Breeders Cup Fillies & Mare Turf (Group 1)

Probably the best chance of the night for a European winner with Nahrain, Announce and Misty For Me taking on the home team.

The Americans are now headed by Stacelita. Formely trained by Jean-Claude Rouget, the five-year-old daughter of Monsun is now with Chad Brown. She won the Beverely D and Flower Bowl Invitational , both Grade 1’s since her summer move. She also won the Prix Jean Romanet in 2010 and the year before won the Prix Saint-Alary and Prix De Diane and was controversially promoted to win the Prix Vermeille from Dar Re Mi. That’s six Group 1’s in total.

The only other American filly to consider is Dubawi Heights who went on to win the Yellow Ribbon after chasing home Stacelita in the Beverly D.

The first and second from the Prix De L’Opera re-oppose where Nahrain and Announce were separated by a nose in Paris on Arc day. Roger Varian’s first Group 1 will not be his last but today will not be his second.

Aidan O’Brien has prepared Misty For Me specifically for this. As a two year old she showed her class in winning the Moyglare and Prix Marcel Boussac. She went to Newmarket disappointing in the 1000 Guineas but bounced back in taking the Irish version by 3/4 L from Together at the Curragh. She took her chance at Epsom in the Oaks but didn’t act on the camber.

A return to the Curragh for the Pretty Polly was next on the agenda where a meeting with Midday went her way by 6 L. The general view was that Henry Cecil’s filly didn’t fire that day however that’s a little dismissive of the performance of the Ballydoyle inmate.

Aidan gave her a break before returning for the Matron Stakes where she disappointed favourite backers by her 4 L third to Emulous. Together was second and franked the form with a win in the Queen Elizabeth 11 Challenge Cup at Keenland.

Don’t underrate that Matron run as Emulous is a high class filly and as a three year old here Misty For Me get’s a four pound allowance from the mares which could prove crucial.

Misty For Me preparations have been well timed and you can expect her run to be also. That four pound pull should give her the edge for a fifth Group 1 win and a first for Aidan O’Brien and Ireland at Churchill Downs.

As it the Breeders Cup here’s the other ones to keep an eye on tonight.

8.10 Vexor

8.50 Dear Lavinia

9.30 Pomeroys Pistol

10.10 Weemisfrankie

10.50 Misty For Me

11.30 Ask The Moon