US Racing / Graham Cunningham / 25 October 2008 / 2 Comments

Racing UK Analyst Graham Cunningham has been lapping up the sun and talk around the track all week but now it's time for the Breeders' Cup 2008 to get down to business...Below, he looks ahead to all today's races.

Marathon (6.10)

We know Sixties Icon is a solid Group 2 performer in Europe. And we suspect the American defence for this new contest is shaky. Sadly, the [4.0] about Jeremy Noseda's five-year-old has gone, and the Pro Ride surface poses him a new question, but it will be surprising if he can't show up very well in a field where high class rivals are thin on the ground.

Zappa is a solid local contender who should be suited by returning to this trip. He had Big Booster well back on his latest start, while Muhannak is a sporting outsider for Ralph Beckett but has it all on to trouble Sixties Icon on these terms.

Verdict: Sixties Icon has lots going for him, but the price has gone

Turf Sprint (6.50)

Locals feel the American turf sprinters are nothing special, so Fleeting Spirit and Diabolical are of definite interest here.

Fleeting Spirit's best form - namely that thunderous Temple Stakes win at Haydock - gives her a great chance. Things didn't go her way in Paris, and she won't be able to afford a tardy break from stall two, but on raw ability she ranks very highly.

Diabolical has been running well against some of Europe's best and has every right to hit the frame at a fair price under conditions which will suit, while brazen speed is the hallmark of the leading American challengers.

California Flag blazed when trouncing Get Funky in a Grade 3 here, while Mr Nightlinger is equally rapid and looks bound to be on the pace even though he is drawn very wide in stall 14.

Verdict: Don't be surprised if the Brits have a big say

Dirt Mile (7.30)

What's not to like about Well Armed? High class and reliable, he swerves the Classic for this less demanding option and the form of his last two efforts at Del Mar and here set a stern target for his rivals to aim at.

Mast Track needs to improve to beat the favourite and has had a slight setback recently. Albertus Maximus and Tiago have also come up short against Well Armed this season, but Slew's Tiznow could be an interesting longshot given that he is lightly raced and much less exposed than most of this bunch.

Verdict: Keep it simple. Well Armed has all the weapons needed here.

Mile (8.15)

Goldikova will surely take a power of beating for various reasons. First, her form against Europe's best milers looks very solid; second, Europe's best other milers - namely Henrythenavigator, Raven's Pass and Paco Boy - aren't here; and third, the American defence doesn't look that impressive.

Last year's winner Kip Deville disappointed on his latest start but rates the main danger overall, while if Aidan O'Brien can win a Breeders' Cup Mile with the wayward US Ranger then he really is a genius.

Verdict: Goldikova to crown a vintage autumn.

Juvenile (8.55)

The traditional trials haven't pointed the way to the winner for a while and there seems no dominant colt on show. Bushranger follows the Johannesburg route having won the Morny and Middle Park, but the surface and the trip give him new questions to answer. Ex-English Square Eddie looked a world beater on his American debut at Keeneland. Time will tell if he is really that good, while Street Hero, Midshipman and Munnings are all closely matched.

Verdict: Hard to find an edge

Juvenile Turf (9.35)

Two strong Euros in the market here, and Westphalia's Champagne Stakes win at Doncaster makes him a very strong form choice, but I'm slightly concerned by his high head carriage and the fact this ground will be faster than he's been used to.

Donativum improved in the Timeform Million at Newmarket but needs to drive home straighter than he did there in this tight field, and I suspect the home team can have a major say here.

Bittel Road is unbeaten and did well to come from way back in a Grade 3 at Keeneland, while Coronet Of A Baron has mixed it with some of the very best American youngsters on Polytrack at Del Mar. It's hard to say if he will be fully effective on turf, but he travels sweetly and could be the value.

Verdict: Coronet Of A Baron looks interesting win and place material

Sprint (10.15)

The sprint is seldom a race I get stuck into and this renewal will be no exception. As ever, the battle for the lead will be hugely important and Cost Of Freedom, Fatal Bullet and Fabulous Strike are all prime contenders to blaze from the off.

Connections of Street Boss will feel that the more punishing the pace the better their chance. He can produce a devastating burst if the early leaders overdo it, while last year's winner Midnight Lute is another who can surge from off the pace and his trainer Bob Baffert is adamant that he shouldn't be judged on two subdued performances since that Monmouth win.

Verdict: Hard to call, but Street Boss has a killer finish.

Turf (11.00)

Tradition dictates that Europe's best turf horses are a cut above their American counterparts, so much depends on whether Soldier Of Fortune acts on this very fast turf track. I'm sure he will go close but I'm also concerned that he and Leger winner Conduit might find that a lack of a finishing kick counts against them.

Red Rocks has a fine record in this and beat the mighty Curlin on turf at Belmont, while Grand Couturier seemed to run the race of his life at the same venue last month.

All in all this looks desperately tough, but don't be surprised if Winchester outruns his double figure price. The addition of blinkers and Lasix had an explosive effect on Dermot Weld's colt in an Arlington Grade 1 and he warrants more than a second look even though this is much stronger.

Verdict: Another headscratcher, but Winchester is a sporting hunch.

Classic (11.45)

A spellbinding race but, given that every single runner has some form of question to answer, is it really that appealing a betting race? I suspect the answer is no, but I also suspect this surface gives the Euros a real chink of light against the mighty Curlin.

Splitting the trio isn't easy, and the trip is plainly an issue with two of them, but Raven's Pass just keeps getting better and I'm tempted to take a chance on his stamina with a view to laying him at around [3.0] in running.

Duke Of Marmalade ran a shade flat in the Arc but Murtagh seems bullish, while Henrythenavigator's recent defeats mask the fact that he has held his form well and shown plenty of courage in adversity.

On the negative side, I can't get as excited by Japanese raider Casino Drive as some. He lacks experience for a severe test like this and is in much deeper than ever before, while the fact that Garrett Gomez has opted for Go Between suggests he isn't too high on the chances of Travers winner Colonel John.

Verdict: Curlin is the safe play, but Raven's Pass for value.