Parading the potential Hollywood hero

Preview: USA, Saturday 12.30am BST

Hollywood Park Hollywood Gold Cup (Grade 1) 1m2f, AW, 3yo+

PARADING (Shug McGaughey/Kent Desormeaux) is generally seen as the horse to beat in this year's Hollywood Gold Cup, feature race at what could be the last summer meeting at the Los Angeles venue.

Parading's only previous start on the all-weather came at Keeneland last fall when he won the Grade 3 Ben Ali Stakes by more than seven lengths.

But he also is a Grade 2 winner on turf, having taken Pimlico's Dixie Handicap on his most recent start.

"I think it's worth a try," McGaughey said. "He likes the synthetic.

"It would be a great race to have a chance to win. He'll run all day. The mile and a quarter won't bother him."

But the $700,000 Gold Cup has far more than just 4-1 morning-line favourite Parading when it comes to chances to win.

There is Life Is Sweet (John Shirreffs/Garrett Gomez), winner of three stakes at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting.

She was beaten handily by her stablemate Zenyatta in her last, but there is no Zenyatta here.

"If she runs like she did in the Santa Margarita when she ran the last quarter in 23sec and change, she'll be coming at the end," said Shirreffs.

Another east-coast invader in addition to Parading is Grade 3 winner Bullsbay (Graham Motion/Jeremy Rose), most recently fourth beaten just over a length in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs.

A good pace for the Gold Cup looks should be ensured with the presence of last year's winner Mast Track (Bobby Frankel/David Flores), Tres Borachos (Beau Greely/Joe Talamo) and Rail Trip (Ron Ellis/Jose Valdivia jnr).
Trainer Doug O'Neill, who sent out legandary Lava Man to win three Gold Cups, saddles Grade 2 Californian Stakes winner Informed (Tyler Baze).

And, as with Lava Man's third victory, in 2007, he is out of the country for this Gold Cup.

"We're trying to keep the record intact," said an evidently superstitious trainer.

 "It doesn't look like there is a super standout and I think we have as good a chance as anyone."