0.75pts each-way Zelzal @12/1, 22:19 Del Mar, Saturday

Ribchester has the best form on paper going in to the Breeder’s Cup Turf Mile, with multiple Group 1 victories during what has been a fairly busy campaign. He is arguably, one of the best Richard Fahey has ever trained, and you can be sure he will run a highly competitive race again despite it being so soon after his defeat to Persuasive on Champions Day.

The sole filly in the line-up is Aidan O’Brien’s Roly Poly, who has had a cracking season racing against her own sex. She has been on the go along time and is mightily tough, but I can’t see her being easily able to employ her usual front-running tactics from her wide berth and her price of 6/1 could do with being a few points bigger.

The American hope World Approval has to be high on any shortlist with a cracking draw in stall five. This five year-old gelding has looked impressive since he dropped back to the mile, with his most recent run involving him serving up a three length defeat to Lancaster Bomber at Woodbine in September. That was his fourth win in five starts this season and he will be extremely tough opposition.

World Approval likes to go forward and that could provide a decent toe in to the race for the horse drawn next door in stall six, ZELZAL, for French trainer Jean-Claude Rouget.

It looks much too early to write-off the lightly-raced Sea The Stars colt who has gone off second favourite or favourite this season. But he has not had much luck, with excuses in each of his three starts on the year.

Despite those frustrations, he has shown enough and travelled well in those races to demonstrate that he possesses the necessary Group 1 quality. And there wasn’t much wrong with his performance last time out in the Foret during the Arc meet when finishing an unflattering 1.75l sixth behind Aclaim –  the seven furlong trip was too short for Zelzal on that occasion.

He is much better suited by the mile as he proved when he won the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat last year and more generally his best form has come over it.

But perhaps most importantly, his last two runs have been on deep ground, and I think this colt wants it quick. The rattling fast ground at Del Mar could be right up his street with his brilliant turn-of-foot, and he looks great value at 12/1 to put in a massive performance.

0.75pts each-way Zelzal @12/1, 22:19 Del Mar, Saturday (1/5 odds, 1,2,3,4 places Paddy Power)

 

 

 

Leave a comment

Send a Comment

Your email address will not be published.