'He looks the best bet of the Europeans' - key Breeders' Cup favourites rated

Get ready for two late nights on Friday and Saturday as the Breeders' Cup meeting takes centre stage at Del Mar. Will the market prove a good guide to the top-level contests? We assess the claims of the key favourites . . .

Modern Games

Juvenile Turf, 12.30am Saturday
3-1, general

The draw has influenced the market and the favourite Modern Games has a plum inside draw, while Dewhurst runner-up Dubawi Legend is in the outside stall and is second in the betting.

Modern Games, a Group 3 winner on his last start, will no doubt run a big race from a prominent position, but has to prove he is up to winning at this level.

Del Mar day one card

Stablemate Albahr brings top-level winning form, the Aidan O'Brien-trained Glounthaune should relish the step up to a mile and Portfolio Company and Dakota Gold look players for the home team.

Star rating **

Golden Pal

Turf Sprint, 7.40 Saturday
5-2, bet365

Only two favourites have been successful in the last ten runnings of this race and Golden Pal has almost four lengths to find with subsequent Sprint Cup winner Emaraaty Ana on Nunthorpe form.

Golden Pal (near): won the Juvenile Turf Sprint last yearCredit: Andy Lyons

Last year's Juvenile Turf Sprint winner faces his stiffest US task yet and preference is for the Kevin Ryan-trained sprinters. Emaraaty Ana relishes quick ground and has obvious claims and last year's winner Glass Slippers will have been primed for this.

Star rating **

War Like Goddess

Filly & Mare Turf, 8.59 Saturday
3-1, general

Favourites have an even worse recent record in this, with one successful since 2011, but War Like Goddess deserves her position at the head of the market despite the international strength in depth.

Del Mar day two card

The Bill Mott-trained four-year-old looks a potential star, breezing to victory despite pulling hard early in Grade 1 company last time. This is her toughest assignment, but she definitely has more to offer.

Love surprisingly has her first start outside of Britain and Ireland and comes out best on RPRs this year despite not hitting the heights she once promised. Loves Only You, third to Mishriff in the Sheema Classic, and last year's winner Audarya are other contenders.

Star rating ****

Space Blues

Mile, 10.20 Saturday
5-2, bet365

Charlie Appleby thinks Space Blues is his best chance of a winner and it is hard to disagree.

He arrives in top form after a career-best win on Racing Post Ratings in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp last month and this versatile five-year-old will have no problem on quicker ground or stepping up to a mile. He looks the best bet of the European runners.

Star rating *****

Tarnawa

Turf, 11.40 Saturday
7-4, general

Arc runner-up Tarnawa sets the standard in her bid for back-to-back victories in the penultimate race.

She was unlucky not to win the Irish Champion Stakes and matched her best RPR in the Longchamp spectacular. A similar performance will make the Dermot Weld-trained mare hard to beat and she arrives on the back of a light campaign. She will need luck on her side from stall 11, though, and the progressive Yibir looks her biggest danger.

Star rating ****

Knicks Go

Classic, 12.40am Sunday
9-4 general

There has been just one double-figure priced winner of the Classic in the past decade, but it has been a graveyard for favourites with one successful market leader.

Knicks Go has posted three wide-margin victories since July, albeit only one came in top-level company. He looked pretty special when landing the Whitney Stakes but is very closely matched with the other leading contenders on RPRs.

Knicks Go: heads the betting for the Breeders' Cup ClassicCredit: Coglianese Photos/Derbe Glass

Essential Quality, who similarly won at this meeting last year, Hot Rod Charlie and Medina Spirit, a controversial runner let alone potential winner at the world-renowned fixture, offer stern opposition.

Star rating ***

Read more on the Breeders' Cup:

Stateside stars: the key names set to light up the 2021 Breeders' Cup at Del Mar

Breeders' Cup television bonanza as ITV reveals plans for nine hours of coverage

From outriding a pony to the Breeders' Cup, Twomey glad to be back in California (Members' Club)

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