European Raiders seek Breeders' Cup spoils

ARCADIA, California (AFP) - A raft of European raiders seek Breeders' Cup spoils this week, among them a pair vying to wreck mighty American mare Zenyatta's unbeaten record in the five million-dollar Classic.

Zenyatta goes into Saturday's Classic, the culmination of a two-day, 14-race Breeders' Cup slate with a total purse of 25.5 million dollars, with 13 victories in 13 starts.

The imposing five-year-old will break from the fourth post with Mike Smith in the irons, after owners Jerry and Ann Moss and trainer John Shirreffs plumped for the Classic rather than attempt a repeat of her 2008 victory in the Ladies Classic for fillies and mares.

Her competition includes Irish import Rip Van Winkle, who arrived in California off back-to-back triumphs over a mile in the Group I Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on September 26 and the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood on July 29.

England's Henry Cecil, seeking a first Breeders' Cup win of his storied career, saddles Champion Stakes hero Twice Over in the Classic.

"Obviously, the mare has to be respected, she's unbeaten," Cecil said of the Classic field. "I have actually never seen her, but her career speaks for itself.

"Rip Van Winkle is a very good horse," Cecil added. "If he's on top of his form he'll take a lot of beating."

As to Twice Over, Cecil said, he thought the horse would adapt to Santa Anita's Pro-Ride synthetic surface.

"I think he's a horse that went through a stage where he lost his confidence, and he's got that back," Cecil said.

"He won the Champion Stakes on ground he didn't really like. He's come out of it very well, and I think he's got more chance than the betting tells us."

European horses, led by 13-1 Raven's Pass in the Classic, won five of last year's Breeders Cup races.

But Zenyatta will face plenty of homegrown competition as well.

Summer Bird, winner of the Belmont Stakes, Travers and Jockey Club Gold Cup was the early 9-2 third choice.

Longshot Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and the Bob Baffert-trained Richard's Kid were among six horses priced at 12-1 in the 13-horse field.

Both Rip Van Winkle and Summer Bird will be racing on Pro-Ride for the first time, while Zenyatta has claimed 11 of her 13 wins on the surface.

While the connections of US super-filly Rachel Alexandra cited the surface in declining to enter the Breeders' Cup, John Gosden - trainer of last year's Classic victor Raven's Pass - said the synthetic track was an attraction for Europeans.

"Obviously we're very used to poly track. We like them because they're a surface that's true and we like them because they're a surface that on the whole is safe, the attrition rate is much, much lower."

O'Brien saddles favorite Mastercraftsman in the Dirt Mile, and the opening race of the meeting, Friday's Marathon, is packed with European talent.

Ireland's Muhannak goes for a repeat in the Marathon, which has been extended from 1 1/2 miles to 1 3/4 miles.

Cecil saddles Father Time in the Marathon. The 10-horse field also includes the O'Brien trained Man of Iron and Goldolphin's St. Leger winner Mastery.

Once again, Europe boasts strong entrants in turf events, including 2008 Mile winner Goldikova and 2008 Turf winner Conduit.

Last year Goldikova's victory in the Mile saw French trainer Freddy Head become the first man to win a Breeders' Cup race as both a jockey and a trainer.

Head rode Miesque to victory in the Mile in 1987-88 will now try guide Goldikova to emulate that feat.

Sir Michael Stoute will be hoping for repeat success with Conduit in the 1 1/2-mile, three million-dollar Turf. The field of eight also includes Conduit stablemate Spanish Moon and the Gosden-trained Dar Re Mi.