Gosden Leads Breeders' Cup Raiding Party

If once again lamentably timid regarding the other dirt races, a record European entry for the 35th Breeders' Cup more than redresses that lack of adventure with a genuinely audacious challenge for the Classic itself.

For if dual Arc winner Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) bears the standard in the turf programme-which has, as usual, attracted a formidable raiding party–then confirmation that her stablemate Roaring Lion (Kitten's Joy) will target the Classic represents a gamble in the very best sporting traditions.

With only a fortnight to absorb a gruelling race in unsuitable ground at Ascot last Saturday, Roaring Lion will be trying to raise the bar still higher after a season in which he has, in fairness, appeared to thrive on a schedule that has relentlessly pitched him against top-class horses at least once a month since April.

On publication of the pre-entries yesterday John Gosden, his trainer, rightly applauded the sporting instincts of his owners Qatar Racing. But they can comfort themselves that, in the end, they are more or less staking a bet to nothing. If Roaring Lion happens to struggle with such a demanding change of environment, after such a demanding season, then it will not take a cent off the value he has established as the premier European colt of his generation. Success, on the other hand, would open up a whole new market for his next career at Tweenhills Stud.

“We're entering unknown waters, and he's not exactly bred for it,” admitted Gosden. “It's a massive challenge, and it's extremely game and sporting of the owners to be coming. But a lot of good horses have tried it over the years–you think of Galileo (Sadler's Wells) and others–and when it hasn't worked out I think people tend to admire the boldness of trying and to discard the result.”

“We're all perfectly aware that breezing on the dirt is one thing, and racing on it quite another. I've found, over the years, that the problem is not so much the surface as the kickback. Training in America, I worked turf horses 36-and-change on the dirt and would then find that in the race they couldn't get round [a mile] in 1:41. And that's because they're not seasoned. When they find all this dirt coming back in their faces, they start climbing, their breathing gets interrupted.”

Roaring Lion does hold a second entry for the Turf but Gosden, while indicating that a sloppy track might alter thinking, was clear that while the horse's ability to handle the surface was unproven, his preferred distance range was firmly established.

Gosden, of course, is the only European trainer to have saddled the Classic winner since the 133-1 shocker Arcangues (Sagace {Fr}) in 1993. But while Raven's Pass (Elusive Quality), like Roaring Lion, graduated from a heavy campaign leading up to the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S., there have been two huge changes in the landscape since 2008. One is that the inauguration of Qipco Champions' Day has required the QEII to be shifted much closer to the Breeders' Cup; the other is that Raven's Pass was exploiting a brief synthetics window at Santa Anita.

A nettle was grasped in renouncing that experiment. By this stage, however, it must be doubted whether even the difficult questions they are asking of their own champion might yet prompt the Champions' Day sponsors to revisit its place in the calendar. As it is, they must be applauded for rolling the dice.

“Obviously the horse has had a tough, long year, and I thought he was incredibly brave the other day when at no stage on the bridle,” Gosden said. “He's been good since Saturday, and playful at home, albeit he's probably not expecting to get on a plane. But he is tough enough for it. We know this horse has a fantastic constitution, and he's got bigger and stronger through the season from training and racing hard.”

If Roaring Lion is fairly candidly tackling the race on a wing and a prayer, there could be no greater contrast in the preparation of Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy), who has been given such a purposeful grounding in dirt racing. His trainer Aidan O'Brien has twice come agonisingly close to winning the Classic, having saddled Giant's Causeway (Storm Cat) in that epic duel with Tiznow (Cee's Tizzy) over this track in 2000, and Declaration Of War (War Front) to share a three-way photo at Santa Anita in 2013.

The other transatlantic raider is Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}), who likewise warmed up in the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup. He has since been training up to the race at Churchill, where his trainer Saeed Bin Suroor saddled Swain (Ire) (Nashwan) to that valiant and dramatic near-miss in the 1998 running.

Many of those European horses to have actually tried dirt at the Breeders' Cup have excelled despite copper-bottomed turf pedigrees and, while Roaring Lion is by a celebrated turf influence, there are no rules about these things. Kitten's Joy's own sire El Prado (Sadler's Wells) was always viewed as a turf stallion, but his son Medaglia d'Oro has certainly become a master of all trades.

Ready Enable

Regardless, the rest of the European challenge is unsurprisingly spread across the grass races. Thanks partly to the promotion from the undercard of a Juvenile Turf Sprint, there are a record 49 individual European entries (including three double entries), comprising 25 from Britain, 22 from Ireland and five from France.

And it is again the British champion trainer who leads the way, with Enable potentially able to make a virtue, in the Turf, of her late start to the campaign–not to mention her interrupted Arc preparation.

“The filly comes to the race relatively fresh,” Gosden said. “She was a little quiet for a bit after the Arc, but you don't normally win that race 85% fit. I think I've got her fit now, anyway! She breezed this morning under Frankie [Dettori], and seems in good order. But when you are shipping that far, you can never be too confident. It's the end of the year, she's a filly, and until you've seen how she's travelled, seen her blood counts and everything, and how she's settled, you can't be taking anything for granted.”

Arc winners have found the Breeders' Cup tough going over the years, albeit Sakhee (Bahri) showed the rewards available for risking the dirt when–though out of a Ribblesdale winner by Sadler's Wells–getting within a nose of stopping Tiznow's follow-up in 2001, 20 days after winning in Paris.

But Gosden saw little reason to be discouraged by the narrow defeat of Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) by Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire})–whose name, after all, would be next inscribed on the Arc trophy–in this same race three years ago.

“Golden Horn was beaten for one reason and one reason only,” he said. “They had an inch and a half of rain, the track was very deep and loose, and he just spun his wheels. But the [sharp] track should be fine for Enable, she handled the turns at Chester particularly well on her second start as a 3-year-old, and she got round Epsom okay too.”

Enable is odds-on at 4-6 with bookmakers Coral, who also have European horses at the head of their betting on the Mile, with Polydream (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) at 5-2; the Juvenile Turf, with Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) at the same odds; the Juvenile Turf Sprint, with Soldier's Call (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) just shading Sergei Prokofiev (Scat Daddy) at 3-1 and 100-30 respectively; and the Filly and Mare Turf, with Wild Illusion (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) at 9-4.

British Horseracing Authority handicapper Dominic Gardiner-Hill, who had the previous day participated in an eight-hour teleconference to establish rankings for oversubscribed races, named the latter as Europe's best prospect of the two days after her success in the G1 Prix de l'Opera.

“She has improve a little bit all through the season and her last couple of runs have probably been her best yet,” he said. “I'm not sure the American defence is that hot in this race and I'll be disappointed if she gets beaten. Enable should win, and if she doesn't I suspect another of the Europeans will. She's rated 128, and gets the fillies' allowance, with Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) next on 126. We have a strong hand in the Mile, too, with Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) possibly our best chance. Overall I'd say we have a cracking chance of coming away with a good number of the turf races in our pocket.”

Plenty of Chances For Ballydoyle

As ever, O'Brien matches quality and quantity in the team he is preparing at Ballydoyle. These include Magical (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), like Roaring Lion obliged to soak up a generous effort at Ascot only last Saturday. She has had a rather lighter season, and her trainer said he feels she is only just coming into her own after stepping up in trip and has duly made the Turf her first preference, ahead of the Filly and Mare Turf (where Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Athena (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) are slated to represent the stable).

“Wayne Lordan was delighted with her when she tried the mile and a half the first time in the Arc, and when she won at Ascot it was only her second run at the distance,” O'Brien said. “We were training for the Oaks but had a little setback, but as she comes into the autumn a fresh filly it might all have been a blessing in disguise.”

Also granted a dual entry is So Perfect (Scat Daddy), with a first preference for the Juvenile Turf Sprint but an option in the Juvenile Fillies' Turf. “She's a fast filly, but we haven't decided yet,” O'Brien explained. “We could still give her chance at a mile to find out about her for next year.”

Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}) is definitely targeting the longer race after emulating her dam Wading (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) to win in the G2 Rockfel S. “She's a lovely, slick filly who likes to follow the pace and quicken,” O'Brien said. “She's a classy, very well- bred filly we've always loved.”

On track for the shorter race, conversely, is Sergei Prokofiev–who confirmed speed to be his forte with a last-to-first dash in the G3 Cornwallis S. at Newmarket.

“He got very quick as the year went on,” O'Brien reflected. “Sometimes those fast horses will stretch out but he just got quicker and quicker. He found it hard to go a stride slower over six furlongs, but settled lovely and quickened very well back over five last time–which is not an easy thing to do at Newmarket. A fast pace will suit him very well, he relaxes when they go quick.”

Anthony Van Dyck earned his place in Coral's list with Group 1 podiums in the National S. and Dewhurst S. “He has a lovely mind,” said O'Brien. “We're looking forward to him next year. We also have Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the race and we'll probably only run one. Horses can come and go at this time of year so we'll be watching them very carefully; they have to pass all their tests, their bloods and scopes. Broome has had a tough enough season and has travelled a good bit, but he's a solid horse. We'll take it day-by-day and see.”

Lost Treasure (Ire) (War Front) is having a busy autumn but was only beaten a length when flying late into fifth in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye and is an intriguing outsider for the Turf Sprint.

“He's a very smart colt with a lot of speed,” reasoned O'Brien. “He just doesn't want to be in front too long. He's just one of those horses that things need to fall right, but they could do in a race like that.”

Gustav Klimt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has shown the speed to be Group 1-placed over six furlongs, but steps back up in trip for the Mile alongside two female stablemates. “He travels and quickens well so we think he'll love racing round a bend,” O'Brien said. “Happily (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is coming all the time, we just felt we never really got her there yet, and there might be a bit more to come from her. Fast ground and a flat mile will suit her well. And it was obviously a great run from I Can Fly (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) at Ascot on Saturday, and all ground seems to come to her alike.”

She got within a neck of Roaring Lion, of course, and Mendelssohn will be next on his case in the Classic. “After the Kentucky Derby he had a little time and then he started his preps,” O'Brien said. “We think he's progressed with every run and Ryan [Moore] was very happy with him the last day.”

The whole stable, remember, had a troubled spell in midsummer. “But they're running well lately,” O'Brien said. “We're very happy with them. These horses have most of their serious work done now, and they're due to fly on Monday afternoon.”

That's the wing sorted, then. Next–and this is true whether, in Gosden's words, “you've planned from summer onwards” or just say, as with Roaring Lion, “let's take a look at this at the end of the year”–comes the prayer.