The Europeans have enjoyed varying degrees of success at the Breeder's Cup over the last few years but 2019 wasn't much fun and but for Iridessa's victory in the Filly & Mare Turf, it would have been a clean sweep for the home team across the two days.
Should we really care? Maybe not. It's all about backing winners, right? Maybe so. But for as long as I can remember following racing, the Breeders' Cup has been one of the cornerstones of the year. Not quite at Cheltenham levels perhaps, or Royal Ascot even, but it's a big deal and Breeders' Cup Saturday was always pencilled in the diary from an early stage as the lads got together in the back room of the same local pub every year to drink, gamble and cheer on the European runners.
It was in that same pub I watched that unforgettable Breeders' Cup Turf in 2003 when High Chaparral and Johar dead-heated for first, with Falbrav a head back in third, in one of the most pulsating finishes in the history of the event. I was actually standing on a stool as the runners hit the wire, an Ireland flag raised above my head, so sure was I that Mick Kinane had driven the brilliant Derby winner to outright Turf victory for the second year running.
He's right, of course. I know all of this, but it hasn't stopped me trying to make a case for SISKIN to somehow return to form in the Mile, or gloss over PEACEFUL's flop in the Newmarket mud last time, or even warm to Battleground in the Juvenile Turf despite his wide draw and the suspicion that he might just be a bit slow.
Europe do have genuine chances across the two days this time around, though - Siskin and Peaceful included - and most definitely in the Turf where Tarnawa, Magical and Mogul will surely have the race to themselves.
If Siskin doesn't get them in the Mile, surely Kameko will, and what about Glass Slippers in the Turf Sprint and Mighty Gurkha for Hollie Doyle today in the Juvenile Turf Sprint? Hollie won't let us down, will she?
Clearly I'm getting carried away but I can't believe Team Europe will leave Keeneland empty-handed on Saturday and I'll be thoroughly disappointed if 'we' can't better last year's single victory.
I honestly thought AUNT PEARL would be closer to 6/4 for the Juvenile Fillies Turf come the day of the race. She already boasts just about the best single piece of form in the race with her Jessamine Stakes cruise, has zero questions to answer regarding trip and ground, has bagged a lovely draw in stall five, and represents a trainer in Brad Cox who recently labelled Keeneland as "home" and generally has few peers at this venue. Think Mark Johnston at Goodwood and you get the picture.
Aunt Pearl only made her racecourse debut on September 1 when stretching clear at Churchill but she took the quick step up in class firmly in her stride when again making all of the running in the aforementioned Jessamine at this track, staying on strongly in closing stages to book her place at the Cup.
While the presence of stretch-out sprinter Royal Approval in tonight's field raises the possibility that Aunt Pearl won't have her own way up front, I'm not convinced she needs it and I'd argue that the fact she has made the running in her career so far has been more to do with connections wanting to play to her strengths - a high cruising speed and plenty of stamina - not that their filly isn't able to perform to her best if not setting the pace.
If anything, the presence of Royal Approval might prove ideal for the daughter of Lope De Vega, who is out of a Hurricane Run (2005 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner) dam, and if able to sit close enough to strong fractions from her low draw, she should be ideally placed to pounce when others have had enough.
Should that scenario not play out and Florent Geroux decide to put his filly on the lead again, her recent course victory, when in no way handed an easy lead, demonstrates that she has the engine to cut out the running and still have enough in reserve for the home stretch.
Not a quickener as such, Aunt Pearl looks a filly who might be even better over further next year and it will surely take a good one to pass her if Geroux gets his fractions right. She rates my bet of the meeting.
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