Breeders Cup: second day

the Americans like to call today´s card the World Racing Championships, which is not quite true, but it is still excellent. As the races are run in Santa Anita, on the west coast, they are all very late for us, with the two best races, the Mile at o.40 a.m. CET tomorrow morning and the Classic at 1.35.
In our opinion the Mile is the best race of the day and all eyes will be on Excelebration (Aidan and Joseph O´Brien), who has spent much of the past two years chasing Frankel home, but is undoubtedly one of the best European milers of recent years. He is clear favourite this evening, but we think he can be breaten - the firm ground, the tight track, the quick switch from heavy ground at Ascot a fortnight ago to the sun of California - all these factors are against him. The French have an excellent record here, and if there is to be an European winner, we think it is more likely to be Morning Cloud (Freddy Head/ Thierry Jarnet), whose trainer won this several times with Miesque (as jockey) and Goldikova (as trainer). But the Americans look very strong here, especially Wise Dan (Charles Lopresti/ Jorge Velasquez), who is the top-rated American horse both on dirt and on turf and has won 8 of his last 10 starts. Animal Kingdom (Graham Motion/ Rafael Bejarano), oiurt of a German m are, won the Kentucky Derby in 2011; we have not seen much of him since, but he is reported back in form and his trainer thinks that he is better on turf. Obviously (Mike Mitchell/ Jorge Talamo) is a strong front-runner, who may not be quite good enough to win, but will certainly sdet a strong pace. This is a very strong field, and we fancy Wise Dan to beat Moonlight Cloud.
However the O´Brien´s fare with Excelebration,we expect them to win the Turf at 23.18 with last winner´s St.-Nicholas Abbey. Shareta (Alain de Royer-Dupré/ Christophe Lemaire) is the danger. Both these were bogged down in the heavy going in the Arc but will enjoy today´s conditions. Point of Entry (Claude McGaughey/ Jorge Velasquez), winner of his last five, looks easily the best of the Americans.
The Classic has 12 runners, but looks a bit substandard. Game On Dude (Bob Baffert/ Bejaranao) was runner-up last year and may go one better, but he is not certain to last out the trip. Richards Kid and Ron the Greerk are alternatives.
There could be a British winner in the Juvenile Turf at 109.50, with Artigiano (Mahmood al Zarooni/ Frankie Dettori), Fantastic Moon (Jeremy Noseda/ Kieren Fallon) and Dundonnell (Roger Charlton/ James Doyle) all fancied, while Groupie Doll, in the Filly & Mare Sprint at 20.35 will be the hottest favourite on the card, and Amazombie (W Spawr/ Mike Smith) expected to repeat last year´s victory in the Sprint at 23.58.

Betting forecast:
4. Race: Joha - Balance The Books - Noble Tune
5. Race: Groupie Doll - Dust And Diamonds - Musical Romance
6. Race: Shackleford - Emcee - Jersey Town
7. Race: Bridgetown - Great Mills - Great Attack
8. Race: Shanghai Bobby - Fortify - Power Broker
9. Race: St Nicholas Abbey - Point Of Entry - Trailblazer
10. Race: The Lumber Guy - Coil - Capital Account
11. Race: Wise Dan - Excelebration - Obviously
12. Race: Game On Dude - Fort Larned - Flat Out