Funny Cide rekindled memories of his dual Classic-winning season with an impressive victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park earlier this month.
Since the 2003 Preakness, Funny Cide had won just twice, and time seemed to have run out for last year's Kentucky Derby hero. Saturday's race was his last chance to prove he still retained the ability, but a return to the big time wasn't looking assured as he began to falter after taking a brief lead early on, dropping back to third as the field turned into the stretch. After being headed, however, he came back running, coming home strongly for a three-quarter length victory over Newfoundland to earn himself a return trip to the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Bago, winner of last weekend's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris, is considered only a possible runner for the Classic at this stage.
bet365 Breeders' Cup Classic prices... Pleasantly Perfect 5/2, Ghostzapper 11/2, Bago 6/1, Birdstone 13/2, Roses In May 7/1, Funny Cide 16/1, others on bet365 website. Each-way 1/4 1-2-3.
The Jockey Club Cup topped a weekend full of Breeders' Cup clues, with Kitten's Joy sending out a warning to the European contenders for the Breeders' Cup Turf with victory in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.
Three-year-old Kitten's Joy, racing against older horses for the first time, clearly relished the 1 1/2 mile trip to register a 2 1/2 length victory over favourite Magistretti in the $750,000 contest.
Such an impressive success indicates that the US has another serious contender for the Turf, after Johar's dead-heat with High Chaparral last year produced the first success for a home-trained horse in the race since Buck's Boy in 1998. Powerscourt, first-past-the-post (later disqualified) in the Arlington Million, is still likely for the Turf after skipping the Arc with a minor ailment, but could also be entered for the Classic.
bet365 Breeders' Cup Turf prices... Kitten's Joy 9/4, Powerscourt 7/1, Sulanami 8/1, Magistretti, Kicken Kris, Star Over The Bay 10/1, others on bet365 website. Each-way 1/4 1-2-3.
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