Juvenile Fillies Turf key questions: will O'Brien get Europe off to a flyer?

9.25pm Friday, Del Mar
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Grade 1) | 1m | 2yo fillies | ATR/RUK

Can O'Brien make it 27 for the year?

Aidan O'Brien turns to a juvenile who contributed two of his 26 Group 1 wins this season for the opening turf race at the 2017 Breeders' Cup, a contest that could well see O'Brien build on his world-record total.

That Happily plays second fiddle to Clemmie in the O'Brien two-year-old filly pecking order is illustrative of just how deep the reserves go at Ballydoyle, as the daughter of Galileo has been deeply impressive in her last two starts, following up victory in the Moyglare Stud Stakes with a win against the colts in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at the Arc meeting earlier this month.

"Happily seems to be in good form, she's won two Group 1s in her last two starts, but she's had a busy season," said O'Brien.

Happily is joined in the line-up by stablemate September, who beat her by ten lengths when they tussled on their seasonal debut in June but was almost four lengths behind come the Moyglare.

Nonetheless, only a nose prevented September from joining the yard's list of Group 1 winners in the Fillies' Mile, with traffic at the tail end of the contest making that defeat look more than a shade unfortunate.

"September is drawn in ten and everyone thinks that the high draws are not good and lows good, but we don't know for sure," said O'Brien. "All the ones here we think have chances, that's why they're here."

O'Brien's son Joseph, who tasted Breeders' Cup Turf success as a jockey on St Nicholas Abbey, fields his sole runner at this year's meeting in this contest with Cheveley Park fourth Now You're Talking.

Or will it be Dettori who starts with a bang?

High on confidence and with a strong book of Breeders' Cup rides, Frankie Dettori looks destined for an exciting meeting and he could get things off to a flying start – and a flying dismount – with the John Gosden-trained Juliet Capulet.

However, the Rockfel Stakes winner's best form has come on ground on the softer side of good and she must also contend with a wide draw in 13.

Gosden said: "She won the Rockfel in good style and has a lot of tactical speed, which she'll need drawn 13 of 14. It's very kind of them to give us a free entry in the race because she won the Rockfel, but then we've got the other end of things with the draw. She's drawn outside on what's a very tight track with a very short stretch run.

"I think if she'd drawn one to seven she'd have a really good chance, but that draw is tough. But we're here, she's in tremendous form, Frankie cantered her on the turf this morning and she's full of herself."

The European contingent is completed by the Roger Varian-trained Madeline, third in the Cheveley Park, who is stepping up beyond six furlongs for the first time.

Varian said: "She's in great form, I'm really pleased with her, she's a tough filly and has some very good form.

"I think she comes in a little under the radar. She trains and races like she'll get the mile and has travelled out real well, so I couldn't be happier with her, and she has a nice draw in four."

Can Chad Brown domination continue?

Chad Brown has harvested this race since its introduction in 2008, winning the inaugural race and two of the last three runnings. He fields two well-regarded fillies in the race: the unbeaten Rushing Fall, who bookmakers make joint-favourite with Happily, and Significant Form, who would also boast an undefeated record had she not been disqualified on debut.

Brown said: "They're both top prospects in the division. We've had good luck, and I have a few horses to compare them to."

Read exclusive previews from 6pm daily on racingpost.com