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Breeders' Cup Betting Update; Santa Anita with the bookmakers making Curlin their 5/2 favourite
Added: (Fri Oct 24 2008)
CURLIN can take his place in history by winning the Breeders Cup Classic (11.45 Sat), the most significant of the 14 races staged at this weekend’s 25th anniversary card at Santa Anita.
While he remains unproven on the new Pro-Ride surface, connections have been delighted with his work ahead of the $5m prize and the Dubai World Cup winner is likely to have too much class for his rivals in the big race showdown. While he was beaten on the Turf at Belmont in July, he has shown excellent resolution in winning his two subsequent starts to make it five wins in six starts since victory in this race last year. However, with American punters expected to back him off the boards, the advice has to be to take a prize with a British bookmaker. Of the British raiders in the race, Ravens Pass makes more appeal than the Ballydoyle runners, but is nevertheless likely to be playing only for place money.
European raiders stole all three turf races when the Cup was last staged at Santa Anita and Halfway To Heaven can capture the Filly and Mare Turf (10.35 Fri). Still on the improve, she has captured three Group One races this summer, but just as importantly will not be phased by the lighting fast Californian turf.
In the Turf (Sat 11.00) I fancy St Leger winner Conduit to come out best of the British raiders, but it’s a tough race to call and one which Spring House might just be able to pull off a massive upset in. Ideally suited to the 1 1/2m trip on firm ground, the local candidate is simply too big in the betting and must be played each way.
I’m also gunning for a big price in the Mile (Sat 8.15) where despite a so called bad draw Whatsthescript must be backed at a generous price. In fact the outside stall has come up trumps in previous renewals so it may not be as bad as they suggest, and after a long layoff he has run well in all three starts this summer since joining local trainer John Sadler.
For those searching for the ‘good things’ I’m all over Well Armed in the Dirt Mile (Sat 7.30). Third in the Dubai World Cup, I would have fancied him for minor honours if he’d gone for the Classic, so the hint must be taken in this easier race.
As I said last week Zenyatta looks nailed on for Ladies Classic (Fri 11.15), although at the odds she now represents little value, while Stardom Bound could hardly have been more impressive over the CD when coming from out of the clouds and looks too classy in the Juvenile Fillies (Fri 9.55).
• All prices correct at time of writing.
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