The Breeders’ Cup concludes at Keeneland on Saturday, with a stacked card of Grade 1 contests headlined by the Classic and the Turf, and European raiders out in force once again.
Following his four to watch on Friday, Matty Sutcliffe has been studying the form ahead of the second day, picking out four more horses to watch.
17:48 Keeneland – Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (Grade 1) (Turf) (3yo+)
With Bacio, Shisospicy and John The Beer Man drawn in the lowest three stalls, this race is going to be frantic, which will undoubtedly play into the hands of COMANCHE BRAVE.
The Wootton Bassett colt has been a revelation since dropping back to sprinting trips, finishing six lengths behind Ka Ying Rising in April. He posted a career-best RPR when landing the Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh in May, before catching the eye when short of room behind Almeraq in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He confirmed suspicions that he was on the up when comfortably taking the July Cup, reversing the form with Satono Reve in the process. Returning from a 64-day break, he recorded another career-best when confirming his dominance over his peers in the Flying Five Stakes.
He wasn’t fully extended in that latest effort, suggesting there’s more under the bonnet. He’s proven he can travel abroad and cope with the test, and this extra half a furlong in a strongly run race will play to his stamina reserves.
19:04 Keeneland – Makers Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Grade 1) (Turf) (3yo+)
The Europeans have largely dominated this contest, but both Blue Bolt and Precise have been dealt tough draws, and they’ll have to be in career-best form to overcome them, which isn’t a given after their long, hard campaigns.
As a result, GIMME A NOTHER is given the nod, as she’s much fresher than those and has had a flawless campaign thus far. She took a while to acclimatise to the US having come from Mike de Kock in South Africa, where she was a dual Group 1 winner. She eventually came good at Del Mar in Grade 2 company last September, beating the 7/10 favourite in good style.
She returned in just as good form this season, comfortably taking a Grade 3 at Monmouth before landing a Grade 2 at Colonial Downs. She continued to be underestimated when taken to Woodbine for a Grade 1, where she put the Europeans in their place, and on a line through Jancis, she doesn’t have a lot to find with Blue Bolt.
She was strong at the line there, she’s proven over this distance, and while she has to step up again, she’s only going the right way with plenty in her favour.
19:42 Keeneland – Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Grade 1) (Dirt) (3yo+)
Stall 13 might make life trickier for Englishman, who is expected to be bang there, but the same can’t be said for DARK SAFFRON, who’s been drawn in stall two and could prove tough to pass.
He caused a shock at 40/1 last April when making all to land the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen under Connor Beasley, following a seven-length rout previously. Despite making a successful reappearance, he lost his way before evidently coming back to himself to repeat his Grade 1 feat, again making all, this time from the widest stall, to fend off the 5/4 favourite Bentornato, who’d won the Breeders’ Cup Sprint last season.
He has a layoff to contend with, but he’s proven fresh and tends to come into himself around this time of year, and if able to repeat that latest effort, he won’t be all that far away.
21:36 Keeneland – Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (Grade 1) (Turf) (3yo+)
I can’t quite believe the prices about last year’s winner ETHICAL DIAMOND, who’s undoubtedly been trained exclusively for this race, as opposed to some of these who’ve had a long season by now.
The Awtaad gelding has been a remarkable horse for connections, with success over hurdles, at Royal Ascot and in the Ebor. He lowered the colours of Rebel’s Romance in this race last year, who was coming on the back of two Grade 1 victories and had taken the race the season before.
It might not have been the strongest renewal, and Minnie Hauk didn’t run her race either, but he proved to a degree that there was little fluke about his brilliance on the day when returning to the winner’s enclosure in the Ballyroan Stakes.
That run was backed up by a second behind Tiffany in the Kentucky Cup when not given the greatest of trips, but that should have put him spot on for a repeat here, with Dylan Browne McMonagle back in the saddle.
Matthew Sutcliffe’s Four to Watch for Saturday 31 October
17:48 Keeneland – Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (Grade 1) (Turf) (3yo+) – Comanche Brave 3/1 2pt WIN
19:04 Keeneland – Makers Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (Grade 1) (Turf) (3yo+) – Gimme A Nother 14/1 1pt EW 3 places
19:42 Keeneland – Cygames Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Grade 1) (Dirt) (3yo+) – Dark Saffron 16/1 1pt EW 3 places
21:36 Keeneland – Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (Grade 1) (Turf) (3yo+) – Ethical Diamond 16/1 1pt EW
FAQs
When was Matthew Sutcliffe’s article published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s article was published at 9.50am on Friday 30 October.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GG’s newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
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