THE Breeders’ Cup 2022 looks as exciting as ever and we can look forward to some fantastic racing from Keeneland. The star is Flightline, the world’s highest-rated horse, who runs in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at 9.40 UK time on Saturday evening and is currently Unibet 2/5 on to bring the curtain down on a brilliant meeting. Flightline has rightly been lavished with superlatives and make sure you watch another winning performance as last time he won by just under twenty lengths!

Enjoy all the action on ITV Racing.

Cheers!

The Wine Tipster

Friday

 7.00 Keeneland – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint Grade 2 (5½f) 

Love Reigns gets the vote in what is a cracking renewal, with the remarkable The Platinum Queen posted widest of all around the turns and faces a very hard task as a result. Persian Force, for Unibet Ambassador Richard Hannon, will run another strong race, having not been out of the first three on his six career starts and is Unibet 9/1.

Love Reigns is drawn to attack near the rail and even if she doesn’t lead, she will have a good track position. She is unbeaten in two starts on American shores and there was lots to like about her easy victory in a Listed contest at Saratoga in August on her last appearance when clocking a good speed figure. Although she disappointed in the Queen Mary at Ascot, there was too much use made of her early on and the Berkshire course didn’t look to suit. Love Reigns looks the one to beat back on home turf and with the draw in her favour.

7.40 Keeneland – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Grade 1 (1m ½f)

And Tell Me Nolies has won three on the bounce, without being really fancied and there might well be more to come from her. She has been strong at the finish on all three occasions, including the Grade 2 Chandelier Stakes over this trip at Santa Anita last time out. And Tell Me Nolies is in stall 3 and will like a fast pace, which looks likely to be from Wonder Wheel in stall 5. This will benefit Tell Me Nolies, who then can challenge late on and reward each way players.

8.20 Keeneland – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf Grade 1 (1m)

Spirit Gal is progressing all the time and can easily hit the frame here. She made all last time out at Dundalk, and she will break smoothly from stall 7 setting a strong pace here. Spirit Gal is proven round a turn and has won on good ground.

9.40 Keeneland – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (1m)

Silver Knott has the best form in the race, and you had to be impressed with the way he ran them down in the Autumn Stakes over this trip, given Newmarket was favouring front-runners at the time. The second Epictetus has franked the form with a second in the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster to the brilliant Auguste Rodin. Silver Knott will like the very quick conditions, as he floundered on the soft going at Doncaster, and he has a good draw too. His trainer Charlie Appleby has a tremendous record at the Breeders’ Cup, and this is not to be underestimated, with three successes in the Juvenile Turf.

Saturday

4.29 Keeneland – Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint Grade 1 (5½f)

Highfield Princess (nap) was only rated 58 when she won her first race and races off a mark of 120. This remarkable mare has won three Group 1s on her last three starts in France, Britain and Ireland respectively, which included her success on very quick going at York in the Nunthorpe. Highfield Princess is in the form of her career, will like the conditions, is well drawn and has the right temperament to handle the Breeders’ Cup experience.

6.30 Keeneland – Breeders’ Cup Sprint Grade 1 (6f)

American Theorem is 112 since dropping back in trip on his last three starts and has looked a much stronger performer. He won over this distance on his penultimate start and over seven furlongs too, so the extra bit of stamina is going to help him late on. Kimari looks sure to set a strong pace on the inside of American Theorem and this will suit tactically, so American Theorem has strong each way claims with Jackie’s Warrior a strong favourite.

7.10 Keeneland – Breeders’ Cup Mile Grade 1 (1m)

Modern Games for the Charlie Appleby team ticks so many boxes, including being proven in America, having won the Juvenile Turf last year and indeed in Canada with success in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile in September. Last time out he was second to Bayside Boy in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on good to soft. Modern Games has shown himself to be ground versatile, so conditions are all good here. He has landed a great draw in stall 4 so he can track the early pace set by Pogo from the inside. Modern Games has the best form and speed figures and can make history here by following up on his Juvenile Turf success with victory in the Mile the year after.

Smooth Like Strait is remarkably consistent and was second in the 2021 renewal when marked up in my Unibet blog. In three starts this year he his finished 322 and can’t be ignored for each way purposes.

7.55 Keeneland – Breeders’ Cup Distaff Grade 1 (1m 1f)

Clairiere is overlooked after a poor performance on her latest start, when she got upset in the stalls, missed the break and found herself detached so give her a pass here. On her previous two starts she has beaten Malathaat coming with a late run on both occasions and looking very impressive. Malathaat is second favourite here behind Nest, however Clairiere will be suited by the expected quick pace, and this is going to suit her late running style. She was beaten under a length in this last year when travelling so wide that she could be considered unlucky.

8.40 Keeneland – Breeders’ Cup Turf Grade 1 (1m 1f)

Nations Pride was at one point a leading fancy for the Derby and disappointed at Epsom when eighth to Desert Crown, however his form since running in America is 211. He looked particularly impressive when winning last time out at Aqueduct in September, having won well in the Saratoga Derby in August. Nations Pride looks like bringing another winner for the Charlie Appleby team.