Highland The Reel Deal At Del Mar

There could be a nice mix of local and international winners at the Breeders’ Cup on Saturday and don’t rule out Aidan O’Brien grabbing another couple of top level successes.

Arrogate’s return to action will be a massive draw and be fascinating to see how he finishes off his career and you’d have to think if Arrogate wasn’t giving the right vibes that connections wouldn’t bother putting another blot on his copybook and he’s nearly becoming a backable price.

Aidan O’Brien looks to be responsible for the best bet of the night and here is a Breeders’ Cup Lucky 15.

Leg 1
The Turf Sprint sees a rematch between Lady Aurelia and Marsha after their clash in the Nunthorpe at York and Wesley Ward’s charge can be trusted to reverse the form with Marsha.

The latter has been to Chantilly since and ran well behind the speed merchant Battaash but in a race even Frankie Dettori couldn’t believe he got beat in, Marsha just had her day at York and back on a quicker surface in her backyard…

Lady Aurelia should prove too good.

Leg 2
Rhododendron is currently vying for favouritism in the Filly and Mare Turf but the three-year-old is getting a vital 3lbs from Lady Eli and if Ryan Moore can negotiate a good position from the wide draw in 14, this filly looks a good price at 7/2.

Rhododendron was arguably unlucky in the Guineas and was second to Enable in the Oaks before we knew exactly how good Enable was. On reflection that defeat doesn’t look as bad now and while she had her issues in the middle of the summer she showed at Chantilly last time that she’s back to her best and there’s every reason to speculate that she could still come on further from that trip to France.

Leg 3
Drefong is a worthy favourite of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint as he looks to win the race for a second year in a row. He’s only raced twice this year, unseating the first day and then winning easily in August.

This has been the target but at 7/1 Mind Your Biscuits might be value to cause an upset. The Dubai winner ran in the same Group 1 that Drefong did in August at Saratoga but the selection appears to be better over six furlongs and he drops back to six for this and if he turns up in the same form he turned up in Dubai…

Mind Your Biscuits can make his mark.

Leg 4
Ulysses will have his supporters but Highland Reel is the best bet of this card. The five-year-old will be a loss to this international Group 1 circuit next year when retired to stud but he can go out in style by taking the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Drawn in stall 3, just a couple away from Frankie and Ulysses who are in 5, Highland Reel can be expected to just bully his rivals around Del Mar and fend off all comers in the latter stages and hopefully give us a good return on this Lucky 15.

Recommended Bets:
Lady Aurelia (5/6) – 7.37 Del Mar
Rhododendron (7/2) – 9.00 Del Mar
Mind Your Biscuits (7/1) – 9.37 Del Mar
Highland Reel (2/1) – 11.37 Del Mar

*Prices correct at time of publication.