Neil Morrice brings us all of his best bets and tips from Friday’s racing at the USA’s Breeders Cup as well as the race-meetings in the UK at Newmarket and Wetherby.
Juveniles
Two colts rightly dominate the market for the first day feature with the juvenile crown tilting towards the heads of either EIGHT RINGS or DENNIS’ MOMENT. Eight Rings hails from the Bob Baffert academy and boasts a slightly chequered record. The son of Empire Maker readily outstripped his foes on debut at Del Mar but on his next start at the track failed to menace in the Grade 1 Futurity. However his aura was then boosted when he America Pharoah, another Grade 1 on this track at the end of September.
DENNIS’ MOMENT is the only Breeders’ Cup runner for trainer Dale Romans and has the ability to go wire-to-wire under Irad Ortiz Jnr. He is also 2 from 3, the one blip coming when he was out of the money on his Churchill Downs introduction in late June. The Kentucky-based son of Tiznow then displayed notable progression to open his account up country at Ellis Park by almost 20 lengths. Then in the Grade 3 Iroquois he played a stalking role to arrive three wide and power clear in the home stretch. Eased down in the final furlong, the Churchill Downs caller got it right when saying Ortiz “barely moved a muscle”. He now jumps two notches up the class ladder but who knows how much further improvement is in the tank ? SCABBARD was the closest pursuer to Dennis’ Moment in the Iroquois, getting to within a length and threequarters, though that greatly flatters the Eddie Keneally-trained colt, as the winner was eased down to a virtual walk. SHOPLIFTED has plenty to do with Eight Rings but could get into the frame for Steve Asmussen while WRECKING CREW placed in the Del Mar Futurity for trainer Peter Miller and is the most interesting roughie.
Prediction
1st DENNIS’ MOMENT
2nd Eight Rings
3rd Wrecking Crew
4th Scabbard
5th Shoplifted
Juvenile Fillies (Grade 1)
In a race prone to throwing upsets let’s go for a smash up and two for your exotics are barn mates LAZY DAISY and COMICAL. Pocahontas winner LAZY DAISY is career 2 from 3 for Doug O’Neill. She showed excellent gate speed at Churchill Downs before being headed by long shot His Worry, only to rally gamely as the pair drew clear. Those battling qualities should stand her in good stead against the likes of Bob Baffert’s BAST who after finishing second on debut dominated the Grade 1 Debutante at Del Mar and grittily shook off COMICAL by a head in the Chandelier here at Santa Anita. On the evidence of that run she is an over-priced filly at 16-1, so the advice is to lock Lazy Daisy and Comical into exactas and trifectas with Bast. Also Win and Place wagers on the O’Neill duo.
Juvenile Turf Sprint (Grade 1)
Granted she hails from the barn of Wesley Ward it’s hardly surprising that KIMARI has proved the subject of a notable gamble in the ante post market. The daughter of US sire Munnings is 3 from 4 and posted her best effort when landing the Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland by way of a devastating stretch run that took her from last to first. That followed an excellent second in the Queen Mary Stakes at Royal Ascot and a win in the Bolton Landing at Saratoga. The mount of John Velazquez, she’s on the trail of a million dollar haul but though undoubtedly useful, might find Simon Crisford’s A’ALI too hot to handle. It was noticeable how early Crisford snapped up Frankie Dettori for the mount on the son of Society Rock whose three successes numbered the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot followed by a Group 2 at Deauville and the Group 2 Flying Childers Stakes at Doncaster. He subsequently delighted connections in a racecourse gallop at Wolverhampton.
Juvenile Fillies Turf (Grade 1)
The Roger Varian-trained DAAHYEH has been at the forefront of the betting for this since capturing the Group 2 Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket. William Buick’s mount is perfectly housed in stall 5 to make a bold bid and has very solid form, having landed the Group 3 Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and narrowly missed out in a Group 1 at the Curragh ahead of her success at HQ. In contrast the Marcel Boussac winner ALBIGNA has to overcome the widest draw and that tips the scales in favour of Daahyeh with the two quite capable of dominating proceedings.
Juvenile Turf (Grade 1)
ARIZONA is a big fancy from Coolmore and the son of No Nay Never has the pedigree to go very close. Although suffering a couple of reverses since plundering the Coventry Stakes he could do no more than gain a creditable second placing behind Pinatubo in the Dewhurst and on the evidence of that one run needs to be taken very seriously. Europeans have triumphed ten times and that glowing statistic adds weight to the reason Arizona is a 9-4 favourite in the Hollywoodbets market. There aren’t the usual amount of big guns in the Aidan O’Brien battalion but this colt can prove he’s the ace in the pack.
Newmarket Best Bets
Race 4: DIVINE SPIRIT (7)
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: Brett Doyle
Plenty can be given chances in this Listed feature remembering Basra Sham but DIVINE SPIRIT has the best claims. The Godolphin filly has held her form well with two frame finishes at Chantilly and can give a boost to Breeders’ Cup candidate Band Practice, who beat her there last time.
Race 5: MAJESTIC DAWN (2)
Trainer: Paul Cole
Jockey: David Egan
Egan gave front runner MAJESTIC DAWN a peach of a ride at Nottingham and the combination have a great chance of following up here. Three-year-Old’s have a good record in the contest and whilst affording plenty of respect to the headstrong Severance, Majestic Dawn can take the spoils, having run well at this track when fifth in the Cambridgeshire.
Race 8: EBURY (8)
Trainer: Martyn Meade
Jockey: Jason Watson
The unexposed EBURY is highly regarded by his connections and can make this a third triumph from just five career starts by ending the winning run of Ouzo. He’s been given time to get over his taking Ascot success when last seen in September and the drying ground is sure to play to his strengths.
Wetherby Best Bets
Race 2: SAM SPINNER (2)
Trainer: Jeff O’Keeffe
Jockey: Joe Colliver
The top class staying hurdler SAM SPINNER wowed the locals when ultimately scoring with plenty in hand over these tough obstacles last month. Things didn’t go his way in the early stages and he jumped right at a couple of his fences, but when finding his stride two out he readily came clear. He’s an exciting recruit to chasing and can follow up.
Race 4: BORN SURVIVOR (1)
Trainer: Dan Skelton
Jockey: Harry Skelton
The Skeltons have a high opinion of BORN SURVIVOR who they expect to do well in handicap chases and this looks a good place for him to start. A selectively campaigned horse last season, he was last seen impressively landing a chase at the Scottish National meeting over this trip. He both worked and schooled well ahead of his seasonal return.
