2009 Breeders Cup Tips | Santa Anita 6 & 7th November Betting

Chasing the American Dream – 2009 Breeders’ Cup Tips

All eyes on Santa Anita for this weekend's tips

Two great days racing from the sun-drenched Los Angeles suburb of Santa Anita involving a typically strong European challenge are just around the corner, and to celebrate I’ll be enjoying the LA weather from the comfort of the somewhat more inclement surroundings of Doncaster.

Put the violin away though and get stuck in to to the best bets across the 14 race card.

Racing UK and At the Races are showing the whole thing, and on Friday night I can pass on a strong word for American trainer Jonathan Sheppard’s four year old filly Informed Decision in the Filly & Mare Sprint over seven furlongs on the Pro-Ride surface (11.02pm).

Latest Breeders Cup Filly & Mares Sprint Betting

The winner of six of her last seven races she warmed up for this with a Grade 2 win on the Polytrack at Keeneland, and stepping back up in trip she can take this from gate 7 at a standout 3/1 with Stan James.

She’s not flashy but she is ultra-consistent, and she’s value against short priced jolly Ventura.

On to Saturday and first up I know I won’t be able to resist a small bet each way on Radiohead now he tackles the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (8.49pm).

Compare Bookmakers Breeders Cup Juvenile Odds

Stepping up massively in trip here to a mile and a half I have to say this is something of a speculative bet on a horse who’s featured quite prominently in this column over the last few months, but he’s no mug and I’m sure the synthetic surface (which rides like perfect summer ground on English turf) will bring the best out in him.

Will he stay? Maybe, but there was a healthy dollop of encouragement in the way he suddenly grabbed the bit and charged at Awzaan in the dying stages of the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes over six furlongs at Newmarket a month ago.

His draw isn’t great, but he struck me as a colt crying out for a bash at a longer trip when everyone had been saying he’d never get further than five pre-Newmarket, so at 20/1 with the Magic Sign (Ladbrokes) I’d have to give him a squeak each way.

The layers don’t give him much of a shout, but don’t forget the horse who beat him last time (Awzaan) is now third in some lists for the Guineas.

Conduit tipped for Turf Glory

Things start to get really interesting by the time the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf rolls round at 10.57pm, and my banker of the night has to be Conduit for Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore as he bids to repeat last year’s success in this very race.

A true autumn horse, he’s never looked better going in to this race, and if you think of the progress he’s made in the last 14 months he looks very hard to beat here.

John Gosden Dar Re Mi will have her fans and understandably so, but Conduit looks seriously hard to beat. He takes his racing very well, acts on the track, has settled in really well and has a perfect draw.

He looked a monster when he won the King George, enjoyed a nice break before running a belter to get with two and a half lengths of Sea The Stars in the Arc, and can cap off another fine season with a repeat victory here.

Back him to win at 5/4 with several of the firms, see the Breeders Cup Turf Odds Comparison for best prices.

Last up I think we could be in for a treat at 11.45pm as the apple of Aidan O’Brien’s eye Rip Van Winkle locks horns with unbeaten wonder filly Zenyatta.

She’s yet to taste defeat in a 13 race career, but has never taken on the colts before, although it will be some sight if she can pull it off with her famous come from behind tactics.

As for Rip, well a minor injury scare had punters sweating on Wednesday, and I just wonder if the effects of a long journey and a hard season could take their toll here as he encounters this surface for the first time.

If he runs to the top of his form he will win, but there’s another big danger lurking in this field in the shape of Gio Ponti, and the locals could have the last laugh with Christophe Clement’s four year old at a standout 16/1 with Ladbrokes.com.

The winner of this season’s Man O’War Stakes and the Arlington Million, he disappointed last time out, but forgive him that and the price makes plenty of appeal each way.

Good luck!

This weekend’s Breeders’ Cup meeting tips:

11.02pm (Friday) – Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint – 7 Informed Decision (win) @ 3/1 (Stan James)

8.49pm (Saturday) – Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile – 11 Radiohead (each way) @ 20/1 (Ladbrokes)

10.57pm (Saturday) – Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf – 2 Conduit (win) @ 5/4 (general – see breeders cup turf odds)

11.45pm (Saturday) – Breeders’ Cup Classic – 7 Gio Ponti (each way) @ 16/1 (Ladbrokes)