Aidan O’Brien’s string hitting the track in a morning has become one of the enduring images of Breeders’ Cup week for those of us this side of the Atlantic, and the trainer with 13 previous winners at America’s biggest meeting will be more determined than ever heading to Keeneland after drawing a blank at Del Mar 12 months ago.
The focus has clearly shifted in recent years to Charlie Appleby and what Godolphin have opted to take, but it’s not often O'Brien’s three-year-olds are overlooked in the betting and both Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf contenders appear to have the capacity to shorten as the spotlight steadily shines more brightly on the European raiding party over the next 10 days.
The beautifully-bred Toy looked happier back down in trip when winning grittily at Listed level at Naas earlier in the month, and I’m sure she’s sitting on a sizeable amount of further improvement over this sort of trip, but TUESDAY has genuine claims of being right among the market leaders on her best form, and she’s the standout antepost bet across the two days at this stage.
Tuesday’s sister Minding, who also won the Oaks, famously dropped back in distance at the end of her Classic campaign to bag the QEII over a mile at Ascot on Champions Day, and I’d maintain there are top-class races around 10 furlongs to be won with her once she gets a better racing surface.
Nine and a half around Keeneland potentially looks sharp enough on paper, but the natural speed looked to be there when placed in both Guineas (Newmarket/Curragh) in the spring, and I refuse to believe this daughter of Galileo has peaked on the back of two slightly low-key runs in testing conditions.
She’s beaten Nashwa once already this year and simply looks too big a price when it comes to repeating the feat in the States on November 5.
Published at 1820 BST on 26/10/22
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