'I chose the wrong race in England' - Wesley Ward's warning to Euro hopefuls

Friday: 9.50 Del Mar
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (Grade 2) | 5f | 2yo | ITV4/RTV/Sky

Each of the three times the Juvenile Turf Sprint has been run on the main Breeders' Cup programme it has stayed firmly on home soil, and last year Golden Pal blitzed the field to give Wesley Ward successive wins in the Grade 2 contest.

The European contingent could face more of the same Ward-inflicted pain this time. He has the two market leaders in Averly Jane and Twilight Gleaming, who was last seen plundering a Deauville Listed race under Frankie Dettori in August having just been denied by Quick Suzy in the Queen Mary at Royal Ascot.

Averly Jane is unbeaten in four, most recently taking the Listed Indian Summer Stakes at Keeneland. Her aggregate winning distance is more than 13 lengths, so the daughter of Midshipman clearly knows how to run.

The Larry Rivelli-trained One Timer has been similarly precocious, so the travelling contingent could have another big job on their hands.

With Quick Suzy missing out after a temperature spike on arrival, Richard Hannon's Armor and Michael O'Callaghan's Twilight Jet will lead the European assault.

Armor didn't get the clearest passage in the Middle Park but eventually got free only for his run to flatten out. He finished third, but it was a decent showing in top-class company and this drop back to five furlongs, over which he won the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood, is an interesting move.

Armor: won the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood over five furlongsCredit: Edward Whitaker

Twilight Jet faded into fifth in the Middle Park but was beaten only a length and a half. He is a ball of speed, as he proved by bolting up in the Cornwallis Stakes when dropped back to five furlongs last month.

His Middle Park showing, leading until inside the distance, was a fair run and he could be the sort to rattle this on his 11th start of a hectic campaign. He has also landed the plum draw in stall one.

Dave Loughnane's Go Bears Go, who won the Railway Stakes in June, is a similar type who has also fared well by being allotted stall three, with the added experience of Johnny Velazquez up top. He was likewise carried out on his shield in the Middle Park, finishing fourth after racing pretty hard early, but then failed to build on that in the Dewhurst when he probably didn't stay. This won't be easy after a hard race like that, but his previous form would give him a solid chance at big odds.

The Hugo Palmer-trained Hierarchy comes here after getting run down by Wings Of War in the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury and the drop in distance may suit.

Vertiginous completes the European party, although George Boughey's Thunder Love is a reserve who has an alternative option on the undercard. Vertiginous was impressive when dictating an Ayr Listed race for Brian Meehan at this trip, so she is an interesting outsider.

What they say

Michael O'Callaghan, trainer of Twilight Jet
He's taken to it all here very well. He's bouncing around the place and is ready to go. He's as well now as he's been all year. Getting the inside draw is a big deal. He's as quick as you get out of the gates at home, so if he's quick enough away I think five furlongs around a bend here will be right up his street. He's a very balanced horse and that'll help him.

Wesley Ward, trainer of Kaufymaker, Twilight Gleaming and Averly Jane
Kaufymaker has always been a very nice filly. I chose the wrong race in England, I should have gone five-eighths [five furlongs], so this is the perfect distance. Twilight Gleaming put in an impressive breeze with Kimari in her preparation for this. Averly Jane is undefeated and she's just done everything right.

Dave Loughnane, trainer of Go Bears Go
He's a trainer's and jockey's dream. He loves his work and loves his racing. He's had a long year, so we've really tried to freshen him up since the Dewhurst.

Go Bears Go ridden by Rossa Ryan winning the Railway Stakes in JuneCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Brian Meehan, trainer of Vertiginous
It's a quality field, but she has a good draw and is coming off a track record from a race that has produced some serious sprinters. I'm really confident in her, she's in such good order.

Oisin Murphy, rider of Hierarchy
He's in great condition and looks great in his coat. He's drawn nicely in gate five and I'm looking forward to riding him.

Richard Hannon, trainer of Armor
He's got to be on his A-game, but he's done absolutely nothing wrong in all six starts. He has a great turn of foot and goes there with a very respectable chance. He's not drawn badly.

Larry Rivelli, trainer of One Timer
I'd like to see him break clean and get away from the gate sharply. We're going [to the lead]. We're outside of Averly Jane, so we'll see who's fastest.

Christophe Lorieul, assistant to Christophe Clement, trainer of Derrynane
She's got speed. She ran a very good race [when winning last time]. I don't know how much she beat, but she looked very good doing it.

Read more on day one of the Breeders' Cup

10.30 Del Mar: 'She's in excellent shape' - unbeaten Echo Zulu out to justify hot favouritism

11.10 Del Mar: Strong European contingent hold solid claims in open-looking contest

11.50 Del Mar: Can Bob Baffert join D Wayne Lukas among the Breeders' Cup Juvenile kings?

12.30 Del Mar: Charlie Appleby bullish about Modern Games - and rightly so

Upping The Ante star Gavin Lynch joins the Racing Post roster for a weekly Saturday column throughout the jumps season. He'll offer a guide to the weekend action, highlight the horses and races to watch and share his punting wisdom. Read it every Saturday in the Racing Post or online from 4pm every Friday.