Who are the most likely British- and Irish-trained winners at the Breeders' Cup?
All eyes will be on City Of Troy as he bids for a historic success in the Breeders' Cup Classic (9.41) on Saturday evening and he has dominated the headlines in the lead-up to the two-day spectacular at Del Mar.
But there is plenty of British and Irish interest in the supporting races and here, we identify the other most likely contenders to strike gold for the travelling team . . .
Bradsell
7.41 Del Mar: Prevagen Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (5f, Saturday)
This son of Tasleet made a winning seasonal debut in Listed company at Deauville in August before claiming the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York later that month.
He brought up the hat-trick with victory in the Flying Five at the Curragh in September, but saw his winning sequence come to an end when runner-up behind Makarova in the Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp last time.
That was a solid run nonetheless and he will appreciate getting back on a fast surface, but he has a wide draw to contend with in stall 12.
His opponents include Believing, who has finished directly behind Bradsell in each of his last three starts, and Big Evs, who bids for a second success at the Breeders' Cup after his victory in last year's Juvenile Turf Sprint.
Star Of Mystery, who has not raced in Britain since finishing sixth in last year's Lowther Stakes at York, has produced form figures of 1122312 in the US and Dubai this year and represents Charlie Appleby.
The Arc-winning combination of Ralph Beckett and Rossa Ryan team up with Starlust, while Newmarket-based William Knight has the third reserve Frost At Dawn.
Emily Upjohn
9.01 Del Mar: Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (1m4f, Saturday)
John and Thady Gosden's five-year-old saw the form of her latest third in the Prix Vermeille boosted significantly when the one-two, Bluestocking and Aventure, occupied those same finishing positions in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe earlier this month.
She had finished just half a length behind the Arc winner in the Pretty Polly Stakes earlier this year and runs against the boys on Saturday for the first time since finishing a disappointing fourth of five when 7-4 favourite for the Coronation Cup at Epsom in May.
Her losing run stretches back to the 2023 Coronation Cup, but it looks notable that Frankie Dettori, who has been aboard for four of her five wins, is back in the saddle this weekend.
Among her opposition is Rebel's Romance, winner of an admirable 14 of his 21 starts for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin, while the three-year-old Jayarebe runs for Brian Meehan and Sean Levey.
Luxembourg, who finished ten and a half lengths in front of Emily Upjohn when landing the Coronation Cup, represents Aidan O'Brien with Ryan Moore booked to ride, while his stablemate Wingspan makes a quick return to action having chased home Kalpana in the Fillies & Mares Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot a fortnight ago.
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Cinderella's Dream
10.25 Del Mar: Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (1m3f, Saturday)
William Buick's mount has won six of her seven starts, the sole defeat coming when midfield in the 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket in May.
Since then, Charlie Appleby's filly has taken the Belmont Oaks and the Saratoga Oaks over 1m1½f and now steps up to 1m3f for the first time.
Appleby also runs Beautiful Love, who finished third in the Grade 3 Waya Stakes last time and is set to be partnered by Oisin Murphy.
After Ylang Ylang was scratched by the vets, Aidan O'Brien, who won this race with Tuesday in 2022, relies on Yorkshire Oaks winner Content.
Royal Ascot winner Soprano represents George Boughey and owners Highclere and is a big Breeders' Cup ride for Billy Loughnane.
Notable Speech
11.45 Del Mar: FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by PDJF (1m, Saturday)
Charlie Appleby and William Buick have combined to win the last three runnings of the Breeders' Cup Mile and they hold strong claims on Saturday with 2,000 Guineas winner Notable Speech.
The son of Dubawi has been a bit hit and miss since his victory at Newmarket, disappointing in the St James's Palace Stakes before bouncing back with an impressive win in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. He was again below par when fifth in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp last time, but getting back on a sounder surface will help, and his peak form marks him down as the one to beat.
Donnacha O'Brien's Porta Fortuna is among the opposition to Notable Speech. She finished runner-up in the 1,000 Guineas earlier this year before racking up a Group 1 hat-trick with wins against her own sex in the Coronation Stakes, Falmouth Stakes and Matron Stakes. The daughter of Caravaggio finished second behind Hard To Justify in the Juvenile Fillies Turf at this meeting last year.
Order Of Australia caused a 40-1 upset for Aidan O'Brien in this race in 2020 and the trainer runs Diego Velazquez this time around. The three-year-old is seeking a hat-trick after wins at Leopardstown in the Meld Stakes and Solonaway Stakes, but he is 0-3 at the top level.
... and what about Friday's juvenile races?
Seven of the 12 runners in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (9.45) are British- or Irish-trained, including Aesterius, who has won four of his six starts for Archie Watson this year, including at Group level at Longchamp and Doncaster the last twice. Aidan O'Brien runs Prix Morny winner Whistlejacket, who is the mount of Ryan Moore, along with the exciting Ides Of March. Big Mojo bids to provide Mick Appleby, Tom Marquand and owners RP Racing with a second Juvenile Turf win following the victory of Big Evs 12 months ago. Wathnan Racing's Shareholder runs for Karl Burke, while Ger Lyons and Adrian Murray are represented by Magnum Force and Arizona Blaze respectively.
Lake Victoria bids to cap off a superb campaign and make it five wins from five starts in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (11.05). Aidan O'Brien's filly has struck at Group 1 level in the Moyglare Stud Stakes and the Cheveley Park Stakes the last twice and now steps up to a mile for the first time. Her trainer also runs Heavens Gate, who had the reopposing Gavin Cromwell-trained Fiery Lucy a neck behind in the Group 3 Weld Park Stakes last month. The Dave Loughnane-trained outsider Anshoda is the sole British-based runner and she is set to be ridden by Joel Rosario.
Six of the last ten winners of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (12.25) were based in Europe, and British and Irish stables are well represented again. Charlie Appleby and Godolphin run both Aomori City and Al Qudra, with the latter a length and a quarter behind New Century, who reopposes, in the Summer Stakes at Woodbine last month. Hugo Palmer and Tom Marquand team up with The Waco Kid, who ran out an impressive winner of the Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket last time, while his stablemate Seagulls Eleven is also a contender having finished fourth in the Dewhurst this month. Aidan O'Brien's Henri Matisse had subsequent Futurity Trophy winner Hotazhell behind when scoring at the Curragh in August, but needs to bounce back from a couple of defeats since.
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- Another big-race absentee for Aidan O'Brien as Ylang Ylang is scratched from Breeders' Cup by vets
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- 'He really is breaking new ground' - bookmakers report unprecedented ante-post interest in City Of Troy
- Analysis: why City Of Troy will have no excuses after kind Breeders' Cup Classic draw - plus runner-by-runner guide to the big race
- Keeneland party comes to Del Mar with Pandora's Gift among Breeders' Cup hopefuls going under the hammer