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Zenyatta Aims to Conclude Career on Triumphant Note

By Anil Mukhi | 05 Nov 2010 |


Zenyatta

Undoubtedly the pivotal moment of this year's Breeders Cup is the attempt by unbeaten super mare Zenyatta (by Street Cry) to score what would be a twentieth consecutive victory. The race in which she will appear, the Breeders Cup Classic, is the 11th race on what promises to be an exciting – though long – afternoon of high-calibre racing. The action begins at 12:05 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday, with the first of the Breeders Cup events being the 4th race at 1:50 p.m. By the time – 6:45 p.m. – Zenyatta struts on to the stage of what could be her last hurrah, the lights will be on, the air will be chilly but the action is sure to be hot!

Grade 1 action begins with the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf over 1 mile, with a million dollars up for grabs. One can scarcely oppose England's John Gosden, given that he has won both the last two running of this race despite bringing over outsiders Donativum (by Cadeaux Genereux) in 2008 and Pounced (by Rahy) last year! Gosden's representative this time is Utley, a Smart Strike half-brother to European champion Rainbow View (by Dynaformer) and Grade 1 winner Just As Well (by A.P. Indy) and he certainly has not come over just for the air.

Also from across the pond is Aidan O'Brien's Master Of Hounds (by Kingmambo), last seen running third in the Gr.1 Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster. He seemed a shade one-paced on that occasion. One of the 13 contestants, Mantoba, is a son of Sohna Stud's Noverre, and has Frankie Dettori to guide him. Of the American-trained brigade, one is looking for a big run from Pluck (by More Than Ready), owned and bred by Team Valor, conditioned by Todd Pletcher and to be ridden by Garrett Gomez. Incidentally, Gomez had a nasty fall earlier today but has been released from hospital and still intends to fulfil his eight B.C. riding engagements.

Unlike in the past two years, where racing on a synthetic track at Santa Anita appeared to favour European horses, this time the visitors have to cope with traditional American dirt. Thus only a handful of runners from the "Old World" are taking their chances on that surface this year, and there is none amongst the dozen tackling the $2,000,000 Sentient Jet Breeders´ Cup Sprint (Gr.1) over 6 furlongs. As many as ten of the participants have finished in the first three last time out. Given that the pace will be furious and that not too many will be dropping back at the top of the straight, luck will play a big part.

For those intent on choosing something worth a flutter, Godolphin's well-bred Girolamo (by A.P. Indy) – who has worked well – and dirt specialist Big Drama (by Montbrook) can be considered. Kinsale King (by Yankee Victor) is from the yard of Carl O'Callaghan, who provided some entertaining moments when his ward scored in the Gr.1 Dubai Golden Shaheen earlier this year – the gelding tries dirt for the first time, having scored five times on synthetics. The connections of Supreme Summit (by Cactus Ridge) have supplemented the four-year-old and he could be the one running late to take a share of the spoils.

Shortened to 5 furlongs this year to suit the configuration of the track, the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint acquires Gr.2 status and has a full field of 14 in opposition. A trio have recorded victories over the Matt Winn Turf Course, namely Chamberlain Bridge (by War Chant), Stradivinsky (by Stravinsky) and Silver Timber (by Prime Timber). An unconsidered runner with some stellar form on turf is the front-running filly Unzip Me (by City Zip), who has recorded some smart timings – Rafael Bejarano steers the California-bred, who has won 7 of her last 8 outings but lost on the one occasion she tackled males.

At least three – if not all four – of the unbeaten two-year-old colts in the Gr.1 Grey Goose Breeders Cup Juvenile ($2,000,000) over 1-1/16 miles are poised to lose that distinction. Biondetti (by Bernardini), who has been skimming over soft European turf, and Murjan (by Officer), vastly superior to rivals at Monterrico in Peru, have both scored thrice apiece but in very different conditions. J.B.'s Thunder (by Thunder Gulch) and the favourite Uncle Mo (by Indian Charlie) have a pair of wins to their credit – the public choice has never been pressed and looks a cut above. There has been late money for Boys At Toscanova (also by Officer), winner of 2 of his 3 starts – all on dirt. Overall, there are ten runners, six of them being by Classic-winning sires.

That brings us to the 8th race, the $2,000,000 Gr.1 TVG Breeders Cup Mile on turf, which arguably sees the best runner of the afternoon in the shape of the peerless Goldikova (by Anabaa) – the American press might not agree but the much-respected Racing Post Ratings have "Goldie" pegged at 131 and Zenyatta at 128 (Quality Road splits the pair at 130). Anyway, a comparison of their head-to-head merits is academic as they will never clash. Goldikova is aiming to complete a hat trick of wins in this race, she having scored on Santa Anita's Pro Ride surface in 2008 and 2009. "I don't think she can be doing better than she is," suggested trainer Freddy Head. "She is very sound, has the will and is happy." Against her is the fact that she is drawn 10 of the 11 runners.

Facing her is arch rival Paco Boy (by Desert Style) but neither trainer Richard Hannon nor regular rider Richard Hughes is making the trip. Hannon is upset that US immigration authorities refused a visa for Paco Boy's Indian work rider, known in his stable as "Elvis", and has publicly stated he does not like America. Hughes is aiming to catch Paul Hanagan in the jockeys' championship in England – he is 2 wins behind but hopes to bridge the gap on Saturday, the final day of the "Flat". Ryan Moore will replace him.

Gio Ponti (by Tale Of The Cat) is a formidable US-trained contender and is in rousing form. Juddmonte's Proviso, once European but now thoroughly acclimatized in the USA, is unbeaten in her last four (all Grade 1s) and must surely take a hand in the finish.

The Breeders Cup Dirt Mile (Gr.1) provides an opportunity for the team of D. Wayne Lukas and Mine That Bird (by Birdstone) to regain the spotlight that was once theirs, but the 20 to 1 odds don't suggest this will happen. Here Comes Ben (by the versatile Street Cry) is unbeaten in 2010 from four appearances and has been training forwardly. However, the "chalk" is Nick Zito's Pennsylvania Derby winner Morning Line (by Tiznow), to be ridden by Javier Castellano.

There is a swirling controversy regarding the state of the turf – it is considered too firm by some of the British trainers, because there has not been much rain since June. On the other hand, a few American jockeys have called it "soft"!

Impressive when winning the Investec Derby at Epsom in June and the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last month, Workforce (by King's Best) is sure to be a strong favourite if he runs in the Gr.1 $3,000,000 Emirates Airline Breeders Cup Turf over 12 furlongs. The state of the ground on the day will determine his participation. Earlier this week, regular rider Moore said, "Workforce moved well and was fine around there this morning. We will just see what happens in the week." His principal rival is the Aga Khan's Behkabad (by Cape Cross), who has to make up just over 4 lengths on form based on their run in the "Arc". Debussy (by Diesis), Winchester (by Theatrical) and Champ Pegasus (by Fusaichi Pegasus) will add spice to the finish.

Finally comes the showdown all will have been waiting for. She has done it every time – can she do it just once more? That is the question being asked of Zenyatta (by Street Cry) in the $5,000,000 Gr.1 Breeders Cup Classic over 10 furlongs. She always trails early and finishes strong. If Mike Smith can keep her close enough at the top of the straight, she should be able to do it. The Churchill Downs straight, at 2 furlongs, has been called "long" but can hardly be compared to the Mahalakshmi straight, for example. Also, the opposition she faces is extremely strong – Quality Road (by Elusive Quality), Lookin At Lucky (by Smart Strike) and Blame (by Arch) are the best, but the other eight are no slouches either.

Anyway all of America will be rooting for Zenyatta and either way there are sure to be emotional scenes!

I will conclude by pointing out that long–suffering Indian breeders will be heartened to learn that even in the USA, bureaucratic procedures are such that the 19 horses on the official Breeders Cup charter from Stansted in England to Louisville in Kentucky took almost ten hours to negotiate security measures at the airport and vetting procedures at Churchill Downs. Those familiar with the situation contrasted the delays with the speedy action in evidence when foreign runners arrive in Hong Kong for the international meeting each December....