Breeders' Cup ready for second wave of foreign invasion

Nov 02, 2009 (San Gabriel Valley Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- ZZATN | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- More than a few eyebrows were raised at last year's Breeders' Cup when foreign invaders won five of the 14 races at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meet, making the two-day event seem like a sequel to Chevy Chase's 1985 comedy "European Vacation."

They're back in full force this year because of that success, with a record 37 international horses being pre-entered for Friday's and Saturday's Breeders' Cup XXVI at Santa Anita, including three defending champs -- Muhannak in the Marathon, Goldikova in the Mile and Conduit in the Turf.

But Alastair Donald, director of the International Racing Bureau, believes it will be tough for the foreign horses to duplicate their success of last year, which included a 1-2 finish by long shots Raven's Pass (13-1) and Henrythenavigator (19-1) in the $5 million Classic.

"Obviously, we're hoping to repeat some of that success, but I think we should be under no illusion that it's not going to be very, very tough to do that," Donald said. "I think the overall quality of the fields is outstanding, and while we have some very good chances in some specific races, I think it's going to be tough."

The international entries that appear most poised to make some noise this weekend include defending champs Goldikova and Conduit, along with Rip Van Winkle in the Classic.

"I suppose you have to look at some of our traditional areas of strength in terms of the standouts, and that might take you back to the Turf, where

Conduit is the defending champion, but where I think Spanish Moon and the filly Dar Re Mi will both run very well," Donald said.

"That is maybe the race where I see the Europeans having perhaps their best chance."

Conduit has raced four times in 2009 following his 11/2-length victory in last year's 11/2-mile Turf, winning once to go with a second and a third.

Spanish Moon, a 5-year-old son of El Prado, will be making his U.S. debut after winning two of three races this year and six of 12 lifetime. He's four for six at the Turf distance.

"He's a very interesting horse," Donald said. "He's not allowed to run in England because he misbehaved in the stalls, (so) he's been running in France. He's a Group 1 winner this year and he's a horse with huge ability.

"I think he'll like Santa Anita. I think he'll like the turf, I think he'll like the course, and I think he's a horse that might be overlooked because of the presence of Conduit, but I don't think he should be."

Donald believes the 4-year-old filly Goldikova, who beat the boys in last year's Mile after beating males in France, is a top threat again this year.

She was beaten in her last race as the 2-5 favorite, but she beat males for a third time in a Grade 1 race on Aug. 16 in France.

"She seems to be in every bit as good a form this year as she was last, and you know how impressive she was last year," Donald said of Goldikova, who was impeded in the stretch but got up to win the Mile by 11/4 lengths when she found room. "Despite the loss in her last, there's no reason to believe she's not at her best and every bit as good as she was last year.

"I think she is going to be a real factor again."

Besides Rip Van Winkle, two other Europeans -- Twice Over and Mastercraftsman -- were pre-entered in the Classic, though Mastercraftsman is cross-entered in the Dirt Mile and may run there instead.

Though Donald doesn't necessarily foresee another Raven's Pass in the field, he does believe the three Euros can't be discounted.

"I suppose if you examine their performances over here, the bookmakers here would have Rip Van Winkle on top of the three," he said.

Rip Van Winkle, a 3-year-old son of Galileo, has won four of eight lifetime with one second while racing in England and Ireland. Like Raven's Pass last year, he's run only on turf. Unlike Raven's Pass, he has run a distance of ground, finishing fourth in the 11/2-mile Grade 1 Epsom Derby on June6.

Twice Over also has run all his races on the grass, winning seven of 15.

The 4-year-old Observatory colt can certainly get the Classic's 11/4 miles, having won three consecutive races at the distance this year.

"Twice Over comes off a very interesting win in the Champion Stakes last time out at Newmarket and he probably has to improve a little off that, although that was an impressive return to form," Donald said. "He probably ran his career best last time out, so he's maybe on the way up."

art.wilson@sgvn.com

(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2239

To see more of the San Gabriel Valley Tribune or to subscribe to the newspaper,
go to http://www.sgvtribune.com. Copyright (c) 2009, San Gabriel Valley Tribune,
West Covina, Calif. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For
reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or
847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group
Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

More News:   Market Updates | Stock Alerts | All Trading News | Stock Index