The Fugue and Dank can spearhead Europe’s Breeders’ Cup hopes
Published:The 2012 Breeders’ Cup will not be remembered among the most successful for European-based runners, with Flotilla and George Vancouver ensuring that the continent enjoyed just a single winner on each of the two days.
Things are unlikely to improve too much in 2013, with Europe sending only 16 runners to Santa Anita, which is eight fewer than last year and their smallest involvement since the meeting was extended to two days.
These entrants are spread throughout seven of the races across the two days and it is 33/1 that Europe enjoy five or more winners.
This may well prove on the optimistic side, with the shortest price on the number of European Breeders’ Cup winners being two again at 7/4.
However, 6/1 is more than a fair price that Europe enjoys far greater success with four winners.
The Fugue must have strong claims in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at 7/4 and has even been put forward by respected British Horseracing Authority handicapper Phil Smith as Europe’s best hope.
She has already beaten the boys this year and is chasing a third successive Group 1 success. Should The Fugue flop, Europe also has Magician as a credible challenger in a race they have won on 10 occasions since 2000.
Dank is another 7/4 favourite in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and she warmed up perfectly with an impressive US victory in the Beverly D. Stakes. Romantica is another European entrant in the same race and she will relish this return to a faster surface.
Europe are mob-handed in two of the two-year-old affairs, with Giovanni Boldini looking the best hope in the Juvenile Turf, while Chrisselium is one of three challengers in the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf.
Elsewhere, Declaration Of War or Planteur are bidding to become just the third ever European winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, while Olympic Glory and Cristoforo Colombo look to have their hands full in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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