It's hard to believe the Breeders' Cup World Championships are already 32 years old and that the 33^rd renewal is coming up later this week. It seems only yesterday that the series, championed by visionary breeder John Gaines, was first run. This year's meeting is back for a ninth time at Santa Anita Park located in Arcadia, California, on the West Coast of the USA.

Four Breeders' Cup races will be held on Friday, November 4^th, and a further nine the following day, making for a total of 13 Grade 1 championship races. 185 runners had originally been entered to vie for honours, but as the maximum field size is restricted to 14 in each race, some have had to be eliminated, leaving 163 runners declared. These include 8 who scored at Keeneland last year and are aiming for a repeat. The total prize money, increased from last year, is in the region of US$28.5 million (approximately Rs. 190 crores), making for an astronomical pay day for the fortunate winners!

As may be expected, many of the world's best racehorses have been pencilled in to start. Heading the list is arguably the world's best racehorse, California Chrome (by Lucky Pulpit), who in addition happens to be the highest earner ever in North America. Also to be found on the list of declared runners are Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Found (by Galileo) and one of the best three-year-olds in Travers Stakes winner Arrogate (by Unbridled's Song). Not to be forgotten is multiple Breeders' Cup winner Beholder (by Henny Hughes). Amongst those back for another crack are Songbird (by Medaglia d'Oro), Tepin (by Bernstein)  and Lady Eli (by Divine Park).

Summing up the feast in store for racing fans was Craig Fravel, President and CEO of the Breeders' Cup, who said: “We are once again privileged to host the all stars of Thoroughbred racing and are very pleased with the overall international participation from Europe, Asia, and North and South America. It is a tribute to the Breeders' Cup and we are looking forward to watching stars like California Chrome, Found, Tepin, Songbird, and Beholder”.

Friday's races are previewed here, while Saturday's races will be previewed in a separate piece.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf                        6th Race                                   Post Time 2:25 pm PDT (2:55 am IST)

In the rough and tumble of Breeders' Cup races, experience counts. In the Juvenile Turf, which will be run over one mile, stamina for the trip also counts. Both Lancaster Bomber (by War Front) from Aidan O'Brien's yard and Rodaini (by Exchange Rate), to be ridden by Frankie Dettori, qualify on these criteria. The first-named is a half-brother to Excelebration and Shivalik Showers. Aidan O'Brien's first string Intelligence Cross (by War Front) is battle-hardened and has Ryan Moore aboard but has so far plied his trade only at 6 furlongs.

All could be trumped by Oscar Performance (by Kitten's Joy), who suggested he is something out of the ordinary when trouncing seven rivals in the Gr.3 Pilgrim Stakes at Belmont Park. Despite being drawn wide in 13, he could start as the public choice with Jose Ortiz in the irons. Trainer Bill Mott's Good Samaritan (by Harlan's Holiday), unbeaten from two starts, clearly has ability, as shown when he took home the Gr.2 Summer Stakes at Woodbine in Canada. Keep Quiet (by Elusive City), successful in the Gr.2 Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland, will try and silence the opposition.

Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile                            7th Race                  Post Time 3:05 pm PDT (3:35 am IST)

Only nine will contest the $1 million Las Vegas Dirt Mile, which will be run – no surprises here – at a mile! Tired of seeing the tail of California Chrome at his last three appearances, Dortmund (by Big Brown) has cried enough and chosen this softer spot to try and resume his winning ways. Bob Baffert's ward, who is favoured at around evens, has previously won five of his six starts at the track, including the Gr.1 Santa Anita Derby of 2015 (in which Pratap Racecitement's new stallion One Lucky Dane was second). Dortmund also has an Indian connection as he is owned by Kaleem Shah, son of former trainer S.M. Shah and nephew of current Western India veteran, S.S. Shah.

Trying to topple him is last year's Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Runhappy (by Super Saver), whose record of 7-from-9 is simply outstanding. James McIngvale colt is now with Laura Wohlers, who brought him back after a long hiatus to run an improveable fourth in the Gr.3 Ack Ack Handicap at Churchill Downs last month. Gary Stevens, who knows the four-year-old, replaces regular rider Edgar Prado. Finishing a couple of lengths in front on that very occasion was the 3-year-old Tom's Ready (by More Than Ready), previously a Grade 2 winner for trainer Dallas Stewart. Others with a shot include Kentucky Derby third Gun Runner (by Candy Ride) and just perhaps Texas Chrome (by Grasshopper), coming off a hat-trick of wins.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf                            8th Race                  Post Time 3:50 pm PDT (4:20 am IST)

Forty-five minutes later, it is the turn of two-year-old females to face the starter at the mile gate. There are three O'Brien runners here but not all are under the tutelage of Aidan – he has a rival runner schooled by his son, Joseph, who has already shown himself to be a chip off the old block.

The father sends out the Coolmore-owned duo of Hydrangea (by Galileo) and Roly Poly (by War Front) while the son fields Mrs. C.C Regalado-Gonzalez's Intricately (by Fastnet Rock), who shocked the first-named at 25 to 1 in the Gr.1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh on September 11. What's more, Joseph – who is now too heavy to ride on the flat – has put up his brother Donnacha, so there are likely to be some interesting family conversations after the race!

Marginally better-fancied is the unfashionably-bred Spain Burg (by Sageburg), who did so well in France when handled by the unheralded Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte. She is now under new ownership and in the care of Kathy Ritvo but will feel the familiar hands of Frankie Dettori on the reins – it was the Italian ace who was on board when they scored in the Shadwell Rockfel Stakes in Newmarket in September. Canada's champion trainer Mark Casse sends out an interesting pair – La Coronel (by Colonel John) and Victory To Victory (by Exchange Rate). Neither can be ruled out.

Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff                                  9th Race                  Post Time 4:35 pm PDT (5:05 am IST)

To be run at 9 furlongs, the $2 million Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff has the smallest field with just 8 declared, but what a field! A trio of Eclipse Award winners from last year, namely the now six-year-old Beholder (by Henny Hughes), four-year-old Stellar Wind (by Curlin) and three-year-old Songbird (by Medaglia d'Oro) will square off. A clash worthy of the occasion – indeed it may well turn out to be the race of the day.

Runner-up last year, Stellar Wind has improved considerably since and has had the measure of the previously invincible Beholder in their last two clashes. Combine this progress with the fact that she had done enough last year itself to be voted champion three-year-old filly of 2015 and you get a formidable contender. Victor Espinoza will no doubt be hoping for a Stellar Wind/California Chrome double!

Beholder holds the enviable record of 17 victories from 25 starts, and these include many of the finest events carded in North America. Though she has lost at each of her last three appearances, she has been runner-up on all those occasions, one of which was at the hands of the mighty California Chrome in the Gr.1 TVG Pacific Classic. Keeping in mind the fact that she is already twice a Breeders' Cup champion, one has to fancy her chances of completing a hat trick. Veteran Gary Stevens is sure to have a strategic plan for an upset. “With Beholder, it's nice to get off the rail,” said trainer Richard Mandella, “but I am a bigger believer in good luck and a good post; so we are hoping for good luck.”

Which brings us to the sensational Songbird (Mike Smith) who is locally based, given that she is an inmate of trainer Jerry Hollendorfer's barn. Her CV reads 11 wins from 11 starts from which the reader may gather that she is unbeaten. That she is but what the record does not show is that she is unchallenged as well, romping home by upwards of five lengths on average! Of course, this will be the sternest test yet for the Fox Hill Farm miss as she will be taking on older rivals and not merely over-matched members of her generation.

It's hard to envision all the above three running below par, hence one scarcely needs to mention that the likes of Curalina (by Curlin),  I'm A Chatterbox (by Munnings) and Forever Unbridled (by Unbridled's Song) will also be in the starting gate!