BREEDER'S CUP 2011; COME FORTH GOLDIKOVA,CHURCHILL DOWNS



The Great Mare Goldikova  Will Be Walking Off To The Paddocks.

                                                                                                                                        
The 2011 Breeder's Cup is upon us and to be fair its all about one horse, Champion French Super-Mare Goldikova. She bids for an unprecedented fourth successive Breeder's Cup Mile tomorrow night and as one of my favourite horses of all time, I, as millions of others do,  hope she does win and win in style.

Even the Americans, who aren't too partial to the Europeans coming over and plundering their prize money, love this wonder horse, who will be retired after the race and off to the most eligible studs in the racing world.

Her form this season, some say isn't as good as past seasons, but its all about tomorrow night and that fourth history making win at the Breeder's Cup. Any horse that had won two Group 1 races and been touched off in another three by top notchers Canford Cliffs, Immortal Verse and Dream Ahead would be a stone cold certainty, but such is her reputation, some have doubts.

I say, she can't be beat, but that may be the heart ruling the head and by gaining stall 1 she should get a clear run, so there will be no excuses. I took 5-2, which looks a big price now and on a track that suits she will be very hard to beat, as its surely in the stars.

I have been hooked on The Breeder's Cup ever since living legend Lester Piggott came out of his enforced exile to win on Royal Academy for his old boss, Vincent O'Brien in 1990. The A-Z since reads Arazi-Zenyatta, who's individual come from last to first victories and near victory are both still fresh in the memory.

I love, (who doesn't) French fillies and this year again, there are a few who have massive chances and this Yankee yankee should hopefully reap dividends for some much needed funds. So for what its worth here's my fancies

1. ANNOUNCE; Filly & Mare Turf, Friday
This one looks sure to go really close as is a closer (as the Americans say) in her races and can finish with a late burst and nail this close home. Was beaten by Nahrain in France and takes that one on again here, but looked unlucky that day and should reverse the form. At around 5-1 looks a cast-iron each way chance and as long as the track stays quite quick should go very very close. Has some superb form in France with Sarafina and Champions Day winner Cirrus Des Aigles.

2.SARAFINA; Turf, Saturday
Looked unlucky to me in the Prix De L'Arc de Triomphe finishing with good effect from a poor draw.This race will be run to suit and with her fine finishing kick can again take this close home. Is a fine-looking filly and the fact she runs on the Saturday against her male counterparts means she must be well fancied. There are niggling doubts about all her opposition and her form with the aforementioned Cirrus Des Aigles means the 5-2 looks good value. I thinks she can win well and take over the mantle, from Goldikova, as the Breeder's Cup pin-up.

3.GOLDIKOVA; Mile, Saturday
The wonder mare has to win, going for her fourth successive Breeder's Cup Mile, she will go very close. There is nothing wrong with her form this year and  I am hoping history will be made, shame this wasn't the very last race on the card, to give her the chance to close out the meeting with a heart warming victory. To me her only danger in the race is the improving Byword, but she's beaten that one before.

4.HAVRE DE GRACE; Classic, Saturday
The final leg of the yankee and hopefully with three winners in the bag this filly can  upset the two fancied ones Uncle Mo and So You Think. Uncle Mo may not stay the 1m2f trip and hasn't been a well horse either so is looked over and though So You Think is a very tough horse he has had some some strenuos races this season. He was just beaten by the horse who's name keeps cropping up, Cirrus Des Aigles on Champion's Day, but has never run on dirt, if he acts on it will surely go close, but again I will pass him over.
Havre de Grace has won her last two in Grade 1 company, the last one by over 8 lengths and but for a nose defeat would have won all of her last 6 races. hasn't got a great draw, but can hopefully emulate her sire Saint Liam, who won this very race in 2005. The fact connections run her in the Classic when there is easier pickings on the Filly & Mare's day on Friday means she is well fancied. At around 9-2 is a corking each way bet.

There you have it, hopefully a profit can be made, but win, lose or draw it will be a fitting send off for the great horse that is Goldikova, who can then go forth and multiply.

Happy punting,

Randy

ROYAL ASCOT 2011.LET BATTLE COMMENCE.

The highlight of the flat season is nearly upon us and I for one, can not remember a more eagerly awaited festival. This year's meeting has all the hallmarks of being one of the best ever, there seems something for everyone. The opening day, with three Group 1's as the opening three races, whets the appetite in tremendous fashion, especially the very first race of the whole meeting, The Queen Anne Stakes over a mile.
There are some great punting oppurtunities and with a bit of discipline, hopefully a profit to boot. With any luck we can get day one off to a flyer.

My best bets for tomorrow are;

2.30 Queen Anne Stakes(Group 1)1 Mile Straight.

What a battle royal this promises to be. The more I look at the race, the more I think the French super-mare GOLDIKOVA will take the world of beating. Her win on her seasonal debut in the Prix d'Ispahan shows she remains extremely tough to beat.The form of that race has been boosted by the victories of Byword & Cirrus Des Aigles over the last two days and if any rain gets into the ground, I think it will inconvenience her less  than chief rival Canford Cliffs.
Some experts are pointing out that Canford Cliffs is better than Paco Boy, from the same stable, and that one ran Goldikova so close in this race last year, but the form of that race looked far stronger than Canford Cliff's victory in the St James's Palace Stakes on the same day over the same course and distance.
The way Goldikova quickened and took lengths out of a genuine Group 1 field was mightily impressive and this was backed up by the clock, as the time was much faster too.
I can see Cape Blanco taking this field along early and if Goldikova can get first run can nail that one close home, leaving Canford Cliff's just a bit too much to do.The 3lb she gets from her main market rival might just be enough for her to hold on for a narrow victory.
13-8 with Hills looks value for a 5pts Win Nap.

3.05 King's Stand Stakes(Group 1)5f

This race looks as open as any race at the whole meeting and is devilishly hard to predict.Any number of horses can take this and how the race will pan out is anyone's guess, however one that catches my eye at a ridiculous price is STONE OF FOLCA. This one ran twice at last year's Royal Ascot finishing a close 4th as a 2yo in both races. Trainer John Best really does know the time of day with his sprinters and will surely have this one primed to run a big race tomorrow. Stone Of Folca, won an egg and spoon race on his seasonal debut at Folkestone and followed that up with a decent effort in the Temple Stakes at Haydock, when finishing 9th behind the well fancied Sole Power. He finished well that day after missing the break and the return to this much stiffer track will surely suit and he can finish a lot closer to Sole power this time. Theres no way he's a 50-1 shot and 3-y-o's have a pretty decent record in this race from not a lot of runners.Hopefully this one can hit the frame, staying on late.
1pt ew on STONE OF FOLCA at 50-1, with a little saver on GROUP THERAPY, who was a staying on 5th in that Temple Stakes and is a course & distance winner too.

3.45 ST.JAMES'S PALACE STAKES(GROUP 1)1 Mile Round

This is all about one horse FRANKEL, who is head and shoulders above this field. A course and distance winner when smashing the oppo in last season's Royal Lodge, he should have no problem beating this field up.The form of all his races have been boosted, including that Royal Lodge, where Treasure Beach who was beaten miles, nearly won this year's Epsom Derby. This year's efforts were boosted too, by Greenham 2nd Excelebration, winning the German 2000 Guineas and the English 2000 Guineas vanquished finishing 1st and 2nd in the Irish version. That performance by Frankel in the 2000 Guineas was simply awesome and with proven track form can break the hearts of these, Dubawi Gold and Excelebration should fill the places.
We're not going to get rich backing this on at long odds on, but just watching should be exciting enough.
2pts double with Goldikova looks a good bet.

5.00 ASCOT STAKES (Handicap) 2 Miles 4f

ZIGATO looks a great bet here.Already a course winner over 2 miles on his 2nd run this season when all he looked like was a progressive stayer in the making. Has been kept relatively fresh for this and as a close relative to the smart filly Sariska could be potentially a top notch prospect himself. Looks a cracking bet at around 5-1 as should hit the frame at least and rates a bet to nothing. 1 pt ew.

Hopefully there are a couple of nice winners in these and let the battle commence.

Happy Punting.

Randy.