Breeders' Cup Mile 2019: Timeform's runner-by-runner guide

Timeform
01 November 2019

The Breeders' Cup Mile is one of the highlights of the meeting

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Timeform bring you a runner-by-runner guide to Saturday's Breeders' Cup Mile, and pick out their 1-2-3...

"...is best at 1m and has the top form on offer..."

Timeform on Circus Maximus

1. Suedois (David O'Meara/ Javier Castellano)
Smart and consistent performer who won the Supreme Stakes at Goodwood (by a neck from Momkin) in August and followed up a respectable effort in the Boomerang Stakes with a creditable ¾-length third of 14 to Bowies Hero in Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland last time. He won the Shadwell Turf in 2017 before finishing fourth in that year's Breeders' Cup Mile at Del Mar.

2. Lucullan (Kiaran McLaughlin/ Luis Saez)
Smart performer who won an optional claimer at Belmont in July, a listed race at Saratoga in August and the Grade 2 Knickerbocker Stakes at Belmont in October. Was fourth to El Tormenta, beaten a length, in the Woodbine Mile on other start this year.

3. Space Traveller (Richard Fahey/ Daniel Tudhope)
Showed much improved form to win the Jersey Stakes by a head from Space Blues at Royal Ascot in June and has run well in 2 of 3 subsequent starts, finishing third in the Strensall Stakes at York before winning the Boomerang Stakes at Leopardstown last time by a neck from Matterhorn, where he stayed on well to lead in the final 50 yards.

4. Trais Fluors (Ken Condon/ Billy Lee)
Signed off last season with a win in a listed race at Deauville and resumed by taking a minor event at Chantilly by 2½ lengths from Call The Wind in March. Has been placed on his last 5 starts, including in the Prix d'Ispahan at Longchamp. Was sold for €370,000 in October and makes first start for Ken Condon having left Andre Fabre.

5. True Valour (Simon Callaghan/ Drayden Van Dyke)
Smart performer who left Johnny Murtagh after his fourth start last season and has achieved a similar level of form for Simon Callaghan. Arrives here on the back of a victory in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile Stakes over this C&D last month. Also won over C&D on previous start in February.

6. Got Stormy (Mark Casse/ Tyler Gaffalione)
Very smart performer who has been successful this year in an optional claimer at Gulfstream, a listed race at Saratoga and the Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga. Was a creditable ½-length second of 11 to El Tormenta in the Woodbine Mile last time, leading for a while 2f out. One of the leading players on form.

7. Bolo (Carla Gaines/ Julien Leparoux)
Missed 2018 but showed himself to be better than ever when winning the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile Stakes (by 1¼ lengths from River Boyne, making all and holding on well) here in May. Was below form when tenth of 11 behind True Valour in Grade 2 City of Hope Mile Stakes last time.

8. El Tormenta (Gail Cox/ Eurico Rosa Da Silva)
Has raced mostly at Woodbine, winning the Grade 2 Connaught Cup Stakes there in June and causing a 447/10 upset to win the Woodbine Mile by ½ length from Got Stormy in September. More needed here.

9. Circus Maximus (Aidan O'Brien/ Ryan Moore)
Very smart performer who this season has won the listed Dee Stakes at Chester in May, the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot (by a neck from King of Comedy) in June and the Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp in September. Also finished second in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood (½ length behind Too Darn Hot) in July. Has form at 1½m, but is best at 1m and has the top form on offer.

10. Without Parole (Chad Brown/ Irad Ortiz jnr)
A sturdy, attractive colt who is a very smart performer and won a minor event at Yarmouth, a listed race at Sandown and the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot (by ½ length from Gustav Klimt) last year. Finished a respectable fifth to Almond Eye in the Dubai Turf at Meydan on his reappearance but lost his action when well held in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury last time. Has left John Gosden and joined Chad Brown.

11. Uni (Chad Brown/ Joel Rosario)
Very smart performer who was successful on all 4 outings in 2018, including in the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar. Started this campaign by winning a listed race at Belmont in June and bounced back from defeat in the Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga by winning the First Lady Stakes at Keeneland (by 2½ lengths from Juliet Foxtrot) in October. Her third to Got Stormy in the Fourstardave was her only defeat in her last 7 starts and she is entitled to respect for a leading trainer.

12. Lord Glitters (David O'Meara/ Jamie Spencer)
Won the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot (by a neck from Beat The Bank) in June but was below form when finishing mid-division in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot last time, racing indolently from halfway. Holds solid claims on the best of his form but needs to bounce back.

13. Hey Gaman (James Tate/ Frankie Dettori)
Started the season well, winning a listed race at Leicester in April and the Group 3 Prix du Palais-Royal at Longchamp (by a length from King Malpic) in May. Continued to run well when a length second in the Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh (behind Romanised) and the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood (to Sir Dancelot), both in July. However, has been below form on his last 2 starts.

14. Bowies Hero (Philip d'Amato/ Flavien Prat)
Smart performer who won the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar in July and then registered a second Grade 1 victory when landing the Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes at Keeneland in October, adding to his win in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes over this C&D last year. Generally consistent and in good form.

15. Caribou Club (Thomas Proctor/ Joseph Talamo)
Smart performer who won the Grade 3 Joe Hernandez Stakes here in January, a non-graded event at Mountaineer in August and the Grade 3 International Turf Cup Stakes at Laurel in September.

16. Next Shares (Richard Baltas/ John Velazquez)
Won the Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes at Keeneland before finishing in rear in Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs last year. Resumed with a win in the Grade 2 San Gabriel Stakes here (by a short head from Cleopatra's Strike) in January and produced his best effort since when a creditable length sixth of 14 to Bowies Hero in the Shadwell Turf Mile last time. Needs to raise his game.

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Timeform's Breeders' Cup Mile Analyst Verdict
Last year’s winner Expert Eye provided the Europeans with a first success in this race since Goldikova completed her hat-trick in 2010, and they can repeat the dose with Circus Maximus this time around. Aidan O’Brien’s colt should be prominently placed from the outset and can get the better of Uni and Got Stormy, who look the best of the US runners.

Timeform's Breeders' Cup Mile 1-2-3
1. Circus Maximus
2. Uni
3. Got Stormy