Ouija Set to be Leading Lady at Breeders Cup

Ouija Board can sign off her illustrious career by landing the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf for the second year running on Saturday 29th October at Belmont Park, for which her price of 6-4 with Stan James should be gobbled up for maximum stakes. The Ed Dunlop-trained filly was named the best of her sex last year, and quite rightly. She won the Oaks at Epsom before landing the Irish equivalent, then finished an unlucky-in-running third in the Arc de Triomphe, before capturing last years renewal of this race at Lone Star Park with something to spare. Sent off at 10-11 on that occasion, the daughter of Cape Cross was pushed out to cosily beat Film Maker by a length and a half, demonstrating in the process that she acclimatises well, and that she has the tactical speed to cope with the way in which races in the US are run. Many doubted whether Ouija Board had trained on when she disappointed on her return to action this season at Royal Ascot at York. However, she was found to have lost a shoe during the race and sustained an injury. She then missed her next two engagements owing to a cough, but bounced back in no uncertain terms when cosily landing a Group Three contest at Newmarket last month. That was effectively her seasonal reappearance, so to see her travel through the race so easily before settling the race with a decisive move two furlongs out, only needing to be kept up to her work to score by two and a half lengths, was most encouraging. As it stands, it would appear that she retains most of - if not all of - the ability she showed last season. Therefore, I would be absolutely perplexed if she were to be beaten in this event. Irish raiders Luas Line and Mona Lisa will both go into the race in good form. Luas Line, who is trained by the up-and-coming David Wachman, landed back to back Listed races in Ireland before scoring in the nine-furlong Garden City Breeders' Cup Handicap on the 10th September at Belmont Park. That was a solid effort, and one which confirms her progressive profile. She has now proven her ability to handle the track and it is to her credit that, under what were bizarre circumstances, she still managed to win that Grade One contest despite colliding with a goose, of all creatures, a furlong out. However, she will be sailing into unchartered waters with regards to the trip come Breeders' Cup day, as she has will be tackling 11-furlongs for the first time. Moreover, she lacks that touch of class that Ouija Boards possesses, a remark which also extends to the Aidan O'Brien-trained Mona Lisa. Of the home contingent, Wonder Again, who was third behind Ouija Board last year, should go well. But the biggest threat from any of those trained on US soil is likely to be posed by Megahertz, who comes into this race on the back of a decisive victory in the valuable Yellow Ribbon Stakes at Santa Anita. Betting verdict: 4pt win Ouija Board @ 6/4 (Paddy Power & Stan James)