Barbaro Updates: 977
updates are now here.
Update 5790: A couple of cool blog posts:
Zenyatta: A Horse for the People
On Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra and Memory.
And now off to the races at Woodbine.
Update 5789: Eight galloped for Steve this morning at Woodbine, and a gorgeous morning for training too. All mine galloped nicely. There was a lot of buzz around the track this morning regarding Zenyatta's terrific performance yesterday. Inevitably the discussions lead to whether her victory was good enough to give her horse of the year honors.
Update 5788: Media coverage of Zenyatta's Classic victory:
Zenyatta triumphs in Classic
It's All Zenyatta in the BC Classic
Zenyatta simply perfect in Classic
Zenyatta Wins Breeders' Cup Classic
Update 5787: And here is the race on YouTube: Breeders Cup Classic 2009.
Update 5786: And how to you beat the performance of Goldikova, ask ZENYATTA!
Update 5785: Breeders' Cup live discussion: Breeders Cup Live Thread/Results.
Update 5784: A little over halfway through the card on the second day of the Breeders' Cup and no doubt the performance of the Championships so far: Goldikova's repeat win in the Mile. Absolutely outstanding win.
Update 5783: Eight galloped this morning for Steve at Woodbine. And it was a little warmer this morning too for training. All mine galloped nicely. One was a little (too) excited coming on to the track. Thankfully he settled down a little when it was time to gallop! We have a couple of runners this afternoon, and I will stay at the track to watch the Breeders' Cup races.
Update 5782: In the wake of Life is Sweet's victory yesterday, can trainer John Shirreffs do the double today with the unbeaten Zenyatta: A Sign, Perhaps, in a Filly's Victory.
Update 5781: Some great Breeders' Cup races today. I won't deny there was a significant air of disappointment when Careless Jewel folded in the Ladies Classic, but other than that --- great stuff. Life is Sweet won the Ladies Classic for Zenyatta's trainer John Shirreffs. Jonathan Sheppard won a race with Informed Decision. He also had a third place finish with Forever Together. And Henry Cecil won his first Breeders' Cup race with Midday. An exciting start. More tomorrow.
Update 5780: Here is an update from Sue McMullen on the European contigency in the Breeder's Cup:
This year's European raiders have something to live up to as five wins last year was record-breaking and set the bar very high.
Here is a brief look at this year's main contenders and includes only those who are travelling and not US based.
Marathon Stakes
Muhannak (IRE) : Winner last year but that was arguably a weaker field. Has not shown anything like that form this season and the increase in distance looks against him. Father Time: Won the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot in June but beaten on last two runs and stamina has to be questioned. Mastery: Proven over the distance when winning the St Leger at Doncaster in September with Father Time three and a half lengths fourth. Has a touch of class – three and half lengths third to Cavalryman in the Group One Grand Prix de Paris - and has had one run on the Polytrack at Kempton. Man of Iron: Improving type but will need to be as this is a step up on any of his three wins – although the last two of those have come on the Polytrack at Dundalk.
Juvenile Fillies Turf
Lillie Langtry: Second-favourite for the 1000 Guineas and better than her penultimate run (beaten on heavy ground at the Curragh in August) suggests. Won a valuable sales race at Newmarket last month and represents high-level European form.Junia Tepzia: Originally trained in Italy (now Germany). Unbeaten in two races including a Listed race at San Siro. She could be anything.
Filly & Mare Sprint
Only Green: Won a Listed race at Chantilly last month but has looked out of her depth in higher grades.
Filly & Mare Turf
Midday: Trained by the hugely popular Henry Cecil, she won both the Oaks and Irish Oaks and then won the Group One Nassau Stakes at Goodwood in August, beating Rainbow View by two and a quarter lengths. rCecil believes she may have needed the run in the Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp last month and will come on for that run.
Ladies Classic
Rainbow View: Top-flight juvenile last season but has won only one in seven this year. Second in the EP Taylor at Woodbine last month, when Lepareaux rode. Fast ground has been a problem before but she may take to Pro-Ride.
Tomorrow
Juvenile Turf
Viscount Nelson:: Listed winner at Tipperary and second to Poet’s Voice in the Group Two Champagne Stakes at Doncaster in September.
Pounced: Trainer won this race last year with Donativum and this one comes to the race with a higher level of form having finished second in the Group One Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp last month, with Buzzword a half-length third. Awesome Act: Only ninth when stepped to Group One level in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last month and has something to find on bare form. Buzzword: Won a Group Three race in France in September and a close fifth in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last month.
Turf Sprint
Lord Shanakill: Formerly with Karl Burke and yet to race for new yard having been with Madella for about a month. Not run since the end of July but did win the Group One Prix Jeam Prat in France.Strike the Deal: Could be a lively outsider. Hit form with a Listed and Group Three win in September and both of those came when ridden by Kieren Fallon.
Dirt Mile
Mastercraftsman: Top-notch turf miler who has won the Irish 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes. Placed twice over ten furlongs by Sea The Stars (International and Irish Champion Stakes) later in the season and then won a Group Three on the Polytrack at Dundalk. Can be a slow starter but likely to be able to grind it out in the finish.　
Juvenile
Alfred Nobel: Recent from does not read that well but it could be underrated by US odds makers. Recent runs in Ireland have been on heavy ground and he then ran fifth in a valuable sales race at Newmarket where he appeared to be the victim of a heavy draw bias. Better ground could show a very different horse.Beethoven: O'Brien's second string according to jockey bookings. Been running without success in most of the top juvenile races in Europe. Was only a neck second to a stable companion in the Group One Dewhurst Stakes, although that form looks a little flimsy.
Vale of York: The yard’s juveniles have been running well in Europe this year and this one has shown some form but would still be a surprise to win this. Radiohead: Recently bought by his US owner. Has won twice over five furlongs – then took on the older sprinters to finish third in the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes - and was held up to get the six furlongs in the Group One Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket last month where he finished second to Awzaan so stamina has to be a concern.
Mile
Delegator: Second in both the 2000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes before being bought by Godolphin. Has since won a Group Two at Goodwood (but may lose it for a banned substance) and finished third to Rip Van Winkle in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. Godolphin are thinking of dropping in distance for next year as a stiff mile appears just too much. However Last Tycoon, who was a six-furlong horse in Europe, found the two-turn mile at Santa Anita easy when he won this race in 1986. Zacinto: Highly rated two-year-old who missed the first half of this season because of injury. Has improved with every run and split Rip Van Winkle and Delegator in the QE II. Gladiatorus: Rated the best horse in the world when he won on Dubai World Cup night. That was on a two-turn mile but looked a shadow of that form in his first three runs of the European season. Did win a Group One in Italy last month but a real leap of faith to fancy him here. Goldikova: Trying to emulate Miesque, who Head rode to win the Mile in 87 and 88. Put up an imperious performance to slam a good field in the Group One Prix Jacques Le Marois by six lengths at Deauville in August. Below-par last time out, in the Group One Prix de la Foret. The draw was against her – as it is here – and the trainer was preparing her with one eye on this race so she can be expected to come on for the run.
Sprint
Fleeting Spirit: Very game filly who was fourth in last year’s Turf Sprint since when she has run in four Group One races winning the July Cup and finishing second in the other three. The concern is that she has been a slow starter so may be playing catch-up.
Turf
Conduit: Put up a career-best performance to win this last year and backed that up by winning the Group One King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July and then running fourth to Sea The Stars in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. He's at his best coming from the back of a fast-run race so a front-runner like Precious Passion should set it up for him. Red Rocks: Won this race in 2006, third in 2007 but well off the pace in 2008 and shown very little in three runs since. Dar Re Mi: Has been an underrated filly but won two Group Ones this season (was actually three but disqualified in France for causing very minor interference) against her own sex. Just behind Conduit when fifth in the Arc but looks held on that form.
Spanish Moon: Not allowed to run in Britain after refusing to enter the gate but he's won two top races in France this season.
Classic
Twice Over: Can be forgotten that he beat last year’s Classic winner, Raven’s Pass, first time up as a three-year-old. Did not fulfil that promise last season and seemed to have plateaued with a string of placed runs. Dropped in grade for a couple of easy wins and then came back to win the Group One Champion Stakes at Nerwmarket last month. A career-best victory but more needed here. Rip Van Winkle: Further reports of foot problems have been superceded and O'Brien says he's now fine. Fourth in both the 2000 Guineas and the Derby but then, arguably, gave Sea The Stars his biggest test when a length second in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. Won both the Sussex Stakes and the QEII over a mile and earlier form suggests he should handle return to ten furlongs.
Good luck to all concerned and let's hope for a trouble-free and fantastic BC>
Update 5779: Don't forget you can listen to our ABR radio shows to pick up Breeders' Cup tips for today and tomorrow.
This week's show we covered all the races with the help of Lisa Grimm from Superfecta: Alex Brown Racing on the Radio
And last week Paul Moran helped us focus on four of the key races, the Classic (tomorrow), Ladies Classic (today), the Mile (tomorrow) and the Sprint (tomorrow): Alex Brown Racing on the Radio.
Only five galloped this morning at Woodbine. Two also went to the gate for some schooling. An easy morning's work which was very nice. We have a few runners this afternoon, and it's the Friday program for the Breeders' Cup, so I will be up at Champions Bar at Woodbine watching all the races!
Update 5778: Breeders' Cup begins today with Ladies day. Stars such as Careless Jewel (Zenyatta's presence looms over Ladies' Classic), Ventura (Ventura leads strong Filly and Mare Sprint field) and Forever Together (Ladies man Strawbridge set for Friday) will attempt to win their respective races.
In all there are six Breeders' Cup races today and eight tomorrow: WEEKEND STAKES: WHERE TO WATCH brought to you by KBC Horse Supplies.
And please keep calling.
Good morning, fellow Fans!
Weather update - 3" of snow overnight in my part of the Downeast. My poor evergreens are all splayed out. But, it will all be gone by tomorrow!
My prayers that all have a safe trip today and tomorrw in the Breeders Cup races..and everywhere.
Marg
Proud Fan of Barbaro forever
Posted by: Marg in Maine at November 6, 2009 11:19 AM