Ginger Joe and Liam Firkin have teamed up to give us an Each Way Lucky 15 for the 2025 Breeders' Cup.
19:41 Del Mar (Saturday)
Leg 1: Shisospicy (Ginger Joe) - 19.41 Del Mar (Saturday)
The Turf Sprint is always run at a ferocious pace over the 5f trip, and it’s one of my favourite races of the meeting.
Motorious and Reef Runner (next best) both set a high standard, and their form ties in closely together.
Both are well drawn on the inside and should be highly competitive, so bold showings from the pair are expected.
However, the one that keeps catching my eye is Shisospicy (best price 11/1), one of the few three year olds in the field. She receives both a filly’s and age allowance, and her form on faster surfaces has been dynamite.
Although she disappointed when travelling over for Royal Ascot, she bounced back with an impressive victory at Keeneland next time out. That was over an extended 6f trip, but you can’t ignore her raw speed, and the drop back to the sprint trip on her first visit to Del Mar looks tailor made for her.
Still on the upgrade, and with a good break from the stalls, she could surprise a few here. I don’t often like backing the fillies in these races, but she could be special.
22:25 Del Mar (Saturday)
Leg 2: Forever Young (Liam Firkin) - 22:25 Del Mar (Saturday)
FOREVER YOUNG (11/2) has been seeing more sparingly since the 2024 renewal of this race with just the three starts. Two of which were back in Japan where both were winning successes in Group 1’s and then disappointingly turned over at long odds on at Meydan back in April.
He had a nice prep back on October 1st where he got back to winning ways when running out an easy winner beating a stablemate in what would have been a very pleasing preparation for connections leading back to Del Mar for another crack at The Breeders Cup Classic.
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He will oppose last years and current champion again on Saturday but he’s clearly one with a huge amount of ability and if getting a good toe into the race and a strong pace to aim at then he and the entire racing world of Japan could be celebrating come the end of this years renewal.
23:05 Del Mar (Saturday)
Leg 3: Jonquil (Liam Firkin) - 23:05 Del Mar (Saturday)
JONQUIL (14/1) has had an in-and-out season so far but has been given some time to a acclimatise in the US with a run at Keeneland in October and has the benefit of the weight for age. It may be futile in taking the chance early that he’s given a favourable low draw but that is the benefit of playing early as should he get an ideal gate number then I think he’s sure to contract in price. We have seen in recent years that it’s not completely game over if drawn in a double digit stall however, and with the changes made to the turf track in 2016 there is much less of an advantage that there was previously at this Breeders Cup venue. Since 2016, and prior to last year, we’ve seen horses hitting the frame from stalls:
7 - Once
8 - Twice
9 - Twice
10 - Once
11 - Three Times
12 - Three Times
14 - Once
And that was before 2024 where we saw Henri Matisse win from stall 13, Rebels Romance from 11, Moira from 10, Tisquantum from 14, Raqiya from 10 and of course Sorrra Leone on the dirt, from gate 11 in The Classic. So the draw may not be the be all and end all that some may suggest.
Looking back at Jonquil and some of his better performances this season which have come when going forward and I’d be hoping for him to bounce out of the gate and be up with the pace on this turning track at Del Mar which is sure to be rattling quick underfoot.
He ran a cracking race behind the now retired Henri Matisse in France earlier this season when beaten just a head and finishing seven lengths ahead of current second favourite, Sahlan by over four lengths.
Camille Pissarro was back in third who went on to win the Prix Du Jockey Club back at Chantilly. Jonquil was then stepped significantly down in trip, which was clearly an experiment not worth trying but that is easily said in hindsight. When returning to the 1 mile trip at Goodwood on ground which I assume we will not be too dissimilar this weekend over the other side of the pond, he was a very good winner of a G2 contest and although he’s now in deeper waters he could be one who is peaking at the right time and can outrun his odds in this. The weight allowance and back at the trip that saw him get his Group success earlier this season are big positives and undoubtedly will get quick ground that has seen him to best effect this season.
00:25 Del Mar (Sunday)
Leg 4: Bedtime Story (LF + GJ) - 00:25 Del Mar (Sunday)
Aidan O’Brien has Minnie Hawk entered in here but is s much shorter price for the main attraction on The Turf course a few hours earlier which would leave BEDTIME STORY (14/1) as his only dart in this race as we edge into the early hours of Sunday.
Her trainer seems keen for her on her chances to progress for the Good/Firm ground conditions that she’s likely to get and when asked of her chances he was quoted by Attheraces by saying :
“She’s on target for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Her last race at Ascot just didn’t pan out well for her. They ended up going slow in front and she was well of the pace, so she ran as well as she could in the circumstances. We always thought this race would suit her, as the faster ground and nature of the track should play to her strengths. With her you always hope that there is good pace in front of and she should be coming home strongly. It wouldn’t surprise me if she produced a season-best effort”
Those comments were really reassuring and she does has form as a juvenile that would suggest that the firm are going conditions may certainly bring out a career best performance. Now rated 112, and the winner of the Debutante Stakes at the Curragh as a juvenile, as previously referenced and ran a cracking race when running out of home straight when hitting the frame in the Prix de Diane and only finding Gezora too good on that day who went on to be well fancied for The Arc.
Bedtime Story is one who may fly under the radar given the lack of One’s alongside her name but when on song she is an exceptional filly and I think that providing the pace is honest, she can showcase that this weekend in America.
