BC Turf

BREEDERS' CUP

PREVIEWS

WORKFORCE (GB) (King's Best), a brilliant winner of the Epsom Derby (Eng-G1)

and gut-wrenching victor of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1), is either one

of the locks of Breeders' Cup weekend or one of the vulnerable favorites. We'll

know for sure at the end of Saturday's 1 1/2-mile Breeders' Cup Turf (G1), worth

$3 million, but in advance of the race we'll choose to take a stand against him.

From a class perspective, the second best horse on paper might be BEHKABAD

(Ire) (Cape Cross [Ire]), who finished four lengths behind Workforce in the Arc.

That was hardly a poor effort from a colt who had previously won the Grand Prix

de Paris (Fr-G1) and Prix Niel (Fr-G2), and if Workforce should regress a little

bit this one would only have to run back to his recent best to pull off a minor

upset. He can give the Aga Khan another victory in this race, joining the likes

of Lashkari (GB) and Kalanisi (Ire).

The lightly-raced Workforce appears to be Europe's best horse in training at

the moment, and can not be taken lightly at all following the aforementioned

victories. Those wins book-ended a weak performance in the King George VI and

Queen Elizabeth S. (Eng-G1), an effort trainer Sir Michael Stoute takes the blame

for as he claims to have over-trained the colt. That has not reportedly been the

case leading up to the Turf, but we do wonder how much the Arc took out of him as

it was his first outing in more than two months.

The best of the American contingent looks like WINCHESTER (Theatrical [Ire]),

who could follow in his father's hoofsteps with a victory here. He's landed

top-level scores this season in the Manhattan H. (G1) and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

Invitational (G1), the former over stablemate and dual champion Gio Ponti (Tale

of the Cat), and is in arguably career-best form for trainer Christophe Clement.

DANGEROUS MIDGE (Lion Heart), a Group 3/handicap type in England, and

Arlington Million (G1) winner DEBUSSY (Ire) (Diesis [GB]) probably don't have

the class to keep up with either of the top selections. The former enters with

progressive formlines having recently taken the Arc Trial S. (Eng-G3) for

trainer Brian Meehan, who won the last edition of this race contested at

Churchill with Red Rocks (Ire). The rider on Red Rocks? Frankie Dettori, who

takes the reigns on this one. Can lightning strike twice?

Debussy, who followed up his Arlington Million upset with a third in the

Champion S. (Eng-G1), is trained by the ever-dangerous John Gosden, and might

rate a bit more highly here if he takes to this course as well as did Arlington.

He's one to consider for a small share under William Buick.

AL KHALI (Medaglia d'Oro), who defeated Winchester by a neck in the Bowling

Green H. (G1) two back, looks unlikely for the upset after a close fourth

against softer in the Canadian International (Can-G1). He earned a career-best

107 BRIS Speed rating in that loss, so there's the possibility of regression.

Two-time Sword Dancer Invitational (G1) winner TELLING (A.P. Indy) and recent

Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship (G1) winner CHAMP PEGASUS (Fusaichi Pegasus)

look too slow on paper.