Breeders’ Cup 2020: A Lucky 15 to follow

The global turf flat racing season has many exciting, quality packed festivals around the world that take the sport of racing to that extra level and the calendar turning over from October to November announces America’s celebration of racing in the form of the Breeders’ Cup.

The Breeders’ Cup is America’s celebration of equine excellence which year after year alternates around various states and 2020 sees Keeneland in Kentucky take centre stage.

The Breeders’ Cup meeting is America’s flagship race meeting as the finest horses from around the world do battle in 14 top class races spread over two days of enthralling action.

I always enjoy having an interest in the Breeders’ Cup and this year I’ve joined forces with my friend Alan Marron (@almarron) to put together a fun Breeders’ Cup Lucky 15 that we hope will add interest amd reward followers.

Wesley Ward loves a very fast juvenile to aim at these races and the punters love a rock solid favourite to get stuck into, in GOLDEN PAL I believe we’ve got one that will be just to that to his backers.

Even before his first race Golden Pal had a big reputation and that’s why he was sent off as 1/2f on debut at Gulfstream, he didn’t win that but showed that debut run was beneficial to him when running an excellent 2nd in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, that race was on good to soft ground that probably wasn’t ideal and it’s a race that has worked out very well since then.

Next time out at Saratoga on firm over 5 1/2 furlongs Golden Pal showed the Ascot run was genuine and he blitzed the field at Saratoga, winning with obvious class and devastating speed, that’s why he’s a best priced 7/4f for Juvenile Turf Sprint but whilst that’s short I think he’s rock solid and the clear one to beat.

Every major sporting event, particularly horse racing, always seems to have winners that have an emotional story behind them and that will certainly be the case if Jackie’s Warrior wins the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Jackie’s Warrior is named after the cancer surviving sister of the breeders and there will be many tears shed if Jackie’s Warrior wins, by both connections and bookmakers alike given the betting market share that the Steve Asmussen trained colt holds going into the race, you can still get 13/8 in the UK but he’s as short as 11/10 with some firms.

Jackie’s Warrior is four wins from four career starts and has looked brilliant in them all, showing a great mix of speed and class in his wins at Saratoga twice, Churchill Downs and last time out when very, very impressive in winning over a mile in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park.

Racing at Keeneland will be a different test to pass but everything that Jackie’s Warrior has done so far suggests he’ll be a star for now and the future, certainly one I’m looking forward to watching show what he can do.

TARNAWA – Breeders’ Cup Turf (Alan Marron)

This could be a stroke of absolute genius from the master of Rosewell House, Dermot Weld to take this route rather than go for the Fillies and Mares race.

Tarnawa has improved an awful lot this season cultivating in two Group One victories in France under Christophe Soumillion in September and October.

She started her season off with victory in the Group Three Give Thanks Stakes at Cork where she did everything with the minimum of fuss and won going away under Oisin Orr with Cayenne Pepper back in second.

Passion who finished third on that occasion franked the form on her next run when she landed a Group Three at Naas.

We then saw Tarnawa in the Prix De Vermeille at Longchamp where she came in slightly under the radar behind a short favourite on the day in Raabihah.

Tarnawa got an excellent ride from Christophe Soumillion staying on strongly down the outside showing that stamina and a turn of foot are her main assets. What was more interesting this time around is that the fifth filly was the David Menuiser trained Wonderful Tonight who went on to land two Group Ones in two weeks which culminated with a win at Ascot on Champions Day.

Tarnawa then went back to Longchamp where the ground had turned up heavy in the Prix De L’Opera, she showed grit and determination to get up close home and deny Alpine Star trained by Jessica Harrington.

That proved to me that this filly is something special and no matter the ground conditions or the opposition she will get the job done. Keeneland will surely suit her perfectly, the ground will be ideal and with Christophe Soumillion on board again he can play the waiting tactics to use her turn of foot inside the final furlong and win going away, hopefully anyway.

She is a special talent and it would be great to see Dermot Weld get another big winner on Breeders Cup weekend.

CADILLAC – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (Alan Marron)

This colt looks a standout for this race and it is very interesting that Jessica Harrington has included him as part of her travelling team.

On debut at Leopardstown Cadillac was electric on good ground where he demolished a field by nine lengths and it looked like the world was his oyster. The 2nd, 6th, 9th and 10th from that race have all won since so while the form isn’t exceptional there have been good winners out of the race.

Second time out we saw Cadillac get turned over by Mac Swiney and at the time it was a bit of a shock as Mac Swiney was a 28/1 shot and Cadillac was 4/5. We can now look back at that race and think while it was a shock at the time, the form has worked out really well with Mac Swiney landing the Vertem Futurity Group One at Doncaster for Kevin Manning and Jim Bolger.

Cadillac got his career back on track at Leopardstown on Champions Weekend when he landed the Group Two KPMG Juvenile Stakes winning by three lengths from Van Gogh back in second. When we now look at that race we see more solid form in the fact that Van Gogh has landed a Group One when winning the Grand Criterium in Saint Cloud.

Going into the Dewhurst at Newmarket I was very sweet on the chances of Cadillac and while he ran a good race I wasn’t sure if the track suited him. Much like Tarnawa who I have also selected on Saturdays card, the form has all worked out, the ground should suit Cadillac and we could get to see one of the performances from Leopardstown that he produced. He looks overpriced and should go very close.