O'Brien's Idaho ready for spotlight on New York stage

Preview: USA, Saturday 9.49pm BST (live on ATR)

Saratoga: Sword Dancer Stakes (Grade 1) 1m4f | turf | 3yo+

Ryan Moore looks set to forgo the delights of York on Saturday to partner Idaho in upstate New York as the brother of renowned globe-trotter Highland Reel sets about establishing an international reputation of his own at Saratoga.

After his third place behind superstar filly Enable and Ulysses in the King George, the Aidan O'Brien-trained four-year-old is likely to start hot favourite for the Sword Dancer Stakes, one of six Grade 1 events on a blockbuster programme worth a total of $4.95 million.

However, the Hardwicke Stakes winner will need to produce a markedly superior effort than he managed on his only previous transatlantic trip – and the only other time he has run on Lasix – if he is to claim the $1m contest, which is a 'Win and You're In' race for the Breeders' Cup Turf as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge.

After parting company with Seamie Heffernan when odds-on for last year's St Leger at Doncaster, Idaho was sent to Canada for the Canadian International, where a modest gallop did not play to his strengths. Made a strong favourite, he could finish only fifth behind French-trained Erupt, who lies in wait again at Saratoga alongside five domestic runners.

Another potentially paceless race could upset a strong stayer like Idaho, a 10-1 chance for the Turf in Coral's ante-post lists. "He's a grand horse, but it's so different here and we'd like to see him get into a true gallop," said O'Brien's travelling assistant TJ Comerford, speaking to the Daily Racing Form. "It's a mile-and-a-half race – it should be a gallopers' race."

The Niarchos family's fast-ground specialist Erupt (Francis-Henri Graffard/Stephane Pasquier) has run twice so far this term. "He seems to have shipped well and has been training well," Graffard said. "The ground was way too soft last time in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, but he had a very good seasonal comeback in the Prix Ganay."

The home defence does not look frightening – especially at a distance regarded as a marathon in the US. Last year's runner-up Money Multiplier (Chad Brown/Javier Castellano) may prove best of them after winning a Grade 2 at Monmouth on his seasonal debut a month ago.

Grade 1 winner Bigger Picture (Mike Maker/Jose Ortiz) has a 4lb pull with Hunter O'Riley (Jimmy Toner/Florent Geroux) after being beaten a neck by that rival over a furlong shorter here last month. At revised weights, there is little between them and third-placed Sadler's Joy (Tom Albertrani/Julien Leparoux), who has plenty of form at around this trip.

Coral: 10-11 Idaho, 9-2 Erupt, 5 Money Multiplier, 8 Sadler's Joy, 12 Bigger Picture, 16 Hunter O'Riley, 50 Frank Conversation.