The 2025 Breeders’ Cup Turf will be the race European racing fans have the keenest eye on at Del Mar this weekend. With so much interest for British, Irish and French yards, it is sure to be a cracker filled with familiar names, so GG tipster Joe Napier previews the race with his verdict below.
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Favourites
A nearly unstoppable improver throughout this season, Minnie Hauk was within a head of maintaining her unbeaten record in 2025 in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at the start of October. The daughter of Frankel is a rare million-plus purchase to have justified the fee, though she has certainly done that this term, completing an Oaks treble at Epsom, the Curragh and York during the summer, winning each race successively in more comfortable fashion. She goes on quicker ground and could prove very tough to beat if in anything like the same form.
She could hardly face a sterner global opponent than Rebel’s Romance though. A two-time winner of this race, the seven-year-old has run in 11 Group 1s outside of the UK and Ireland since the summer of 2022, winning eight of them, including the last twice in Germany and Belmont. A great traveller with proven quality at this track, any horse who beats him may well be the winner, though this is likely a stronger race than he won by a neck last year.
To complete the Irish, British and French trio of favourites is Goliath for Francis-Henri Graffard. The five-year-old was a hugely impressive winner of the 2024 King George from Arc heroine Bluestocking and few can match Graffard’s charge on a going day. However, he is difficult to predict, as likely to throw in a stinker as he is to put his best hoof forward. Conditions will suit, as will his draw, but he is not the safest option.
Contenders
Even beyond the favourites, the likelier contenders further down the markets all represent a variety of visiting nations. For Ralph Beckett, Amiloc has been unbeaten until finishing second to Melbourne Cup favourite Al Riffa in the Irish St Leger. He had been a game winner of the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot over this 1m4f trip but might just lack the class necessary to win this.
Wimbledon Hawkeye has so often been the bridesmaid for James Owen, but got his head in front for the first time in 11 months when winning the Group 3 Nashville Derby at Keeneland. He has proven 1m4f form, but at a lower level, being beaten by El Cordobes at Newmarket earlier this season. That Godolphin rival is backup to Rebel’s Romance, having been third behind his stablemate in the Grade 1 Turf Classic Stakes at Belmont last month, but grabbed a debut top level event at Saratoga prior to that, which could mean he is involved at a price.
Few Cheltenham Festival runners end up at the Breeders’ Cup, but Ethical Diamond will do so this weekend. In two runs on the flat this year, he has won the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes at Ascot, then the Ebor at York in superb style. He is improving quickly, though this is a different level of assignment entirely.
The shortest-priced American contender in British and Irish betting markets is Redistricting. Second to Rebel’s Romance at Belmont, that was easily his best effort in top tier company, but still gives him work to do to compete with the best of the away team.
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Outsiders
Two further British contenders venture across to California. Rashabar has never finished outside of the first four in his career, so often giving his running while finding some classier types too good. There is stamina on his dam’s side for his first run beyond 1m2f, but he will surely find a couple too good here and is odds against to continue his run of top fours.
Silawi has emerged as a contender even further from the left field. Trainer Hamd Al Jehani has been firing in winners of late, and this five-year-old improved from defeats in Royal Ascot and Glorious Goodwood handicaps to claim the Grade 1 Canadian International at Woodbine earlier this month. That was his first run over 1m4f, but came under an enterprising ride. It will take more than that to win here.
Runner-up that day Tawny Port is one of four further American representatives. He has form to overturn with a few of these, though Gold Phoenix was fourth in this last season and has won his last two. He could provide the sternest resistance among the hosts, albeit does not look to have enough quality to seriously contend.
Rebel Red was a close enough second to El Cordobes at Saratoga, but was last of five to Rebel’s Romance at Belmont, while Hill Road used to be trained in Ireland and has this trip in his locker on pedigree. However, it is unlikely he is hiding the requisite ability in there too.
Verdict
Although Rebel’s Romance has won this twice, he faces his fiercest opponent yet in MINNIE HAUK, who can crown a sensational Classic season for Aidan O’Brien. A three-time Oaks winner over the summer, she was desperately close to adding the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp and can gain compensation here. Goliath has the ability to contend if on a going day, but the more consistent Godolphin second string El Cordobes may be a more consistent each-way option, with Gold Phoenix looking the best option among a lightweight American contingent.
- Minnie Hauk
- Rebel’s Romance
- El Cordobes
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