Breeders' Cup 2012 - Turf

10.18 Santa Anita

Breeders´ Cup Turf (Grade 1) (3yo+) (Turf) (3yo+) Winner £1,161,290

Point Of Entry: Has repaid connections patience in bounds this season, confirming himself the best US Turf horse in quite some time with three Grade 1 wins, most notably when beating Treasure Beach despite yielding ground and wide trip; Should go well for all that European raiding party brings two horses who are far better than that one.

Turbo Compressor: Bagged the United Nations Stakes (1m3f Grade 1) in July, but set soft fractions and got away with it; Different story here.

St Nicolas Abbey: Felt like completion of his renaissance when romping home with last year’s renewal of this race; Since been terrific in Europe, winning Coronation Cup in a canter to make it 4-5 going 1m4f around left handed tracks, the one time he didn’t when being beaten by Cirrus Des Aigles (since run Frankel as close as any, albeit on his ground) in slowly run Sheema Classsic; Has to be given big chance, as his run in Arc on heavy ground isn’t worth counting.

Treasure Beach: Irish Derby winner last year who won Arlington Million in tenacious style but not run to same level since and hard to fancy, seeing as he had to go wide on yielding ground to make Point Of Entry work hard; Second string for O’Brien.

Shareta: Belied 66/1 odds when clear second in Arc (ahead of St Nicolas Abbey) ;second of four in Grand Prix De Cloud when ahead of Galikova, herself making her seasonal debut (strong edition in hindsight, not run to suit) before outstaying The Fugue (should have won F&M Turf) when taking deserved Group 1 win in Yorkshire Oaks before then being most impressive winner on Arc trials day with Vermille romp; No show in Arc but heavy ground to blame; Big chance here, If handling the tight nature of the track for one who loves to get her stride on.

Cogito: Form of second in Prix Eugene Adam is working out very well for the level but no show in Jamaica Handicap; Reason to think he’ll be much better  today but still has lot more on his plate.

Little Mike: Stole the Arlington Million Stakes from the front when given the easiest of leads, but put in his place over 12 furlong behind Point Of Entry and Treasure Beach; Needs more and might not stay.

Kindergarten Kid: Confirmed the form of his third behind Point Of Entry and Treasure Beach on yielding ground when winning 1m4f Grade 3 (form); Needs more to win here though.

Dullahan: Triple Grade 1 winner on Poly, so surprising that he’s not won in 4 Turf Starts and stamina also a concern; Passed over.

Optimizer: Won 1m1f Grade 3 when last seen but that a very weak even for the States and passed over readily with stamina too to prove.

Slim Shadey: Raced freely but allowed to get away with in it over 1m2f in Grade 2 latest; Others too preferred and doubt he’ll get the lead.

Trailblazer: Fourth in last year’s Japan Cup (very strong renewal, won by Buena Vista) and Grade 2 win at Tokyo and remarkable prep here when second to top miler Obviously on first US run; Should go close if at best from gate 12, although trip helps with minimizing that effect.

VERDICT: A top class renewal, with Point Of Entry the best of the home team but looking a step or two behind the strong raiding party, best of whom might be TRAILBLZER if able to show his Japan Cup form from stall 12. A recent warm up over a mile certainly indicates that he’s capable of doing so.