(Filly and Mare Turf)
Kicks off the European challenge on tonight's all-ladies card. Vincent O'Brien's runner already has the Irish 1000 Guineas on her CV and is fancied to land another big pot.
2 SIXTIES ICON
(Marathon)
Don't let the nam
e of the race fool you, because it's only contested over a mile-and-half, a trip this former St Leger winner is perfectly at home at. Frankie Dettori, a former winner at the Breeders Cup, will do the steering and trainer Jeremy Noseda, who rates Sixties Icon the class act in the race, is confident he'll handle the surface.
3 GOLDIKOVA
(Mile)
History will be made if the French filly gets the better of the boys. Freddie Head, who has enjoyed a superb season, landed this race twice as a jockey and bids to become the first Breeders' Cup-winning rider to also train a winner at the meeting.
4 BUSHRANGER
(Juvenile)
Winner of four of his six starts, including two at Group 1 level, David Wachman's youngster will have to conquer a longer trip and unknown terrain if he's to become one of Team Europe's successes but is sure to make a good fist of it. Doesn't have the best of draws but does have the assistance of Johnny Murtagh.
5 WESTPHALIA
(Juvenile Turf)
Another representing the powerful O'Brien/Murtagh combination. "He's a classy horse at home, won the Champagne at Doncaster which is usually a good race and is in good shape," says O'Brien of his colt's chances.
6 SOLDIER OF FORTUNE
(Turf)
Favourite with most firms to land a first prize of over £800,000, although the prospect of firmish ground would be a slight concern Has only had three outings this term so will be fresher than some and a last time out third to the mighty Zarkava in the Arc was hardly anything to be ashamed of.
7 CONDUIT
(Turf)
Has come a long way since lifting a maiden event on the all-weather at Wolverhampton last year. This year's St Leger winner drops back in distance but has won over a mile-and-half, and shorter, so won't be too inconvenienced. Ryan Moore, who preferred stable companion Duke Of Fremantle in the oldest Classic, is back on board.
8 WINCHESTER
(Turf)
Landed the Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park by a wide margin last time out but his form back across the Pond looks to be a notch or two below the level required. Available at a double figure price but the colt is Dermot Weld's only runner at the meeting and given the trainer's record in major events abroad, that makes him of interest.
9 HENRY THE NAVIGATOR
(Classic)
Rattled up four Group 1 victories on the bounce earlier this term, including the Newmarket and Irish 2000 Guineas where he had subsequent Derby winner New Approach behind. Will be racing on an artificial surface for the first time and this will also be his first attempt at ten furlongs, but still rated by many as the chief threat to the mighty Curlin.
10 RAVEN'S PASS
(Classic)
Finally put one over on his old rival Henry when beating him in Ascot's QE II Stakes. Frankie Dettori takes over from regular partner Jimmy Fortune and while trainer John Gosden holds Curlin in the highest regard, he's adopting a 'if you're not in it, you can't win it policy.'
"Someone has got to come and take him on; we can't all be wimps and hide," he said.
JIM KEAN
