Breeders' Cup Filly & mare Turf betting tips

November 03, 2006 - Ian Ross How great it would be to see Ouija Board win the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf for the second time at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Ed Dunlop's stable star landed the penultimate renewal of this contest before looking a shade unlucky when chasing home Intercontinental at Belmont Park last year.
 
This season, the daughter of Cape Cross has enjoyed a fruitful campaign in which she has added two more Group 1 races to her already impressive haul, and there's no doubt that she's worthy of her status as favourite to win this event again.
 
However, she might find one too good again this year in the shape of French raider Satwa Queen, who rates value at 8/1 with sportingodds following her cracking effort in the Prix de l'Opera on Arc day.
 
She has yet to win at Group 1 level, but Satwa Queen's effort at Longchamp suggested that she's still improving and that she will soon put that right. Indeed, the selection was trying to conceed 4lb to the top-class three-year-old Mandesha in the Opera, failing by just three parts of a length to repel that rival.
 
Considering that she had multiple Oaks heroine Alexandrova two and a half lengths behind, followed by Group 1 winners Irridescence and Nannina, Jean De Roualle's charge deserves plenty of credit for that performance, especially as it was just her second outing in eight months.
 
Whereas the lion's share of her rivals on Saturday have been on the go throughout the summer, Satwa Queen has had a comparatively light campaign, plus she acts under on any going, so the yielding surface will not pose any problems. The daughter of Muhtathir possess a good turn of foot and the front-running Dancing Edie should tee things up nicely for her.
 
Fellow Gallic invader Germance has each-way claims, but a bigger danger to Satwa Queen and Ouija Board is likely to come from the pick of the home brigade, Wait A While, who has been in great for this term and hasn't been extended in winning her last four races, two of which were at the highest level.
 
Her trainer Todd Pletcher holds a strong hand in the filly and mare division and Wait A While is clearly the pick of his trio in this event. She will make her presence felt, that's for sure.
 
Verdict: 1pt Satwa Queen @ 8/1 (sportingodds)

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