The concept of a season-ending championship day, the so-called Breeders' Cup World Championships, was the brainchild of leading thoroughbred owner/breeder John R. Gaines, founder of Gainesway Farm in Kentucky, USA. From its inception in 1984 till 2006, all the championship events were contested on a single afternoon. With effect from the following year, the programme was extended to two days – a Friday card followed by the richer and more action-packed Saturday card.

Fans of the turf look forward to the annual ritual which brings out the best runners in North America and a sprinkling of the best foreign performers. Followers of the money must remember that the racing is extremely competitive with all the runners going all out, and historically upsets are very common!

This year's renewal is to be held at Santa Anita in Arcadia, California, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Today's piece covers the card for Friday, November 1st, while that for Saturday will be published tomorrow. Note that IST is 12-1/2 hours ahead of Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). "PP" stands for Post Position and represents both the card no. and draw no. Odds refer to pre-race forecasts by experienced assessors and can change dramatically by post time depending on the wagering.
 

Last year this event was won in spectacular fashion by Calidoscopio from Argentina. This year Ever Rider from that nation joins London Bridge as the only overseas contenders. It's an open race, more so because most of the runners have never visualized a trip of 14 furlongs and it remains to be seen how they react to the conditions. However, given that Gary Stevens – in top form at the age of 50 – has been booked for Ever Rider, the son of Rider Stripes could well prevail.

An intriguing contest which has a quartet of European challengers, this race has gone to Ireland in four of its six runnings, with Irish ace Aidan O'Brien being responsible for the last two winners. He sends over Giovanni Boldini (by War Front) and Wilshire Boulevard but Godolphin's Outstrip (by Exceed And Excel) has superior claims. The whole lot may well be blown out of the water by Bobby's Kitten (by Kitten's Joy) if he adapts better to the conditions than the foreign raiders.

While the Ashford Stud-bound Verrazano has obvious attraction, based on his form earlier in the season, he threw in a clunker last time out (perhaps the trip was too far) and faces a tough task in a packed competitive field. He will need to have the race run to suit him in order to be able to prevail. The Brazilian-bred from the Team Valor stable, Brujo De Olleros, is training nicely along with Hymn Book. Local hopes Fed Biz and Goldencents have "home track advantage" and cannot be discounted.

The fact that My Conquestadory drew the outside post has given her trainer a headache; he was even contemplating missing the race. Even so, the unbeaten filly – an attribute she shares with Testa Rossi and Al Thakira – ought to race with distinction. Of course, normally the winner of the Cheveley Park Stakes (Gr.1) in Newmarket should be good enough to take this and if this year's heroine Vorda (by Orpen) has travelled well from France, she should prove a readymade winner. More so because she will be in the hands of a very successful pilot, who knows the track well, having guided Goldikova to a famous victory over the same course and distance.

Despite its small field, this is easily the best race of the afternoon, with Royal Delta (by Empire Maker) aiming for a "three-peat" in this race (she won it in 2011 and 2012) while her recent conqueror Princess Of Sylmar (by Majestic Warrior) would like to drive her own superiority home. If that were not enough, local hope Beholder (by Henny Hughes), Juddmonte's Close Hatches (by First Defence) and Padua Stables' Authenticity (by Quiet American) have scarcely been out of 1-2 all year long. It's going to be a humdinger of a race!

Photo Courtesy http://www.breederscup.com