Breeders Cup Classic preview

And the grand finale of the 2017 Breeders Cup meeting is the Classic. Can Arrogate go back-to-back and restore his reputation as the best horse in the world, or will his career just fizzle out?

International racing aficionado and legendary racecaller of the future, Luke Humphreys, @WorldRacingLuke, takes the reins...

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Breeders’ Cup Classic

Group 1, US$5,000,000 2000m
Del Mar 1230 BST, 1135 AEST
ODDS LISTED ARE BEST AVAILABLE (THURSDAY AFTERNOON)

1 Arrogate (11/4): Obviously one of the very best horses in the world at his best but obviously question marks about whether he likes this track or not or whether he is at his best or not. Absolutely sensational victories in this last year and the Dubai World Cup in March but beaten twice subsequently, last time over C&D at G1 level. Question marks.

2 War Decree (50/1): Argubly a career best to win European trial race for this at Dundalk at G3 level last time by two and a quarter lengths. Beaten two and a half in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club prior to that, sire was a good horse on dirt, dam’s sire won the showpiece event in Dubai. Better dirt pedigree than the stable mate. Was one of the favourites for the classics at one point.

3 Win The Space (100/1): Career best when length and three quarter third to Mubtaahij in the G1 Awesome Again last time when never nearer. 100/1 is overs on that run, but ordinary form prior.

4 War Story (100/1): 12f G2 winner in New York three back, well beaten by Gun Runner the last two times.

5 Gun Runner (2/1): Gets his chance for a huge race G1 success. Beaten twice by Arrogate into third in last year’s Travers and into second in Dubai in March. With questions around him though, and this one winning his last three G1s by an added up 22 ¾ lengths, he gets his best chance to beat him.

6 Mubtaahij (33/1): 33/1 looks overs considering he is a G1 winner last time and has held his own in Dubai at this level. Can run into a place for sure.

7 Churchill (25/1): Three votes to Aidan O’Brien for putting him in the race, as he tries to finally win the race. But the horse’s form I’m afraid is not as good as what is was earlier in the season and his stablemate seems more of a dirt horse on pedigree. Would love to see him win, and can do so if at his best, but not sure I can see it happening.

8 West Coast (6/1): Gets better and better and has won his last two at G1 level by an added up 10 ½ lengths. However Mike Smith favours Arrogate, Javier Castellano gets the leg-up.

9 Gunnevera (50/1): Has just on three lengths to find with West Coast after finishing second to him in the Travers, hard to see him doing that.

10 Pavel (50/1): Just lost out on second in the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup last time at Belmont, not the strongest renewal of that feature though.

11 Collected (7/1): Unbeaten this season from four, from a mile to 10f winning by three and three quarter lengths, twice, 14 lengths, and defeating Arrogate by a half in the Pacific Classic last time, drawn wide but primed for this.

Ratings: (11) COLLECTED - (5) GUN RUNNER - (1) ARROGATE - (8) WEST COAST - (6) MUBTAAHIJ – (7) CHURCHILL - (2) WAR DECREE - (9) GUNNEVERA - (10) PAVEL - (4) WAR STORY

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