Breeders' Cup Juvenile Betting: Everything's Rosie with Todd's Bobby

Coolmore partners Michael Tabor and John Magnier combined to win the race with Johannesburg in 2001 and are clearly intent on doing so again having, along with Derrick Smith, purchased a 50% share in Shanghai Bobby on the eve of the Todd Pletcher-trained colt's participation in the $2 million two-year-old feature.

Shanghai Bobby is actually Timeform's leading juvenile in the world with his four victories - a four-and-a-half furlong maiden at Aqueduct in April, a non-graded stakes over a furlong further at Belmont in June, the seven-furlong Grade 2 Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga (beat Fortify by three and three quarter lengths from Fortify) in September and the mile Foxwoods Champagne Stakes at Belmont (decisively beat Goldencents by five lengths) - giving the ante-post favourite for next year's Kentucky Derby a rating 1 lb higher than that currently awarded to the similarly unbeaten Dawn Approach.

Another interesting point is that should the blinkered Shanghai Bobby, a colt already bordering on high class, do what he is expected to do on Saturday his jockey Rosie Napravnik will join Julie Krone (rider of 2003 Juvenile Fillies heroine Halfbridled) as the only women to win a Breeders' Cup race in the event's 28-year history.

In terms of figures, Shanghai Bobby's nearest pursuer is Power Broker who represents the combination of trainer Bob Baffert and rider Rafael Bejarano. Having been placed on turf at Del Mar a couple of times, Power Broker was much improved when switched to dirt last time, getting off the mark in the FrontRunner Stakes at Santa Anita, race in which he beat the reopposing Know More by six and a half lengths. The fact that he overcame a less-than-ideal draw that day gives hope he can do it again and he is clearly the biggest threat to the likely favourite.

Godolphin's Fortify heads the chasing pack based on what they've achieved to date, but even he has been playing catch-up with Shanghai Bobby since winning a maiden at Saratoga on debut, beaten three and three quarter lengths into second by him in the Three Chimneys Hopeful Stakes and six lengths third of six behind the same rival in the Champagne Stakes at Belmont.

The progressive Speak Logistics, who has made all in blinkers to win a maiden a valuable restricted stakes at Calder on his last two starts and could still be capable of better, and Dynamic Sky, who improved again when a length second to Juvenile Turf contender Joha in the Breeders' Futurity Stakes at Keeneland last time, are others to mention but the race essentially looks between the first two in the market.

Recommendation:

Back Shanghai Bobby @ 2.789/5 in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile

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