Billesdon Brook to fly flag for raiders
Tough race at Breeders’ Cup will be ideal for her Appleby strike rate gives Old Persian strong claim
Billesdon Brook, the 66-1 winner of last year’s 1,000 Guineas, can give Richard Hannon and Sean Levey a first Breeders’ Cup triumph by beating last year’s winner Sistercharlie in the Fillies and Mares Turf at Santa Anita tonight.
Rags to riches remains one of life’s most engaging storylines and Jeanette Mccreery’s filly, bred by her late husband Bob and leased to 23 “racing faces” comes here in the form of her life, having won the Sun Chariot Stakes last time out.
American racing should suit her well and, although she has only tried the 10 furlong trip once, she is bred to get it. “The only reason she hasn’t been tried much over is because she used to run a bit gassy,” said Levey. “But she settles now.”
The more rough and tumble the better for her and there should be no shortage of that.
The improving Fanny Logan probably represents Frankie Dettori’s best ride of the night, although she is drawn wide somewhere out near Hollywood.
European horses usually hold sway in the Turf but Bricks And Mortar is an above average American horse on grass and if Aidan O’brien is to extend his record in this race – six wins – the Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck will need to put his best foot forward. If the problem since Epsom has been the ground, then he will have no excuses.
However, Charlie Appleby is running a 50 per cent strike rate at this meeting – three wins from six – and Old Persian is typical of the type of horse he does well with when travelling them in the autumn. On the back of a comfortable win at Woodbine, he has a big chance.
Richard Fahey’s Space Traveller needs to find a bit but the quick ground and his profile – a strong finishing seven-furlong horse – make him an interesting contender for the Mile, for which Circus Maximus is favourite. The St James’s Palace and Moulin winner finished sixth in the Derby and may find Santa Anita’s two turn mile sharp enough. Uni is the best of the home team.
There is no European runner in this year’s Classic, an open race in which Elate can become only the second filly to triumph after the brilliant Zenyatta 10 years ago. British interest in the dirt races is restricted to James Doyle’s sister
Sophie, who rides the 10-1 shot Street Band in the Distaff (11.00).
The filly is up against Midnight Bisou, one of the potential stars of the weekend, who is unbeaten in seven starts since January. But Street Band, who gave Doyle her first Group One win since arriving in America in 2015 when landing the Cotillion Stakes last time out, has a shot, especially if early pace is really strong, which looks the case.