ALL VARI WELL British raider Teona can land Cup Turf for Roger
TEONA can shine on racing’s biggest stage with a victory in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (11.40) at Del Mar tonight.
Roger Varian, whose CV lacks a win at the self-styled ‘World Championships’, always believed the daughter of Sea The Stars to be capable of mixing it with the best, and Teona proved her trainer right when lowering Snowfall’s colours in the Group 1 Prix Vermeille at Longchamp in September.
Soft ground ruled David Egan’s mount out of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, but the faster racing surface in California is just what Teona needs.
The FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile (10.20) looks a good opportunity for SPACE BLUES to give Charlie Appleby and William Buick yet another big Stateside prize.
The ever-reliable five-year-old, whose two previous successes at Group 1 level have been gained over shorter, does have to prove he can produce his best over an eighth furlong, but the two turns round Del Mar will help.
Kevin Ryan, triumphant with Glass Slippers at Keeneland 12 months ago, has a strong runner for the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (7.40) in the shape of EMARAATY ANA.
The five-year-old continued his resurgence with a short-head call over Starman in the top-level Sprint Cup at Haydock last time out and this test should suit.
The glittering card – of which no fewer than eight races are broadcast by the ITV cameras – concludes with the $6m Breeders’ Cup Classic (12.40), in which the Joel Rosario-ridden KNICKS GO is preferred to Brad Cox stablemate and market rival, Essential Quality.
Irad Ortiz jnr has bright double prospects courtesy of hotpots LIFE IS GOOD in the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (8.19) and LETRUSHKA in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (11.00).
The former’s trainer Todd Pletcher can also take the Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint (9.38) with FOLLOWING SEA, while the Bill Mott-saddled WAR LIKE GODDESS is the selection to thwart the European candidates for the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (8.59).