'Frankie's been in my ear all year about this' - Mishriff out to stun in Turf

Saturday: 8.40 Keeneland
Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (Grade 1) | 1m4f | 3yo+ | ITV4/Sky/RTV

If there's one race that the Europeans can hang their hat on it's usually the Turf.

Since the turn of the century, the race has gone for export 17 times and seven of the last ten winners were based in Europe. That trend is set to continue this year, according to the market.

Charlie Appleby won his first Turf last season with Yibir and the Godolphin trainer is responsible for the top two in the overnight betting, Nations Pride and Rebel's Romance.

Nations Pride appears to be the yard's main hope because not only has stable jockey William Buick chosen to ride him, but he has been trained in similar fashion to Yibir 12 months ago.

Yibir won the Jockey Club Derby at Belmont before coming on to win here and Nations Pride landed the same race as part of his preparation in September. That race was run at Aqueduct this year, but Nations Pride won it in easier fashion than Yibir en route to this.

Nations Pride has already shown he has the tactical speed needed to excel in the US, but stablemate Rebel's Romance still has that to prove. However, he was quick enough to win twice on Dirt at Meydan last year and is a globetrotter who has won his last two in Germany.

It was once normal to sneer at German Group 1 form, but that has all changed in recent years thanks to Torquator Tasso and Alpinista, who both won top-level races in Germany and have landed the last two runnings of the Arc. Maybe Rebel's Romance can continue the trend here.

Mishriff had legitimate claims to being the best horse in the world last year, but he has become inconsistent this season and John and Thady Gosden reach for blinkers in a bid to help him recapture his best form.

The yard has a record of just 6-55 with runners wearing that headgear for the first time since the turn of the decade, so the blinkers aren't a big positive.

The home defence is headed by War Like Goddess and she narrowly lost out in the Filly & Mare Turf last season. It's rare for American trainers to run mares against males, but the Filly & Mare Turf is a furlong and a half shorter this year, so Mott's hand has been forced.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

US experience a help for Nations Pride

Charlie Appleby is double-handed as he seeks to follow up last year's last-gasp success by Yibir, who ran down Broome in the shadow of the Del Mar post.

Yibir was a decent price but the days of Appleby having 17-2 winners at the Breeders' Cup may be over and he has two runners at much shorter odds this time.

For some time, the market preferred Rebel's Romance over Nations Pride but the latter gradually edged towards favouritism before it was revealed that William Buick would ride. Appleby has suggested this week that the younger horse has stronger claims.

"He brings the experience of American racing," the Godolphin trainer said of Nations Pride. "He's what I would call a mile and a quarter horse but will get the mile and a half over here.

"He's got that turn of foot that we saw in the Jockey Club Invitational, whereas Rebel's Romance is a bigger individual, a solid mile and a half horse. I wouldn't say he's got the same acceleration. It'll be more of an effort for him to get round the turns, whereas the other fella will slip round.

"When Rebel's Romance won his first Group 1 in Germany, James [Doyle] said he didn't expect the acceleration and got there too soon. Whereas last time with William, the ground was on the slower side, which we didn't think was going to suit him as much. He made slightly heavy weather of it but William was always confident he was going to get there.

"They're two solid individuals going into the race. One's a solid mile and a half horse, unbeaten on the turf, an older horse, stronger. And you've got the three-year-old and, for me, you can't fault what he's done.

"As an individual, Nations Pride is getting stronger and he looks great. I don't think he's the finished model as yet. Next year, I'm hoping he's the kind of horse that we can bring back to America and look at the mile and a half programme, the Sword Dancers and those races."

What they say

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Stone Age and Broome
Broome ran very well here last year. He's run some very good races at home and probably conditions weren't always in his favour. He likes nice ground. He has a good draw. He's inclined to anticipate the start, he misses it and then he loses two lengths. It's cost him so many times, I can't tell you. We're trying to tweak things as we go, so that won't happen. He's very tough, very genuine, gets the trip real well and his head goes to the ground, he's a lovely horse. But he has one Achilles heel and that's it.

Stone Age ran a very good race the last day in very heavy ground. I think a mile and a half round here, he'd be very comfortable with. We think the trips were a little bit tight for him the last couple of times he came out here. He wasn't beaten that far.

John Gosden, trainer of Mishriff
He tried hard but he couldn't go on that ground at Longchamp. This'll be very different. Frankie Dettori's been in my ear about it all year, he thinks this mile and a half will really suit. He's a mile and a quarter horse who'll get a mile and a half round three bends on a fast surface. He's drawn wide and you don't get the greatest long run down the back straight. If he's a little slow away, he's going to pay the price for that. But hopefully he'll break well. The one race that got away was the Eclipse. He got held down on the rail; that happens at Sandown in small fields. I was happy with his run in the Irish Champion, though he got a little adrift of the field. He ran his heart out in the King George. He's a very consistent, solid horse. He's gone round the world, he's a tough cookie. He's a five-year-old full horse and he still has a great appetite for the game. He's very playful, I thought he was going to launch Mr Dettori, going to the training track this week. It's a very good sign with him. I think he loves travelling. He really enjoys coming here. He picks himself up and shows some tremendous vitality. He loves a new environment, so I probably should have travelled him more, but he's travelled a fair bit.

Bill Mott, trainer of War Like Goddess
We're going to do our best to spoil the European party, that's our job, right? And if anybody can, maybe she can. She's done nothing wrong. We were beaten in the Flower Bowl but we were stuck in behind a slow pace and never really got out until it was just too late. But she's a good filly, she's won a couple of races at Keeneland. We want an honest pace. We were stuck two or three times this year with the slowest-paced races I've ever seen. She's run well on firm.
Reporting by Chris Cook

Saturday's Breeders' Cup previews:

4.29 Keeneland: 'She must have every chance' - can Highfield Princess see off Golden Pal and co?

5.50 Keeneland: 'She pretty well handles anything' - favourite Nashwa has John Gosden excited

7.10 Keeneland: 'A worthy favourite' - Charlie Appleby bullish as Modern Games returns to the US

9.40 Keeneland: Breeders' Cup Classic: can Flightline confirm himself as best since Secretariat?

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