The wait is over: Breeders’ Cup 35 is here

The “Who’s Who” of the racing world descend on Churchill Downs this weekend for the 35th renewal of the Breeders’ Cup. What started as a seven-race event at Hollywood Park in 1984 has grown to what is now a twoday, $30-million extravaganza!

There are 14 World Championship races – each worth at least a million dollars – to be contested across the Friday-Saturday programme which has attracted world’s finest equine athletes.

And while these two days have seen legends born, history made and fortunes won, chances are that greater is yet to come!

Sadly, Justify was retired earlier this year which ended the hope that he could have become the only the second horse since American Pharoah (who won 2015) to win the so-called ‘Grand Slam,’ by adding the $6-million Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic to his Triple Crown heroics of last year.

Still, it should be a grand show and TAB are offering an array of betting propositions over the two days including Place Accumulator, Pick 6, Jackpot and Pick 3 bets.

In Justify’s absence, Accelerate is the form horse and runner to beat in Saturday’s 2000m Breeders’ Cup Classic on the dirt but his No 14 gate is widest of all and hardly an advantage.

Some would also suggest that trainer John Sadler is Breeders’ Cup-jinxed, as he is yet to saddle a winner at the championships from 41 runners.

Sadler runs unbeaten Catalina Cruiser earlier on the card in the Dirt Mile but if he’s still to break his duck heading into the Classic, taking 5-2 on Accelerate might be hard to swallow. Britain is represented by standout colt of the year Roaring Lion, who has won his last four races at Group 1 level on the turf.

Horses as good as West Coast, Mind Your Biscuits, Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow and Ballydoyle’s Mendelssohn are all capable of landing the prize on so should ensure some very active betting. And that’s just one of the 14 championship races!

In the $4-million Grade 1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf one name stands out above all else, that of John Gosden-trained twotime Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner, Enable.

In her first trip across the ‘pond,’ the four-year-old wonder filly will bid to defy history and become the first Arc winner to follow up at the Breeders’ Cup – and she is odds-on to do so!

Abel Tasman and Monomoy Girl cross paths in what should prove a hotly contested Grade 1 Longines Distaff on the dirt over 1800m but in Midnight Bisou trainer Steven Asmussen and jockey John Velazquez, who are no strangers to Breeders’ Cup success, have a lively chance.

In the TwinSpires Sprint tomorrow’s card, last year’s runner-up Imperial Hint could be worth backing to go one better.