the whole Breeders' Cup meeting for many punters and they probably won't have too many worries about their money. At 3-5 morning line odds, she's prohibitive to back for the less serious bettor but she is just a machine. A huge mare that sits in last place & then swoops past all in front of her. Her career record reads 8 runs, 8 wins & over $1M in prize money. It's difficult to see her not winning, but if things don't go right then Ginger Punch (winner of this race last year) will be right there at the winning post & Godolphin's Music Note has done nothing wrong this year.
1. Zenyatta
2. Ginger Punch
3. Music Note
Good luck with your punting & hope you enjoy our coverage on Racing UK.
Wormster
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