TVG v Timeform: Saturday Pick Six challenge!
TVG v Timeform 
/ Stephen Kennelly / 07 November 2009 / Leave a comment
Mastercraftsman is TVG and Timeform's idea of a good thing
Saturday is the big day at Santa Anita so take these pointers from the experts on either side of the Atlantic before striking your Breeders' Cup bets
"Simply put, there is Mastercraftsman in the Dirt Mile and everyone else. I witnessed first hand his win in the St. James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and it was a brilliant performance. He makes the Pick Six a Pick Five," TVG's Todd Schrup.
The Pick 6 on Saturday has a guaranteed pool of $2million and will probably hit $4million so it's worth focusing on. Add that to the fact you've got a free $10 Tote bet from Betfair so you've no excuse to get picking!
We've got the best brains from both sides of the Atlantic to make sure you've got every angle covered. First up is Todd Schrupp from TVG who has a loyal following stateside with his Pick 6 selection. Of course we've got to keep things civilised but competitive so we asked our tea drinking buddies from Timeform to highlight their fancies for the Pick 6 this Friday.
Leg One - Breeders' Cup Sprint
TVG - Trainer Bob Baffert has called Zensational the most talented horse he has ever had. He wins his races with devastating ease despite an awkward head carriage and a Usain Bolt like aloofness to finishing his races. Drawing the inside barrier here, creates the possibility of an upset.
Timeform - The exuberant front-running Zensational is taken to make all from his rail draw in the Sprint. Little separates him and British raider Fleeting Spirit drawn on the opposite side of the track, but the selection will be making just his sixth start and is open to more improvement on the back of three consecutive wins at top-level.
TVG Selections - #3 Fatal Bullet, # 1 Zensational
Timeform Selections - # 1 Zensational
Leg Two - Breeders' Cup Juvenile
TVG - Lookin at Lucky has never been authoritative in his four for four career, but he has been very professional. Additionally, his training has been spectacular. He will need all his skills to overcome a difficult barrier draw. Radiohead showed an amazing amount of courage when overcoming severe trouble to win the Norfolk at Royal Ascot. His trainer Brian Meehan convinced Radiohead's new owners not to run in the Juvenile Turf where he would have been one of the betting choices, instead giving the synthetic a try where he feels Radiohead will excel.
Timeform - D'Funnybone looks well up to the standard required for the Juvenile after winning the Grade 2 Futurity Stakes at Belmont by nearly five lengths from the subsequent Champagne Stakes runner-up Discreetly Mine. The unbeaten Lookin At Lucky ranks a big danger on the back of his comfortable course-and-distance success last month, while Dewhurst winner Beethoven leads the European charge and wouldn't be out of it if his visor works as well a second time.
TVG Selections - # 13 Lookin At Lucky, #11 Radiohead,
Timeform Selections - # 5 D'Funnybone, # 13 Lookin At Lucky
Leg Three - TVG Breeders' Cup Mile
TVG - Goldikova emerged from last year's Breeders' Cup as the star of the meeting, and she could easily make it back-to-back victories in a race that has seen repeat performances quite often over the years. Goldikova's main threats will not come from American based horses.
Timeform - Goldikova may not have got the best of draws, but she's likely to have too much class for the second year in a row in the Turf Mile. There are plenty of reasons to excuse her disappointing run at Longchamp last time, not least the fact she clearly doesn't like the track, given it was her fourth defeat in five starts there, and her previous win at Deauville was one of the best performances by a filly over a mile in the last forty years.
TVG Selections - #4 Delegator, # 11 Goldikova,
Timeform Selections - # 11 Goldikova
Leg Four - Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile
TVG - Simply put, there is Mastercraftsman and everyone else. I witnessed first hand his win in the St. James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and it was a brilliant performance. He makes the Pick Six a Pick Five.
Timeform - The Dirt Mile looks a weak renewal and offers one of the European bankers of the meeting in Mastercraftsman. The high-class performer warmed up for this with an authoritative success on his first start on an artificial surface last month. An inside draw only sweetens his chances further. Pyro improved when winning on his first start for Godolphin last time, and seems set to do better than his sixth in this race last year.
Top Selection - # 1 Mastercraftsman
Timeform Selection - # 1 Mastercraftsman
Leg Five - Breeders' Cup Turf
TVG - This could mark the third race in a row where the race turns into a European procession. Conduit has looked brilliant since arriving and has given every indication he will defend his title. Conduit's stablemate Spanish Moon has had as great a year as him, and the decision not run in the Arc may benefit at Santa Anita. Trainer John Gosden's decision to run here with Dar Re Mi instead of the Filly and Mare Turf speaks volumes.
Timeform - British-trained runners can dominate the Turf and Conduit is taken to follow-up his success in the race 12 months ago. The four-year-old has had a relatively light campaign, but has shown he's just as good with a win in the King George at Ascot and a fourth to Sea The Stars in the Arc. Dar Re Mi was just a length behind Conduit at Longchamp, a really good effort on her first start outside races confined to her own sex. Conduit's stable-companion Spanish Moon is a law unto himself when it comes to entering the stalls and it remains to be seen how he'll fare in an American start, but he's undoubtedly classy and would be a big threat if getting away on terms.
TVG Selections - #2 Conduit, #5 Dar Re Mi,
Timeform Selections - #2 Conduit, #Spanish Moon
Leg Six - Breeders' Cup Classic
TVG - Zenyatta cannot be completely measured by figures, be it Timeform or American based speed figures. Her 13 for 13 lifetime record has been achieved in remarkable fashion and she is one of the best race mares America has ever produced. Zenyatta is a deserving favourite. Rip Van Winkle has the misfortune of being in the same crop as Sea The Stars, otherwise he might have enjoyed many Classic victories this year, he also has the misfortune of battling foot problems and he may be way underlayed because of his reputation. Use as many as possible on your Pick Six play.
Timeform - Rip Van Winkle has had to live in the shadow of Sea The Stars all year, but has confirmed himself a high-class performer in his own right and can win the Classic. All eyes from the home team will undoubtedly be on the unbeaten Zenyatta and though she's not far off the selection at her best taking her sex allowance into account, there's several reasons to take her on, not least as this is by far tougher than the all-female company she usually keeps.
TVG Selections - #4 Zenyatta, #7 Gio Ponti, #10 Rip Van Winkle
Timeform Selection - #10 Rip Van Winkle
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