Breeders' Cup 2013 - Mile

11.40 Santa Anita

Breeders' Cup Mile (Grade 1) (Turf) (Class 1)  (3YO plus)

Winner $1,144,200

Advice: 3 pts win Wise Dan (evs 888Sport), 1 pt each/way No Jet Lag (10/1 Ladbrokes, 9/1 Paddy Power, 8/1 general w/1/4 for places)

No Jet Lag: Didn’t look as if he’d be contesting this sort of race in UK but different horse for Simon Callaghan, winning debut easily; Really raised eyebrows when he came within tenth of Wise Dan’s course record when winning City of Hope Stakes here latest and while he needs another step up highly possible there’s more to come on just third start for yard and plenty of reason for optimism especially with the market leaders hardly bombproof.

Silentio: No match for Wise Dan at Keenland two starts back when he made running for first time but good third after four months off behind He Be Fire N Ice and Obviously latest; Doesn’t look good enough on those two efforts.

Silver Max: Rapidly improving frontrunner who sprang shock of the US Turf season when shocking Wise Dan in Shadwell Turf Mile at Keenland (to take stock of that improvement, he was 11 lengths behind Wise Dan in that last year and beaten seventh lengths behind him in Woodford Turf Classic); That moved from Turf to Polytrack following deluge and plenty of standing water on track might have helped, along with uncontested lead; Deserving of respect here nevertheless but more competition for lead today.

Obviously: Front running third in this last year and has been in similar form since, winning three in a row comfortably before doing too much too early when well beaten 1/2 favourite over C&D and then just running out of gas; Hard to see him getting the lead he wants today and others make more appeal.

Olympic Glory: Top class European miler who was reinvigorated by blinkers when destroying his field in QEII Stakes at Ascot latest, making amends for what had ben a frustrating season for one of his talent, especially when nosed out in the strongest mile race of the year; Absolutely good enough to win this but had just 14 days since a hard race at Ascot and Santa Anita unlike anything he’s faced before in course terms, and worries as to whether he’ll actually be at his best; Big chance if he is.

Bright Thought: Three from three here going off the front at a mile, 10 and 12 furlongs, with those three wins coming in the space of just a month but off since then with splint bone and surgery and lots of completion from the front.

H Be Fire N Ice: had Silent behind him when he just faced to catch Obviously by half a lengths but well held by No Jet Lag latest and this a fat harder race for him.

Wise Dan: One of the most versatility horses of recent times, a Grade 1 winner on dirt, turf, and synthetics; Highlight came when he smashed course record to win last year’s Mile and had won all his races since until he suffered early interference and had to come four wide and moved Shadwell Turf Mile when he couldn’t reel back Obviously; That defeat a little worrying but reason to expect better from him and obviously the one to beat.

Cristoforo Colombo: Looked a quality juvenile and found 6 furlongs too sharp in Middle Park, but disappointment this season, only fifth in Guineas when lacklustre, and little success sprinting; Will relish the ground and don’t imagine that he lacks speed but a lot more needed.

Za Approval: Runner up behind Obviously and Wise Dan in successive turf races before winning Knickerbocker Stakes but beaten easily by both those and hard to see him in the shakeup here despite yard having great success with turf horses.

VERDICT: WISE DAN’S win in this last year was one of the performances of the meeting and while his defeat to Silver Max last time might have been disconcerting for some, there were circumstances against him and he’s more than capable of retaining his title with Silver Max surely going to be taken on for the lead and Olympic Glory taking a very different challenge to the one’s he’s faced in Europe so far. If those two don’t fire than NO JET LAG must be taken very seriously after his impressive win last time and he can be in the shakeup if repeating his effort from last time.