LOUISVILLE, Ky. — There is a strong European contingent in this year’s Breeders’ Cup, including solid favorites in the Turf (Workforce), Mile (Goldikova) and Filly & Mare Turf (Midday). So once again, The Post turned to Alastair Donald, managing director of the England-based International Racing Bureau, for his expert analysis of the Euro-invaders.
TURF:
Workforce, winner of the English Derby by seven lengths in June, won Europe’s top race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 3, by a head. He is 7-5 to become the first Arc champion to win the BC Turf. There’s speculation he might scratch because the course is too firm, but Donald said his owner will want to run him.
“The prince [Abdullah, his owner] will be keen to run, and [trainer] Michael Stoute is satisfied or he wouldn’t have put him on the plane.
“[Jockey] Brian Moore says he’s better now than he was going into the Arc. He flopped badly in the [July 24] King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, but any horse can have an off day. He murdered them in the Derby.”
“Do not underestimate Behkabad,” Donald said. “He got hammered in the Arc, but recovered well [to finish fourth] and would have been closer with a clean trip. If Workforce doesn’t run, take anything you like on Behkabad.”
MILE:
The French mare Goldikova is going for a record third straight win here.
“She’s as good as ever,” Donald said. “I loved her last race. She made the pace, was headed, then came on again to win. [Jockey Olivier Peslier] rode her like he had Churchill Downs in mind.”
Paco Boy was a close second to Goldikova last out.
“I love him,” Donald said. “He’s done nothing wrong, but every time he bumps into Goldikova, he’s second best.”
FILLY & MARE TURF:
Midday, last year’s winner, is 6-5 to repeat.
“Her record this year is outstanding, and it was always [trainer] Henry Cecil’s plan to come back here,” Donald said.
Plumania was 17th in the Arc, but before that she lost by less than a length to Midday in the Prix Vermeille.
“For some reason, she didn’t fire in the Arc,” Donald said. “But in the [June 27] Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, she beat Youmzain, who’s run second in three Arcs. That’s good form. She’ll be largely ignored, but I think she will run a big race.”
JUVENILE TURF:
Utley finished fifth in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, but Donald noted, “That is France’s major 2-year-old race on Arc weekend, and he gave it a decent run over ground that was softer than what he wanted. [Trainer] John Gosden has won this race since its inception with Donativum and Pounced, and unless there is an exceptional American horse in the race, he should be good enough.”
JUVENILE FILLIES TURF:
Of the four Euros in this race, Donald prefers Together (“her form entitles her to be here”) and Tale Untold (“she’s tough, a fighter”).