2019 Breeders’ Cup is now less than 50 days away and is taking place over November 1st and 2nd at the famous Santa Anita race course. There is again expected to be record breaking numbers of overseas horses heading over to take some of the incredible prize money on offer and they will be expected to dominate the turf races. Here we cover the top overseas horses to keep on side ahead of the famous event.
Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint
Battaash
The big question is whether Battaash will travel over, but if so he would have to be one to follow. On his day he is one of the most exciting sprinters for some time, which was shown recently as he broke Dayjur tack record that had stood since back in 1990. The online horse betting has him as the strong favourite for the Breeders’ Cup turf sprint and his price would likely shorten dramatically were he confirmed for the race.
Battaash has now won three of his four starts this season, in what has been a near faultless campaign. His only defeat coming in the King’s Stand Stakes by the now retired Blue Point. His career record now stands at 10 wins from his 19 starts, with an RPR high of 129. This puts him as one of the highest race horses in training at present.
York hoodoo 🔚
Track record ✅
B A T T A A S H#ITVRacing pic.twitter.com/qi3MUb4DOw
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) August 23, 2019
Breeders’ Cup Mile
Circus Maximus
The next horse worth a mention if travelling over is the Aiden O’Brien trained Circus Maximus. He has already had a busy season to date and is recently coming off the back of landing the Group One Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. His key performance to date came when landing a shock victory in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. This saw him beating the likes of King of Comedy and Too Dart Hot, following a positive ride from Ryan Moore. If he can continue to progress and bring similar form, then he must rate a leading contender at the Breeders’ Cup for a trainer with a very good record with the horses he takes over to the US.
Breeders’ Cup Turf
Japan
The final horse certainly worth following and another from the Aiden O’Brien stable is Japan. With Crystal Ocean now retired due to injury and Enable unlikely to travel over, it would appear Japan is the clear horse to beat if taking his chance. The three year old son of Galileo has won his last three starts including a head victory over Crystal Ocean in the Group One Juddmonte International Stakes. Next up for the horse is the task of beating Enable in the Qatar Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe. If he then travels over to the US, then he would be the clear horse to beat.