Breeders' Cup Turf Update : Shirocco looks for Turf Value

The news that Powerscourt has defected from the Breeders' Cup Turf, which takes place at Belmont Park on 29th October, was disappointing, but the race is still shaping up to be a cracking contest with European interest aplenty in a race that overseas raiders have made a habit of winning in recent years.It was also disappointing to learn that the Andre Fabre-trained Hurricane Run, brilliant winner of the Arc de Triomphe, will not be taking part. However, the French handler may well still send out the winner of this valuable contest with the lightly raced Shirocco, who is drastically overpriced at 16-1 with William Hill in my opinion - Coral go just 8-1.The first two in the betting, Azamour and Motivator, are classy colts, but at odds of around 5-2 and 9-2 respectively they make very little appeal.Azamour seldom runs a bad race - he reportedly pulled a muscle in his back when fifth behind Oratorio in the Irish Champion Stakes last time - and proved himself as good over 12 furlongs as he is over ten when landing the King George VI Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Newbury in July.However, looking at Azamour's form, one thing that strikes me is that he has been running against the same horses in most of his races, the likes of Ace, Norse Dancer and Warrsan. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate that a horse can only beat what is put in front of him, and they are all decent horses anyway, but I can't help thinking that he may be vulnerable when taking on less exposed sorts, or a rival that, like himself, has a turn of foot.A similar remark applies to Motivator, with regards to being vulnerable at the business end of his races. He has tactical speed, and I can see the sharp nature of Belmont Park's track playing to his strengths, but the excuses that have been served up for his recent defeats - trainer Michael Bell cited that he was in front too early in the Arc, while Johnny Murtagh said he didn't stay there - just don't seem to add up. Firstly he was in front longer when winning the Derby than he was when finishing fifth in the Arc, while Murtagh's remark that he didn't stay is simply absurd because if a horse stays a mile and a half at Epsom, the it'll certainly see that same distance out at Longchamp.Personally, and I don't mean to knock Motivator because he is a good colt, I think it's simply a case that his limitations have been exposed. I mean, excuses were given when he was beaten by Oratorio in the Eclipse, but the latter repeated the dose in the Irish Champion. Motivator is vulnerable to a horse with a finishing kick. Previously trained in Germany by Andreas Schutz, Shirocco has already demonstrated his ability since joining Fabre's yard, finishing an excellent third behind Prode on his first run for nearly a year in the Prix Foy, before staying on well to finish fourth in the Arc, coming home just over four lengths adrift of the winner, and his stablemate, Hurricane Run.With those runs under his best, the four-year-old is sure to go into this race in tip-top condition. The son of Monsun beat Electrocutionist in Italy last October, form which has worked out very well with the latter going on to land his next three starts, including two Group Ones, one of which was the Juddmonte International Stakes at York in August.When Electrocutionist was being quoted in the betting for this race, he was half the odds of Shirocco, which seems bizarre. The selection is an adaptable type, who likes a bit of cut in the ground but handles genuine good ground with aplomb, and he cane either be ridden prominently, or come from off the pace, so his jockey will be able to let the race unfold around him without any worries. All in all, Shirocco rates an outstanding each-way bet. Bago, who was place ahead of him in the Arc in third place, looks a leading contender also. However, he has not seemed quite as good this year as he did during 2004, and he's had quite a busy campaign already this season, which may count against him. Of the home team, the likes of Shakespeare and Better Talk Now merit respect, but neither look anything special and I'd be surprised if they were good enough to contain the European raiders. Betting verdict: 1pt e/w Shirocco @ 16/1 (William Hill)