Gatsby in action on night full of Breeders' Cup rehearsals

Preview: USA, Saturday 10.45pm BST (live on ATR)

Belmont Park: Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (Grade 1) 1m4f | turf | 3yo+

The Grey Gatsby (Dermot Weld/John Velazquez) faces a double-figure field full of US Grade 1 winners headed by top three-year-old Oscar Performance as he crosses the Atlantic to represent renowned globetrotter Dermot Weld in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.

The £500,000 contest is one of no fewer than 13 Breeders' Cup Challenge races this weekend offering a 'win and you're in' slot to the two-day extravaganza at Del Mar on November 3-4.

With the big event just five weeks away, there are Challenge races at Newmarket, Chantilly and Nakayama in Japan this weekend – plus a handful dotted among the eight Grade 1s split between Belmont Park and Santa Anita in the States.

Weld, who also plans to run Zhukova next weekend in the Grade 1 Flower Bowl, has sent The Grey Gatsby to New York in search of fast ground after a dismal season at home in Ireland since he left Kevin Ryan's yard.

"I want to see him put it together," said Weld. "I think he'll appreciate going the distance and I hope he gives Johnny a good ride.

"He's been a little unlucky this summer, but he loves firm ground, so that's the main reason we're running him. Our ground [in Ireland] has gone soft over here. The main thing for him is that he loves fast ground and that'll be very helpful for him. We're fortunate to get someone as talented as Johnny V. I'll leave it all to him."

Oscar Performance: looking for fourth Grade 1 success as he takes on elders for the first time in the Joe Hirsch Turf ClassicCredit: Four Footed Fotos

The big-race favourite is Oscar Performance (Brian Lynch/Jose Ortiz), who made his name last season with a stunning all-the-way victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Since then, despite critics suggesting he must have an easy lead, he has added further Grade 1 successes in the Belmont Derby and the Secretariat Stakes. Now he faces his elders for the first time.

US reigning champion trainer Chad Brown, who largely made his reputation with turf horses, saddles three, namely Arlington Million winner Beach Patrol (Joel Rosario), Money Multiplier (Javier Castellano) and former Marco Botti-trained Fanciful Angel (Irad Ortiz).

Others to note are Sadler's Joy (Tom Albertrani/Julien Leparoux), who finally put it all together for top-level victory with a late charge in the Sword Dancer over this 1m4f trip on his most recent outing.

Coral: 5-2 Oscar Performance, 7-2 Sadler's Joy, 4 Money Multiplier, 5 Beach Patrol, 10 Mekhtaal, 12 Ascend, 14 Fanciful Angel, 16 The Grey Gatsby, 40 Channel Maker, 100 Converge, Tricked Up.

Also on Saturday

Santa Anita: Awesome Again Stakes (Grade 1) 1m1f | dirt | 3yo+ (Sun 1am BST)

The former Goodwood Stakes is the number one west coast trial for the Breeders' Cup Classic, for which it is a 'win and you're in' qualifier.

Even without his 'big three' of Arrogate, West Coast and Collected, all of whom will not run again before the Breeders' Cup, Bob Baffert still holds a strong hand in this Classic trial with Coolmore-owned Cupid (Rafael Bejarano), who won the ex-Hollywood Gold Cup here in May, and Mubtaahij (Drayden van Dyke).

The 2015 UAE Derby winner, last seen finishing fourth in the Dubai World Cup, makes his debut for Baffert after leaving Mike de Kock; he failed to win in four US starts last year.

Bob Baffert: even without his 'big three' of Arrogate, Collected and West Coast, holds a strong hand in the Awesome Again Stakes with Cupid and MubtaahijCredit: Benoit Photography

Dortmund has been scratched but the field also features front-running Grade 1 regular Midnight Storm (Phil d'Amato/Tyler Baze), reverting to the main track after a poor run on the Del Mar turf.

Belmont Park: Vosburgh Stakes (Grade 1) 6f | dirt | 3yo+ (9.04pm BST, live on ATR)

A blistering contest is in prospect with a number of real speedballs. El Deal (Jorge Navarro/Javier Castellano) is on a four-timer after an eight-length victory in the Grade 1 Vanderbilt at Saratoga but faces a serious front-end rival in Takaful (Kiaran McLaughlin/Jose Ortiz), who is sure to be suited by cutting back a furlong after a fine effort in defeat over seven furlongs.

Belmont Park: Beldame Stakes (Grade 1) 1m1f | dirt | 3yo+ f/m (10.11pm BST, live on ATR)

After a breakthrough success against fellow three-year-olds in the Alabama at Saratoga, Elate (Bill Mott/Jose Ortiz) bids for more of the same against older fillies and mares. Another good effort would set her up for the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Santa Anita: Zenyatta Stakes (formerly Lady's Secret) (Grade 1) 1m½f | dirt | 3yo+ f/m (10.30pm BST)

Paradise Woods (Richard Mandella/Flavien Prat) is the intriguing one here. Having looked a world-beater in the spring, she was heavily beaten favourite in the Kentucky Oaks and then weakened again on her return after a dodgy start following a layoff at Del Mar in August.

Santa Anita: Chandelier Stakes (Grade 1) 1m½f | dirt | 2yo fillies (11.30pm BST)

Front-running Moonshine Memories (Simon Callaghan/Flavien Prat) stretches out to two turns after her Del Mar Debutante success. Undefeated in two, the filly is partly owned by the Coolmore team.

Simon Callaghan: targeting Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies with unbeaten Moonshine MemoriesCredit: Mark Cranham

Santa Anita: FrontRunner Stakes (formerly Norfolk) (Grade 1) 1m½f | dirt | 2yo (12pm BST)

Del Mar Futurity winner Bolt D'Oro (Mick Ruis/Corey Nakatani) is out to confirm his status as ante-post favourite for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile with British bookmakers. Del Mar runner-up Zatter (Bob Baffert/Rafael Bejarano) takes another swing.

Santa Anita: Rodeo Drive Stakes (formerly Yellow Ribbon) (Grade 1) 1m2f | turf | 3yo+ f/m (Sun 12.34am BST)

Last year's winner Avenge (Richard Mandella/Flavien Prat) defends her crown in this 'win and you're in' race for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, in which she was third in 2016. The likely favourite, though, is Goodyearforroses (Richard Baltas/Corey Nakatani), not far off champion Lady Eli here in the spring.

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