Breeders' Cup 2012 - Juvenile Fillies

10.08 Santa Anita

Grey Goose Breeders´ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade 1) (2yo Fillies) (Dirt) (2yo) Winner £696,774

Advice: 1 pt win Dreaming Of Julia (7/2 general)

Beholder: Earned the biggest speed figure by a 2 year old this season when romping away with 6f race here latest, having previously just been caught by favourite Executiveprivilege in the Debutante over 6f at Del Mar; Entitled to be here but would have been a lock in Juvenile fillies and with front running Kauai Katie here, sure to be taken on for the lead and as such vulnerable in latter stages.

Executiveprivilege: Champion West Coast 2yo so far this season, running down Beholder in the nick of time over 7f in the Del Mar Debuantate and then romping the Oak Leaf Stakes by 6 and a half lengths, looking much more comfortable over this C&D on dirt (led from the front, but that’s not a necessity); The one to beat and strong favourite.

Spring In The Air: Canadian raider who bumped into serious talent when second in Woobdine Grade 2 on Turf and then took advantage of mental pace to come through and take Darley Albicadies Stakes last time (Broken Spell Second); Not run on dirt so far but sire, dam and three siblings all handled it so reason to believe that she will and has to be considered with such a strong pace profile; One to look at strongly in running.

Renee’s Queen: Off the mark at fourth time of asking in Del Mar’s Oak Tree Juvenile Fillies Stakes, but that on turf and favourite has wiped the floor with her twice, so hard to fancy.

Dreaming Of Julia: Indicated she was top class win winning Saratoga maiden and Belmont’s Meadow Star Stakes by 10 and 16 lengths respectively; Only won 4 runner Frizette Stakes by a head but that after fierce prolonged speed duel into strong headwind with rival who had won maiden by 21 and ¼ lengths beforehand; Capacity to battle from the front and stick it out late.

Almost An Angel: Bred to enjoy this test but couldn’t do any better than sixth last time coming into pace that should have suited perfectly hen behind Spring In The Air; Needs more.

Broken Spell: Second to Spring In The Air last time when coming from nearly as far back as she did, the third in an improved spell of results on Lasix; Never placed on dirt and now off Lasix, so hard to trust without her being exposed on form in any case.

Kauai Katie: From same connections as Dreaming Of Julia and has been just as impressive, winning all three of her starts with ease, never being more impressive than when romping the Matron Stakes  latest; Clearly top class but only worry that this is furthers she’s ever gone and all wins gained over 7 furlongs; Abundance of early pace in the race here also a real worry.

VERDICT: A quality lineup with three Grade 1 winners and one horse who’s certainty good enough to be at this level. The east-west coast juvenile showdown between Executiveprivilege and DREAMING OF JULIA should be one to savour, with slight preference at the prices for Todd Pletcher’s filly, if she doesn’t race too close to the searing pace sure to be supplied by Beholder and Kauai Katie, both of whom are good enough to win this but may hurt their own chances by taking each other on too hard too early. Spring In The Air is the other major contender on account of how strong the early gallop will be.