Street Cry mare Zenyatta drew ideally for Saturday’s US$5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park. The undefeated mare will attempt to take her winning tally to 14 in a row when she jumps from barrier 4 in the 2000m event.
The Breeders’ Cup series on Friday and Saturday comprises 14 races with purses of US$25.5 million. A total of 149 horses were entered in the Breeders’ Cup races, including 30 from Europe, and 10 defending or former Breeders’ Cup champions, topped by Zenyatta.
Zenyatta sealed an Eclipse Award campaign at Santa Anita last year with a dramatic victory in the US $2 million Ladies’ Classic.
Trained by John Shirreffs for owners Jerome and Ann Moss, Zenyatta posted the 13th victory in the Lady’s Secret Stakes at Santa Anita track on October 10. The winning streak equalled the modern day record at the top level by Personal Ensign when she won the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs.
Zenyatta’s rivals include Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and Belmont Stakes winner Summer Bird.
Other former Breeders’ Cup Champions returning to Santa Anita are;
CONDUIT (Dalakhani) bids for a repeat victory in the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf for trainer Sir Michael Stoute. The Ballymacoll Stud homebred will be up against Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s filly Dar Re Mi and Red Rocks who won the 2006 BC Turf at Churchill Downs.
GOLDIKOVA (Anabaa) will defend her 2008 victory in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Trainer Freddie Head has compared Goldikova favorably to Miesque, whom he rode to two slashing victories in the Mile, and the resemblance is striking. Both are blessed with a blinding turn of foot that stuns their rivals into submission. Goldikova deserves to join Miesque on the honour roll of two-time Breeders’ Cup winners.
Goldikova has looked sublime this year winning at G1 level in the Falmouth St, Prix Rothschild and Prix Jacques le Marois.
FOREVER TOGETHER (Belong To Me) will bid for a repeat score in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf. In the brief 10-year history of the race, Ouija Board is the only one mare to win it twice. The Jonathan Sheppard mare routinely delivers a potent late kick that has helped her to two G1 victories in the Diana Stakes.
VENTURA (Chester House) is back for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. The Juddmonte Farm’s mare scored a surprise win in 2008 and 1400m on the synthetic surface suits her down to the ground. She has a habit of missing by narrow margins on occasions, but from all appearances is peaking for this race.
MIDSHIPMAN (Unbridled´s Song) winner of last year’s Juvenile, starts in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. He was the only front-running winner over the Pro-Ride in last year’s Breeders’ Cup and appeared to have all the physical tools to win the Kentucky Derby in 2009. However, the Godolphin colt missed most of his three-year-old campaign due to injury, making his belated return in a 1300m allowance at Belmont Park on September 18. The chestnut drew clear to a three length decision that afternoon and, with Garrett Gomez aboard, will probably try to lead all the way again.
Irish bred gelding MUHANNAK (Chester House) defends his title in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon and DESERT CODE (E Dubai) is seeking a repeat win in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint while MARAM (Sahm) winner of the 2008 Juvenile Fillies Turf, runs in this year’s Filly & Mare Turf.