1m Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Grade 1) (2yo Fillies) (Turf) (2yo)
The European challenge in this race looks weak this year after Opera Singer wasn’t entered and Aidan O’Brien only sends the disappointing Content, who needed every yard of the soft ground mile to win last time. Carla’s Way and Porta Fortuna – along with plenty of the American team – have stamina to prove, whilst Canadian G1 winner She Feels Pretty has to improve around 10lb to win this. My big takeout of this flat season is American Triple Crown winner Justify is the next big thing in the stallion ranks and has sired three of the top four European 2yos this year. Justify has two daughters in this race and BUCHU is a strong fancy at 10/1. I expect her to go off favourite with American punters and she looks very overpriced at this early stage. She started out on the dirt, trying and disappointing twice before being switched to the grass where she’s flourished. She got a big bump on her first start on turf and was never extended but has subsequently won twice in impressive fashion, showing tactical versatility to win from being dropped in from a wide draw, and prominently from the rail. Her damsire is the great Galileo and, like the other Justifys, she stays the trip really strongly so the European’s usual ace card of strong staying pedigrees won’t disadvantage her at all. She’s an excellent bet and stall 3 is just about perfect.
1pt antepost win Buchu @10/1, Juvenile Fillies Turf, Friday 3rd November 2023
1m Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (Grade 1) (2yo Colts & Geldings) (Turf) (2yo)
The late scratching of favourite and original Coolmore number one River Tiber opens this race up significantly and four places are still on offer each-way. As such, CAN GROUP looks the one to be on breaking from stall four with the short priced favourite Unquestionable out in stall eight. He’s a strong stayer at this trip and overcame significant adversity to win both his last two starts. A wide draw two starts ago preceded a more favourable post last time, but he was squeezed out between two slightly sharper away runners and had to drop in last. The way he’s swept past the field on both those runs is eye catching and today’s jockey Flavian Prat is an upgrade in the saddle too – his last two rides were questionable. He’s plenty to find on ratings but the way those races were won goes a long way to explaining that. Unquestionable brings top form himself and will be tough to beat, but jockey bookings already threw his chance in doubt and he’s there to be taken on.
0.75pts each-way Can Group @11/1, 23:40 Santa Anita, Friday (1-4, 1/5)
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