Europeans to Note for the 2021 Breeders’ Cup

Pearls Galore

Race: Breeders’ Cup Mile

Trainer: Paddy Twomey

Rider: Billy Lee

Pearls Galore also has a wide draw to deal with in the Mile, stall 12 of 14, but you can be sure that rider Billy Lee and trainer Paddy Twomey will concoct a plan that will reduce the negative impact of their filly’s draw as much as possible.

The Breeders’ Cup Mile has been the plan for the Invincible Spirit filly for little while. It came onto the radar during the summer when she won the Fairy Bridge Stakes at Tipperary, and it came into being when she finished second to Space Blues in the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp on Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe day.

She has two lengths to make up on Space Blues on their running in France, but the ground was softer than ideal for Paddy Twomey’s filly that day. She did well to finish second. She should be much happier on the faster ground that she will encounter on Saturday. As well as that, she is a nimble filly who has lots of speed but who stays a mile. Her trainer has long-since believed that Del Mar’s tight turns and fast ground could suit her well, and she could out-run her odds by a fair way.

Audarya

Race: Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf

Trainer: James Fanshawe

Rider: William Buick

Audarya could also out-run her odds in the Filly & Mare Turf. James Fanshawe’s filly finished off her race well to win last year’s renewal of the race, when it was run over nine and a half furlongs at Keeneland. She will be stepping up to 11 furlongs on Saturday for the first time, but she stays 10 furlongs well and, out of a mare who won over a mile and a half, there is every chance that she will stay Saturday’s trip all right.

She only finished fourth in the Prix de l’Opera on her latest run, but she travelled like the most likely winner through her race that day, she looked set for victory when she cruised into the lead on the far side on the run to the furlong marker, before the heavy ground found her out and she was run down by the closers out wide.

She should be happier on the faster ground on Saturday, and it is probable that she will be ridden more patiently on this occasion.

She is another who is drawn wide, in stall 12, but she raced from stall 11 at Keeneland last year when she won this race. It is probable that her trainer has had this race in mind for her since this day last year, and she could be set to put up a career-best performance.