Gio Ponti To Tackle Goldikova in Breeders Cup Mile

One of the biggest features of the two day Breeders' Cup Meeting at Churchill Downs is the Mile race where living-legend Goldikova will attempt to win her fourth consecutive world championship. Surely to be the biggest-volume race for the European punters, the French super-mare is trading as a co-favourite for the contest at a 5/2 price. Strong Suit, owned by Qatar Bloodstock Ltd, is the other co-favourite and he enters the race off a smashing 7f score in the Group 2 Burj Kalifa Challenge Stakes at Newmarket.

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR FREE BET ON THE BREEDERS CUP WITH LADBROKES!

Byword is also in the mix for this one and he's carrying a 6/1 listing – indicating plenty of confidence. The Juddmonte horse lost out to Goldikova earlier in the year but has come on well in his past two contests in France – beating out Cirrus Des Aigles in the Group 2 Qatar Prix Dollar. Cirrus Des Aigles, as we all know, then went on to win the Group 1 Champion Stakes two weeks later. Not a bad reference race.

Byword will appreciate firmer going and, with no rain in the forecast for Breeders' Cup week at Churchill Downs, he could see the ground play to his favour.

However, despite the deserved plaudits for these three contenders, it could be the late-entering six-year-old son of Tale Of The Cat who winds up making the big statement. Gio Ponti has been slugging it out as America's sole representative on the world turf racing stage. More often than not, he's playing a home game but ventures to Dubai once a year, always acquitting himself well as a there-or-thereabouts type. His connections, Castleton Lyons, have opted for the mile despite being entered in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Untried over a conventional dirt surface, Gio Ponti will likely appreciate firm turf. He trades at an 8/1 listing and will take plenty of money from the American fans, finishing second in back-to-back contests against the now-retired Cape Blanco – who likely would have been the betting favourite for this one had be still been in racing form.

Gio Ponti then went on to score in the Grade 1 Shadwell Mile at Keeneland three weeks ago, conquering Get Stormy by half a length.

Other notables include Turallure at 12/1, Sidney's Candy at 14/1, the aforementioned Get Stormy at a 20/1 price tag alongside California's Mr. Commons.