Ryan Moore: My thoughts on day two of the Breeders' Cup

Game On Dude (!)

Ryan Moore discusses the runners on day two of the Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita. Our man explains why the Classic is Game On Dude's to lose... 

18:50 Juvenile Turf 

As an Arsenal fan, I never thought I would see Gervinho and I'mboundtoscore in the same sentence! I ride George Vancouver and I give him a fair chance. I know Timeform have some pretty big figures against Chad Brown's pair Noble Tune and Balance The Books, as well as Joha and Know More, but I think the visitors have a pretty strong hand in this too. I rode George Vancouver to finish second to Reckless Abandon in the Morny, and that is strong form, and he really caught my eye when third to Dawn Approach in the Dewhurst, travelling really powerfully for a long way, last time. He is drawn well in three, and I can see him giving me a good run here. The mile is a question mark but he will jump and travel and has definite prospects if seeing out the trip. Aidan's other horse Lines Of Battle is a real good-looker and a horse I rode in the Coventry and liked. He is going the right way, but being drawn 14 gives him a mountain to climb. Dundonnell really impressed me when winning the Acomb and it was slightly disappointing to see him being beaten at Doncaster last time, however highly the winner is regarded. But to me there is more to come from him and I agree that he should be regarded as the favourite to win this; I think when this horse comes to win his race with one smooth, sustained run, you will see improvement. I can also see Fantastic Moon running a big race. His form isn't as strong as many in here but the promise in his Royal Lodge run was there for all to see; he was squeezed for room, didn't handle the dip but powered home. He has more to offer and this mile will suit him.

19:35 Filly & Mare Dirt Sprint

Pass. And I am being serious. But I see Groupie Doll is 7lb clear on Timeform figures after making mincemeat of her rivals recently and is a hot favourite, so that's my token selection. But you didn't need me to point you in the direction of an even money chance.

20:14  Dirt Mile

This is another race that fails to fire my enthusiasm. The ratings suggest that Emcee and Shackleford should be fighting out the finish here but I have had a look at this race and I am none the wiser.

20:57 Turf Sprint 

This is another race where I am devoid of an opinion, so sorry. This looks like a European sprint in that there is no stand-out performer and anything could win if getting a good position and a smooth trip from the gates. Starspangledbanner is a fascinating runner for Aidan, and the 2010 July Cup winner is at least returning to some kind of form with racing and 6f and fast ground is what he wants. But it will be little short of a miracle if he can be coaxed back to win a Breeders Cup Sprint, just eight days after finishing fourth in a listed race at Dundalk and after a failed stallion career. The draw in 14 is not as bad in this race, but on balance I would still like to be drawn lower.

21:36 Juvenile Dirt

I see Coolmore have bought into Shanghai Bobby and you have to respect that. And you can see why they have, looking at his form. The unbeaten colt won the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes by five lengths at Belmont last time and will take some stopping in that kind of form. This doesn't look a strong race depth-wise and if his colours are to be lowered then Power Broker looks the obvious one after his own Grade 1 romp over course and distance last time, a much improved effort on his first start on dirt.

22:18 Turf 

At last, a race where I know some of the horses! I'll start with the home team and Point Of Entry bids to give the US a rare win in this race. He has gone from strength to strength this season and has really impressed me. And what marks him out as a serious challenger here is that he's straightforward and uncomplicated. He can sit close to the pace, travel and then pick up. He only beat Treasure Beach by just under two lengths last time - suggesting that Aidan shouldn't be overly concerned if St Nicholas Abbey is in peak form - but that was on soft ground and he met some trouble in running there too, so I wouldn't read that too literally. He is a big player on this faster surface. Certainly, he appeals more than the likes of Dullahan, who for me does not change gear quick enough in this company. Everyone knows how highly I rate Japanese horses and a big run from Trailblazer wouldn't surprise me at all, but St Nicholas Abbey is surely the horse to beat if on his A game. He is a horse I have always rated and he beat me on Sea Moon very easily in this race last year. This is the first time he has had his trip and his ground since winning the Coronation Cup in a canter and he must go well if a long season - he was racing in Dubai in March, remember - and his run in the Arc last time haven't blunted his sharpness. His turn of foot is a powerful weapon here. The same comment applies to Shareta, who is bang there on her Vermeille and Yorkshire Oaks wins. You just wonder whether that Arc run on unsuitably testing ground will have taken the edge off her too. The key to this race could be the pace. If it is strongly run, then I think St Nicholas Abbey is the one, but if it is a steady pace then it could play into the hands of Point Of Entry.

22:58 Dirt Sprint 
                                                      
The interesting one in here is Coil. Everyone raves when a classy miler is sent sprinting in the UK, so if you subscribe to that theory then you will be interested in this one. He was only beaten two lengths by Game On Dude over 1m1f here last October but showed he had Grade 1 winning speed on dirt when successful here last month. But there appear to be any number of horses in here with a similar level of form and it looks a typical sprint. Namely, impossible. But the horse that Coil had back in fourth when winning last time, Amazombie, looks a big runner as that was his first start after a break, so he may not have been at his peak there. He is a multiple Grade 1 winner, including this race at Churchill last year, who probably boasts the best form here.

23:40 Mile 

You could not fail to be impressed by Excelebration at Ascot last time as he treated some high class opposition with contempt, taking a leaf out of Frankel's book. That was a career-best effort and one that puts him in with a favourite's chance here. But there is always a nagging doubt when a horse is turned out just a fortnight later in races as competitive as this, especially as he meets two top class rivals in Wise Dan and Moonlight Cloud. I know he didn't look to have broken sweat at Ascot but even races like that take something out of a horse. And on a line through Cityscape, he doesn't have much in hand of Wise Dan anyway. The American horse had Cityscape four-and-a-half lengths away in third when winning at Woodbine and he comes here after another convincing win at Keeneland last time. And you can really see Moonlight Cloud's turn of foot coming into play here and the track really suiting. She didn't get the best of runs when beaten around two lengths by Aidan's horse in the Marois. I think she is probably the bet each way at around the 5-1 mark, as her style of running means her outside draw is not a big issue. This looks a cracking race, probably the race of the Breeders Cup.

00:35 Classic

Game On Dude finished second in this race last year and looks to have plenty going for him this time around, too. He consistently runs to a high level of form, is five from five at this track, and simply is the best horse in the race on all known form. If he doesn't run up to his usual level for whatever reason then you can give the likes of Ron The Greek and Mucho Macho Man decent claims, even from outside draws, but this is Game On Dude's to lose. The only danger looks to be the trip, as they won't let him get an easy lead on the front end.

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