The wait for the 2016 Breeders’ Cup World Championships is nearly over and it is shaping up into a vintage renewal.
The feature on Friday promises to be one of the most exhilarating races of the two-day meet as three extraordinary heroines battle it out in the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff. 2013 Distaff winner Beholder got the better of Stellar Wind in the Vanity Mile Stakes back in June but the latter has come out on top in their next two meetings this season, including the G1 Zenyatta Stakes last time out.
However, they will both be underdogs on Friday as they are up against the unbeaten wonder filly Songbird. Jerry Hollendorfer’s daughter of Medaglia d´Oro has won all her 11 careers starts, including seven G1s by no less than 3¾ lengths.
Saturday sees a whole host of international challengers trying to plunder the spoils, including last year's Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf winner and this year’s Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe heroine Found. Her trainer, Aidan O’Brien, jockey Ryan Moore and sire Galileo have all had record breaking years - they all top their respective standings in the TRC Global Rankings. A thoroughly consistent mare, Found is likely to go very close to defending her crown.
The climax on Saturday, the Breeders’ Cup Classic, sees impressive Travers Stakes winner Arrogate try to stop the relentless march of California Chrome. In the Travers, Arrogate beat the best of his generation and set a new course record for the mile-and-a quarter distance with the widest winning margin in the race since 1979. However, a repeat of that performance still might not be enough to beat California Chrome, who is unbeaten in 2016 and is the highest-rated horse in the world.
With such competitive racing on offer, we want to know who TRC readers a backing for glory. Fill out our poll to share your opinion: