All eyes on the Breeders’ Cup
This weekend sees top horses converge on Arlington Park in Chicago, US for the Breeders’ Cup
Interest in the Breeders’ Cup, racing’s equivalent of the Olympics, centers round Rock Of Gibraltar (pictured), owned by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
High Chaparral takes on the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Golan in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, while Hawk Wing attempts to salvage what, by his high standards, has been a slightly disappointing season in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
All Breeders’ Cup races can be seen on Sky Digital channel 418 from 6pm on Saturday night.
Action at home
The domestic racing may be overshadowed by the Breeders’ Cup but it should not be forgotten that Doncaster’s big race, the Racing Post Trophy was won last year by High Chaparral, who went on to win the English and Irish Derbys.
High Chaparral’s trainer Aidan O’Brien, who has also won the Racing Post Trophy with Aristotle and Saratoga Springs, is three-handed this time at Doncaster with Brian Boru, the 6-4 favourite, Powerscourt and The Great Gatsby.
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Preference is for Powerscourt, who will appreciate the rain-softened ground. But he may find the Jeremy Noseda-trained Bahamian Dancer too powerful in the conditions.
Bahamian Dancer threw down a dogged challenge to Al Jadeed at Ascot last month and only just failed to get up. He has always been held in high esteem by his handler and a Group 1 victory would not come as a major surprise.
Britain’s senior jockey George Duffield, 55, partners Now Look Here in the Gentleman George Conditions Stakes, named to celebrate the publication of his book ‘Gentleman George’. But Now Look Here may find King’s Ironbridge too hot to handle.
Lynda Ramsden’s Lingo looked desperately unlucky at Newmarket last week and should not be missed in the Tote/Racing Post Ten To Follow Handicap.
At Newbury the St Simon Stakes may be best left to Geoff Wragg’s The Whirtling Teal, while Star Sensation is worth a chance in the Reading Evening Post Radley Stakes.
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