The Wine Tipster: “The fast ground will certainly be in his favour”

 The 2024 Breeders’ Cup takes place at Del Mar, where the surf meets the turf in southern California, and will do in 2025 too.

This is a stunning racecourse setting and the Breeders’ Cup 2024 will definitely live up to the billing.

We would love to see City Of Troy win the Breeders’ Cup Classic on dirt, however without wishing to spoil the party Fierceness has been in tremendous form and this is going to be a great race.

This is going to be some two days of racing as ever and enjoy the whole experience at Del Mar or if #athome tune in at At The Races and ITV4 tomorrow evening.

Cheers

The Wine Tipster

Friday 

21.45 Del Mar – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Grade 1 (5f)

Ides Of March remains open to further improvement after an easy win in the Group 3 Round Tower Stakes at the Curragh in late August. The dam Nickname was a Grade 1 winner on the dirt and there appears to be untapped potential in this colt, who is expected to appreciate the fast ground on his first start over five furlongs.

Unibet 10/1 each way

22.25 Del Mar – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes Grade 1 (1m ½f)

La Cara has won her last two starts over seven furlongs and a mile respectively, having stepped up in trip from her first two appearances. She was particularly impressive in a Grade 3 at Churchill Downs on her most recent start and La Cara can get in the mix here against the three runners at the head of the market.

Unibet 9/1 each way

23.05 Del Mar – John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Grade 1 (1m)

Sythican can reward each way players with Lake Victoria Unibet 4/5 looking a strong favourite. This daughter of Tiz The Law is unbeaten having won her maiden and then delivered a really impressive performance in the Miss Grillo, which is a really important trial for this race,  when moving clear in great style to win by two and a half lengths. Yes, she was fortunate, when two rivals were taken out of the action by an errant front runner, however Sythican was very good and gate 4 is certainly in her favour.

Unibet 14/1 each way

00.25am Del Mar – Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Grade 1 (1m)

Satono Carnaval (nap), the Japanese horse, is who catches the eye in this race, as the colt has impressed on his two starts to date including when landing the Grade 3 Hakodate Nisai Stakes at Hakodate Racecourse in July. He may not have run since July, yet he’s been catching the eye in track work and the step up to a mile will suit him for sure as will gate 1.

Unibet 9/1 each way

Saturday

19.41pm Del Mar – Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Grade 1 (5f) 

Big Evs should be forgiven his Nunthorpe performance and represents the best value of the British and Irish-trained contenders in the Turf Sprint, although it could take a big performance to beat American ace Cogburn Unibet 13/8. Gate speed could be key here, and the three-year-old loves to fly out of the stalls and race prominently, whilst gate 11 wouldn’t be the best draw normally, the pace is with the high numbers this time. Also, connections know how to get the colt ready for a Breeders’ Cup, having tasted success in the Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita last year, and Big Evs loves turns and has been working really well.

Unibet 7/1 each way

21.01pm Del Mar – Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf Grade 1 (1m 4f)  

Jayarebe as a three-year-old has been cleverly campaigned by connections to pick up some rich prizes this season whilst avoiding the Classics and his defeat behind Economics in the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano has been given a significant boost. He’s won the Group 2 Prix Dollar at Longchamp since and appears to be going from strength to strength. The fast ground will certainly be in his favour as he showed at Royal Ascot this year.

Unibet 4/1 win

21.41pm Del Mar – Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Grade 1 (1m 2f)

Fierceness is very capable of spoiling the party, as dirt is a question mark for City Of Troy, whilst the same can’t be said for Fierceness, successful in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita. The three-year-old has proven he is thoroughly capable at the top level on dirt and his victory over American super-mare Thorpedo Anna in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes could be the strongest piece of form on display at the Breeders’ Cup meeting.

Unibet 11/4 win

22.25pm Del Mar – Longines Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf Grade 1 (1m 3f)

War Like Goddess is a seven-year-old mare competing in her fourth Breeders’ Cup and this is the right distance for her as she showed when winning at Delaware Park back in July on the firm going. Since then,. She has finished runner-up in two other performances in the lead up the Breeders’ Cup, so she comes here in good form.

She’s got a great draw in gate 4 and there are plenty of factors in her favour to ensure that she will run a big race.

Unibet 5/1 win