'A worthy favourite' - Charlie Appleby bullish as Modern Games returns to the US

Saturday: 7.10 Keeneland
FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile presented by Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund (Grade 1) | 1m | 3yo+ | ITV4/Sky/RTV

The Breeders' Cup Mile proved a tricky hunting ground for the British and Irish for most of the millennium but that trend has changed recently. Sir Michael Stoute, Aidan O'Brien and Charlie Appleby have saddled three of the past four winners and the Europeans dominate the market at Keeneland. The overriding feeling is they will dominate the finish too.

Modern Games arrives in peak form and is a deserving favourite. He is also well drawn in stall four to add a second victory at the meeting after his Juvenile Turf success in 2021, while the other form horse, Kinross, is wider than ideal in 13. Kinross has been a revelation this term and the easy mile here should suit, although these surroundings are alien to Ralph Beckett's stable star.

Modern Games and Kinross are the likeliest winners on current evidence, but this is by no means cut and dry as a straight shootout between the big two. Four and five places are generally available for each-way betting and a couple of old faces could enter the shake-up.

The first at a big price worth close inspection is the ultra-consistent Pogo. Make no mistake, this is one of the unsung heroes of the season. Pogo has run to a Racing Post Rating of 117 or 118 on four occasions this year and the perennial front-runner is in the perfect box in stall one. It takes a tough horse to pass him and he should go well, as should Order Of Australia, who is a massive price to regain a prize he captured in 2020.

Had Order Of Australia broken properly when third in the Coolmore Turf Mile over this course and distance last time, he would have gone close to adding another Grade 1 to his CV.

It would be daft to avoid mentioning Dreamloper, who could pull off another tour de force after slamming Order Of Australia in the Prix du Moulin in September. However, remove that piece of form (which was earned on a slow surface) and she would be available at much bigger odds.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

Loper camp out for dream result

The Filly & Mare Turf was an option for Dreamloper, but connections have opted for this, although it could hardly be described as an easier task.

A Group 1 winner over 1m1f in the Prix d'Ispahan and over a mile in the Moulin, Dreamloper was fifth to Nashwa, hot favourite for the Filly & Mare Turf, in the Nassau.

"She's already beaten colts twice in Group 1s and Nashwa was very impressive in the Nassau – I didn't fancy trying to turn those tables," said her trainer Ed Walker, who seems to fancy his chances in the Mile.

"The ground won't be a concern and we got a great draw in three, which is a huge result, while a strong end-to-end gallop would suit."

Walker, who trains in Lambourn, added: "Her preparation has gone to plan. It is a big ask. Fillies at this time of year can go off, but her dam Livia's Dream, who I trained, got better and better and better and her last race was her best, and hopefully Dreamloper can be the same. I'm expecting a big run – why wouldn't you be confident of one?"

What they say

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Modern Games
It was a great run last time in the QEII and he came out of it well. He looks great. We always make excuses, but he just goes out and he tries. We tried stepping him up in trip and he put up a solid performance in the French Derby, but we always felt coming back in trip would put him on his A-game. You love to travel him because you know he's always going to give everything for you. We know what he can do around these tracks and he's a worthy favourite.

Modern Games exercising on the Keeneland turf this weekCredit: Edward Whitaker

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Order Of Australia
We were happy with his run here last time and we've been happy with him since. He's drawn out a bit in ten but when he won here he was drawn wider. This has been his target all year, so it's been gentle gentle. We have been racing him to keep him competitive but we haven't really been turning the screw. His work regime and the intensity of it has ramped up all the time.

Ralph Beckett, trainer of Kinross
He's in good shape. He looks well and travelled well. The draw [13] was a pain, but there's not much we can do about it. He won on fast ground at York and ground is only relevant to him in relation to trip. At a mile, it's fine, I've no concerns. He's thriving.
Reporting by James Burn

Saturday's Breeders' Cup previews:

4.29 Keeneland: 'She must have every chance' - can Highfield Princess see off Golden Pal and co?

5.50 Keeneland: 'She pretty well handles anything' - favourite Nashwa has John Gosden excited

8.40: Can Appleby make it two in a row and continue European domination in the Turf?

9.40 Keeneland: Breeders' Cup Classic: can Flightline confirm himself as best since Secretariat?

Racing Post takes seriously its commitment to Safer Gambling and encourages people to stay within their limits and stay in control. If you would like to know more visit our dedicated Safer Gambling page here