Breeders' Cup 2011 - Mile

10.07 Churchill Downs

Tvg Breeders´ Cup Mile (Grade 1) (3yo+) (Turf) (3yo+)

Winner: £692,308 Runners: 13 Distance: 1m

Advice: 2.5 pts win Goldikova (7/4 Hills, Blue Sq, Boylesports), 1 pt each/way Courageous Cat (12/1 Bet365)

Goldikova: Fabulous mare who’s aiming for her fourth straight win in this event, which would be her 15^th Group/Grade 1 as well; Some would say that she’s on the wane a 6 years but not out of first two all year, and we all know that this has been her target for months; Should make a bold bid from inside draw if breaking OK and the clear one to beat. 

Zoffany: Gone long way to fulfilling juvenile promise this season despite not winning; Came within a few strides of catching Frankel at Royal Ascot and then only headed by Mutual Trust (alongside Strong Suit) in the Prix Jean Prat; Poor runs last twice, one of which can be explained by soft ground, the other (at Keenland) is much harder (although trainer seemed to hint that he could have reacted badly to first time Lasix) but more than enough talent to win here. 

Courageous Cat: Second to Goldikova two years ago and in same form since, especially with strong showing this year; Won Shoemaker Mile from Mr Carocatardo before being run down late (giving 3lbs) in the Woodbine Mile; Likely to be held up for a late run here and can make a bold bid. 

Mr Commons: Gained a top two finish in his last three starts since finishing eight in the Preakness but couldn’t beat Carocatardo getting 4lbs, who in turn was beaten by Courageous Cat; Others preferred.

Gio Ponti: Has had his usual stellar campaign, unable to give weight (7lbs) and big start over 10f to Mission Approved and then too back to catch Cape Blanco in Man O’War Stakes; Same story again in Arlington Million but impressive win in the Shadwell Turf Mile puts him right back on the secene.

Get Stormy: Winner of the Maker’s Mile and then the Woodford Reserve Turf Mile when  allowed to set a steady gallop, and nearly got away with it when trying to steal a march on Teaks North; Giving a lot of weight to subsequent Woodbine Mile winner Turallure when they last met and then second best to Gio Ponti; Would still be a bit of a surprise winner.

Jeranimo: Won the Grade 2 Oak Tree Mile last time after suffering quite a few infringements on previous trips; That said, none of them in the same class as this or other top Grade 1 races and others are preferred.

 

Byword: Top class over 10 furlongs, especially when winning the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes a couple of years ago; Bounced back from lacklustre run behind Goldikova by winning his last two starts, including the Prix Dollar getting 4lbs from Cirrus Des Aigles; Good enough to win this, and does have winning form over a mile; Faster they go the better.

 

Court Vision: Fifth in this last year following successful season (won Woodbine Mile going into this) but no top three show since then and moved yards 5 times this season; Only fifth last year and surprise if he can do better this year.

 

Sidney’s Candy: Disappointing when favourite for the Forego after wide margin win in Fourstardave Stakes, having been allowed to set an extremely slow pace before drawing away; Ran a stinker in Forego before being held by Gio Ponti and couldn’t do better than sixth in this last year despite an uncontested lead.

Strong Suit: Has fulfilled juvenile promise and more thanks to breathing operation, winning three Group races with something to spare this year; Third on only try at a mile when allowed to set a slow place in Prix Jean Prat and has to be a bit of a worry that he could use up energy early; Massive speed if able to.

Compliance Officer: On a winning streak of 5 but those in New York Bred races, and only vernturre outside of those waters has seen him lose seven out of eight, so look elsewhere.

 

Turallure: Charged late when stamina came into play to win Woodbine Mile when beating Courageous Cat, and big chance based on that (any rain’s good too); But now 3lbs worse off with a worse draw than him this time around, which tempers enthusiasm for his chances. 

VERDICT: All about the magnificent GOLDIKOVA who bids to have a winning final farewell, and she can get it if the rain stays away and she breaks well enough from her draw of 1. Those looking for alternatives can do worse than COURAGEOUS CAT, while Turallure, Gio Ponti, Byword and Strong Suit should make bold bids despite middling factors against them.  Zoffany has more than enough talent to go close if taking to this early so don’t be surprised to see a big run from him.