The Breeders Cup starts tomorrow evening with the juvenile races. I'll look at those with European interest. The turf is reported Firm at Del Mar. Juvenile Turf Sprint - 1000m - the Japanese runner ECORO SIEG has got the eight draw and may just be too sharp for the Europeans. He won over 1200m at Nakayama last time and if he breaks and runs they may not get to him. AESTERIUS and BIG MOJO are 1-1 after two clashes - the former won at Doncaster in the Flying Childers but the latter's win on fast ground in the Molecomb at Goodwood may be of more value and he edges the selection from stall three. I expect MAGNUM FORCE to run well from four and I'd be a fan of Norfolk winner SHAREHOLDER if I could forgive his poor Morny run but the nine stall isn't ideal. WHISTLEJACKET is drawn seven but the balance of his form suggests this will be too sharp on quick turf. Juvenile Fillies' Turf - 1609m - LAKE VICTORIA has got the inside berth and could be a Ballydoyle banker at 4/5. She won the Cheveley Park and the Moyglare and looked perfectly happy on fast ground in the Sweet Solera at Newmarket. She looks better than her stable companion HEAVENS GATE while local THOUGHT PROCESS looks the likely one for the forecast. Breeders Cup Juvenile - 1659m (DIRT) - HILL ROAD runs for AMO Racing but he's the rank outsider and it's hard to see him being competitive on his first run on the Dirt. EAST AVENUE, representing Godolphin, was an easy winner of the Claiborne Futurity at Keeneland last time and looks an above-average sort. Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf - 1609m - another strong race for the Europeans who dominate. NEW CENTURY beat AL QUDRA in the Summer Stakes at Woodbine in mid September and they could well fight out the finish to this. AL QUDRA is in four and NEW CENTURY in eleven so I'm tempted to offer the thought the places might be reversed. The Godolphin number one on jockey bookings, however, is AOMORI CITY who was a ready winner of the Vintage at Goodwood but disappointed in the National at The Curragh. HENRI MATISSE beat last Saturday's Futurity winner HOTAZHELL over 1400m in August and finished in front of AOMORI CITY in the National but was disappointing in the Lagardere last time. SATONO CARNIVAL runs from stall one and could easily jump and run while ZULU KINGDOM started his career in the French provinces before coming to New York and winning two for Chad Brown. He's the best of a modest local challenge. Selections: Juvenile Turf Sprint: BIG MOJO Juvenile Fillies' Turf: LAKE VICTORIA Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf: AL QUDRA Preview of the big Saturday races to follow.

All eyes on Southern California so a quick center through the British action this weekend. Wetherby stages two Grade 2 races on ground described as Good, Good to Soft in places as the autumn dry spell continues. The West Yorkshire Hurdle over 4850m is the first big staying hurdle of the season. This looks a weak division and a weak renewal. DASHEL DRASHER was third off 159 last year and now runs off 153 after failing to be competitive in the big staying hurdle championship races at Cheltenham and Aintree. The fact he's still favourite for the race shows how poor this division is currently. KATEIRA is four years his junior and gets 9 lbs - her bare form isn't good enough but her win in a Grade 3 handicap at Aintree on National day, aided by the strong form of the Skelton yard, makes her the clear alternative and if she is going to be any kind of player in this division, she has to win a race like this. Seven go in the Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase over 4800m. BRAVEMANSGAME is a past winner though was second in this on much softer turf last year. His King George second to HEWICK reads well and suggests this decent ground will be ideal but he was no match for the Irish in either the Gold Cup at Cheltenham or the Bowl at Aintree. This isn't a championship race, however, and that gives him a strong chance. He's not top rated though - that honour goes to CONFLATED who comes here instead of going to Down Royal (of which more anon). He was second to JONBON in the Melling (4000m) but well held at Punchestown and he's inclined to make a right horlicks of the odd fence which won't help. I much prefer GREY DAWNING who won the Turners at Cheltenham and was a decent third in the Manifesto at Aintree but always looked a stayer and especially so at Warwick in the Hampton last January. He's a confident selection to establish his Gold Cup credentials at the expense of BRAVEMANSGAME. Down Royal stages the first Grade 1 of the Irish season - the Champion Chase over 4800m. GERRI COLOMBE was twenty three and a half lengths behind GALOPIN DES CHAMPS at Leopardstown at Christmas but cut that to just three and a half at Cheltenham in the Gold Cup and then beat AHOY SENOR in the Bowl at Aintree. You could argue AHOY SENOR's run in the Old Roan puts a dent in that form but I'm less convinced. On his second in the Gold Cup, GERRI COLOMBE is well ahead on the ratings. HEWICK was a fortunate winner of the King George when SHISHKIN stumbled after the second last and didn't really follow up - his third to FASTORSLOW at Punchestown was okay at best and I can't see him beating GERRI COLOMBE for speed. ENVOI ALLEN was only a neck behind GERRI COLOMBE in this last year but while GERRI COLOMBE improved through last winter and spring, ENVOI ALLEN did not and I struggle to see why he should be any more than a marginal threat to GERRI COLOMBE.

Time for the long overdue rev iew of last weekend's racing in Britain. Starting on Saturday at Doncaster with the final Group 1 of the domestic season - William Hill Futurity - ovder the straight 1600m. The ground was Soft but quite tacky and holding and pretty hard work for the horses. WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE had won the Royal Lodge at Newmarket but now faced DELACROIX from the Aidan O'Brien astable while John & Thady Gosden had DETAIN, impressive winner of two races on the synthetic surfaces but unproven on soft turf. That was nice. I'd recommended an each way play on HOTAZHELL and if you followed me in at 12s I hope you enjoyed the steak dinner as much as Mrs Stodge and I. Shane Foley had to use every ounce of strength to repel Ryan Moore on DELACROIX and the two Irish raiders put the locals to the sword. It was a terrific battle in the final 300m with HOTAZHELL prevailing by a nose but both colts emerge from this with plenty of credit for next season. WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE was keen enough early and just didn't get competitive though battled for third. I'm sure a winter and some decent ground will see him to much better effect next season and I could certainly see him in the Derby line up next June. ANNO DOMINI, DETAIN and ROYAL PLAYRIGHT all looked at sea on the bad ground and while it was disappointing to see them run so poorly we can forgive them and see how they winter with a view to their 3-y-o campaign next year. The jumpers had their first big weekend of the season with meetings at Cheltenham and Aintree featuring Grade 2 races. At Cheltenham on Friday where the ground was just on the soft side of good, VALGRAND cemented the strong start to the season made by the Skeltons with a 17-length romp in the 3250m Sky Bet Novices Hurdle. He was far too good for prolific summer winner GALE MAHLER while the Nicholls runner BRAVE KNIGHT faded tamely from the second last. VALGRAND has been introduced at 33s for the Supreme next March but there's a lot of water to pass under a lot of bridges before then. Nonetheless, we know the horse jumps well, acts on the course and will enjoy decent ground. Sunday saw the opening Aintree meeting of the new season and the feature Old Roan over 4000m on the Mildmay track saw Brian Hughes with a perfect frontrunning ride on MINELLA DRAMA making almost every yard to beat HITMAN who again ran well in this race. AHOY SENOR ran a curious race in third - in past seasons, his opening run has been well below par but on a track where he has shown plenty of form albeit over 4800m, he ran well coming home strongly off what some considered quite a tender ride by Derek Fox. One or media people got a bit agitated and you could argue Fox perhaps misjudged the race - no question, AHOY SENOR still retains plenty of talent. Favourite STAGE STAR was expected to be in the shake up but he disappointed. The horse was very good early last season but ran poorly on Heavy ground at Cheltenham at new Year and was only average in the Ryanair. One or two of Nicholls's horses have needed a run but this was a notch below what I expected and I'd be hoping for better in a race like the Peterborough next time.  

The same was said about Courier Bay - I sent $440 dollars (from an all up bet) with are a relative to put it on with the bookies when he had his first start in Oz - only to have rain on the day 🙄 It was the equivalent of about 3 weeks of my apprentice wages back then 😪  

Lest we forget.    

Yes. Though I was more of a Manawatu person during Grey Way's peak years, I well remember those perennial clashes with Copper Belt at Awapuni, though I hitch-hiked to Ellerslie to watch him win the Easter ahead of the likes of Tudor Light and Vice Regal with a brilliant ride from Bob Skelton.   There is an exception to every rule though, and he did win the Chirnside Stakes at Caulfield on soft footing.

Cherie DeVaux will saddle five Breeders' Cup starters Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar, a sure sign of her rise to prominence as she attempts to become only the eighth woman to train a winner at the World Championships.View the full article

The Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) is, more often than not, an international showcase, validating the "World" in the Breeders' Cup World Championships. It's been dominated by horses shipping in from overseas ever since its first running in 1984.View the full article

To own a horse is to participate in a dream. Particularly a Thoroughbred racehorse. And when that 2-year-old qualifies for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1T) on "Future Stars Friday," your dreams become more exciting.View the full article

Whatever the outcome may be in the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T), the experience as an owner in racing has arrived full circle for Bob Edwards and his colt Carl Spackler. View the full article

This still ranks as my favourite ever Interdominion series, and what a quality field the final was. My old mate Ben (in the hands of Graham Reaks) running a solid fifth against some all time greats. And man, those Ozzy boys should could give them the bash 😲  

I think back with the likes of Young Quinn , Robalan , Hi Foyle , Master Dean , Kotare Legend , Captain Harcourt , Delightful Lady and others , there wasn't really a standout any one of many horses could win because it was so even  . That interdominion final I posted with Young Quinn winning , if Hi Foyle had got out earlier he may have won and Roy Purdon always said he was the best horse he had trained , but the horse had issues so often wasn't racing at 100 %

I can't see them beating Leap to Fame PS . But the more I look at that race the other day , the more I like Alta Meteor .Tim Williams seemed really happy with him as well . 

I agree Sheldon was an excellent presenter so professional and interesting with his knowledge and comments . I just realized as well he isn't driving in the amateur races anymore 

Not sure if they can be that unsafe - most races still run on Dirt in the States including Churchill Downs and Santa Anita (lucky to have been there in my younger days - fantastic day!) Throw in that the Worlds richest race is on Dirt (and I suspect a lot of the Worlds best racing on it) - maybe the stats are angled in a way to favour interested parties ?    

It's been great seeing you guys discuss a lot of drivers and horses from days gone by - lots of fond memories... Must try and track down a replay of The Box Seat and agree on Greg being top notch. I was a Sheldon fan too - pity he moved away from the screen. 

It won't finish until after my bedtime 

I guess that’s a wait and see John, but at 100 to 1 the odds are certainly in your favour regarding me NOT getting the money.  On another subject, I’ve done my picks subject to scratchings, for the Grand Final on Saturday. For what it’s worth, I am very confident, as what I use for my system is very clear cut this weekend.  

Looking forward to the annual fantastic Flemington Derby Day.   Cheering for you in the Grand Final John  !! . Attack hard like 'Leap To Fame' and you're sure to go close matey. Best of Luck 🏆 Boxing up all my fav's Jocks in JMac , Mickey Dee and Frosty in every race . they look set for 3 trifecta;s at least 😎 1. Flemington R2   9 -10 -15  Best Bet       2. Flemington R3   5 - 6 - 12      3. Flemington R4   3 - 6 -11 4. Flemington R6   5 - 6 - 8   Best Bet 5. Flemington R7   6 - 7 - 8 6. Flemington R8   1 - 4 - 11     7. Flemington R9   3 - 6 - 11   8. Rosehill R7         2 - 3 - 4 9. Rosehill R8         1 - 6 - 16 10. Rosehill R9       1 - 4 - 14