2021 Breeders' Cup Turf Guide

The five year old had an unbelievable season last term racing four times and going on to win all of her events with ease.

She started her campaign off at Cork in a Group Three event over 1m4f for fillies and she managed to see off Group Two winner Cayenne Pepper comfortably.

Off the back of that prep run she headed straight over to France for the Group One Prix Vermeille, where she took on horses like Dame Malliott and Raabihah and on good ground she blitzed the field by three lengths.

The five year old showed her versatility in terms of ground next time out when landing a hat-trick in the 1m2f Group One Prix de l'Opera on heavy ground, beating Alpine Star who had some serious form.

Having had an unbelievable season already, Weld sent his star mare to America for the Breeders Cup Turf at Keeneland and on firm ground she needed every bit of the 1m4f to land the event.

That was her best performance to date, coming all the way round the field to see off the likes of multiple Group One winners Magical, Lord North and Mogul.

Having been waited on for later this season she returned in the Group Three Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown and although her trainer explained she would need the run, she still went on to win by close to seven lengths.

It was all systems go to the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown and in a thrilling renewal of the race she was seen finish second the retired superstar St Mark's Basilica in a photo-finish.

Off the back of that she was a big contender for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and despite running a cracker she could only finish second behind the big 80/1 outsider.

Having won this race last year she has a big chance once more but stall 13 makes things more difficult.

The Chad Brown trained Domestic Spending looks to have a big chance for the home nation if handling the step up to 1m4f.

The son of Kingman has won five of his seven events to date between a mile and 10 furlongs, landing three Grade One events, with one of them coming at Del Mar.

He was last seen finishing a neck second in the Grade One Mr D. Stakes at Arlington Park on good ground and although needing to improve on that run he could be a live player.

The daughter of Sea The Stars Teona has been seen six times during her career, finishing second on debut over a mile at Newcastle in October 2020 and when stepped up in trip a month later got off the mark in taking style.

The step up to 1m2f was the making of this horse as she dominated a decent field by nine lengths, but on her turf debut she was slightly disappointing this term.

Teona drifted in the betting before the off in the Group Three Musidora and having ran green early on did not have enough in the finish to challenge the winner.

She was then sent into the Oaks where again she ran below par not being many home and it seemed Varian had to find what the problem was with her.

However, since then she has bounced back to form in a big way winning both of her last two events in fine style, taking a Listed event at Windsor before stepping back into Group One company and taking the Prix Vermeille ahead of Snowfall.

She has to be feared off the back of her last run and getting her preferred quicker ground could be a big factor for her.

Yibir managed to win both of his last two starts as a two year old and made his seasonal comeback in Group Three company at Sandown.

He ran really well to be third behind Alenquer and Adayar, with the latter going on to complete the Derby and King George double.

He struggled to kick on from that however, despite dropping in class he kept finding his rivals too good and would fold quite tamely at the business end of the race.

A gelding operation looked to have fixed whatever issue he was having and he bounced back with a dominant display over 13 furlongs at Newmarket to win a good Group three.

Back to form he was pitched into the Group Three Gordon Stakes and he was outclassed, but then went to York's Ebor meeting and landed the Group Two Great Voltigeur.

Yibir was last seen being sent to Belmont for the Jockey Club Derby where he landed the race in Emphatic style and seeking a hat-trick looks the value in the race each way.

Another runner for Godolphin in the prestigious race is the veteran Walton Street who has been a cracking horse for the successful owners but might find some of these too good.

Being the globetrotter for the famous blue silks, very rarely has he been seen racing in at the same track during his career and that has been no different this term.

This year the seven year old has been seen five times this year winning back to back races at Meydan over 1m4f and when looking for the hat-trick in the Group One Dubai Sheema Classic had to settle for a well beaten fourth.

Looking to conquer Germany he finished a good third behind Arc winner Toquator Tasso and Alpinista and used that form to win the Canadian International Stakes at Woodbine last time out.

A very consistent horse, that might sneak a place.

Broome has always held big potential being smart at both three and four, but this season as a five year old has been his best to date.

He has been seen eight times this term, landing a hat-trick of wins to start the season including the Group Two Mooresbridge stakes at the Curragh.

After that he was a narrow second in the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup and again he had to play bridesmaid at Royal Ascot in the Hardwicke Stakes.

Turned around quickly, he was next seen seeing off a strong challenge from the French to take the Group One Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud by a length.

Looking to back that up last time out in the Group Two Prix Foy over the Arc course and distance he was second to Deep Bond.

Broome was last seen in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe with the ground seeming and class of runners seeing him only beat a few home.

Needs much more here.

The three year old Sisfahan for trainer Henk Grewe looks to need a career best to go close in this one having found a few too good of late.

Making his debut in France in November 2020 and winning nicely, he was then saved for this season, finishing a good second in Germany in a Derby Trial.

Off the back of that he went to Hamburg and landed the Group One Deutches Derby, but has since found a few too good in similar races.

In September he was seen twice placing, finishing second In the Group One Grosser Preis von Baden behind the Arc winner Torquator Tasso and then last time out finished third at Cologne behind Alpinista.

Seems to have a strong form line but looks to need soft ground to be at his best.

The son of Holy Roman Emperor is one of the most experienced runner in the field having been running in these types events for the most part of his career.

However, he will need to be better than ever to land this event with the European form looking far stronger than what he can offer.

The hose has been seen six times so far winning twice, with his latest performance being his best of the season when taking out a smart Grade One at Belmont.

He has got the inside draw which will help but he only looks to have place claims.

Aiden O'Brien's second entrant, Japan, marked his seasonal return with a solid Group One victory at Chester upon good to soft conditions.

The classy son of Galileo was below par next time out when stepping back up to Group One level in the Coronation Cup and this season does not look the same horse.

He was a multiple Group One winner as a three year old, formerly over the 12f distance, whilst also boasting a Group Two win at Royal Ascot.

However, from his form of late in America and being drawn in the car park, the five year old looks to have it all to do.

The Christophe Clement trained Gufo is another who looks a nice type for the American challenge on the race but might have to give a career best against some in this field.

Having been a smart three year old last term landing a hat-trick from his first three runs and after that performed well in Grade One events.

He started this season from where he left off not finishing outside the top three in any of his races, winning well twice in July and August and then last time out at Belmont was a fair third behind Rockemperor.

Highly consistent animal that needs to be better than his last run but can't be discounted out of the places.

The Richard Mandella trained United is a very hit and miss performer and although having an inside draw in second will need to build on his latest run.

Three starts ago he won nicely in a Grade Two at Del Mar and when stepping up to 1m3f seemed to struggle slightly finishing behind Acclimate and Astronaut into fourth

Back at 1m2f last time out he got back to winning ways at Grade Two level, but fro, previous experiences the step up in trip and grade looks beyond him.

Astronaut for John Shirreffs has been a highly consistent performer of late with two seconds and win from his last three starts, landing a Grade Two event over 1m3f at Del Mar.

Having shown he handles the track well it is a bonus with the trends backing up past winners at the track but having yet to prove it at Grade One level he looks to need more.

The second runner for Chad Brown is the five year old Tribhuvan who's latest run at Saratoga puts him firmly out of the frame.

Having won a Grade One at Monmouth Park two starts ago, his last start at Saratoga was not good enough and looks opposable.

The final runner of the race is Acclimate, who like many in this field has performed consistently between 11f and 14f but not might have the cutting edge that some of the proven Grade One horses have.

Having won a Grade Three event three starts ago ahead of Astronaut, they then met again at Del Mar where the form was reversed.

The seven year old is the most experienced horse in the field was last seen finishing second behind United at Santa Anita and that form isn't good enough.