Back Yourself!
Sign-up and start betting with Ladbrokes in 2 minutes!
Back A Winner with Neds!
Sign-up and start betting with Neds in 2 minutes!
Daily Racing Specials!
Sign-up and bet with Australia's best new bookmaker!
#1 Ranked New Bookie
Sign-up and bet with Australia's #1 ranked new bookmaker!
Best Of The Best Odds!
Bet With Palmerbet and get Paid Top Fluc or Top Tote!
Massive Odds on All Races!
Sign-up and start betting with PlayUp in 2 minutes!
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
Set a deposit limit.
Search
 

Well-fancied French filly Sarafina cantered around Churchill Downs on Wednesday as rivals began making plans on how to pull off an upset in Saturday’s $US3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf showdown.

French trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre was due in Kentucky on Thursday, two days before Sarafina takes to the turf in the 1-1/2 mile (2400m) race with Christophe Lemaire on board.

Lemaire is bidding for a second prestigious win this week after riding Dunaden to victory in the Melbourne Cup.

De Royer-Dupre was also in Australia, guiding 2010 Melbourne Cup champion Americain’s failed bid to repeat at Flemington.

Sarafina, whose connections will hope she justifies her 5-2 favourite tag here after failing to do so in the Arc de Triomphe last month when she finished seventh, made only a gentle jog around the track on Tuesday morning in her first look at Churchill Downs before heading back to the barn.

Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien’s two hopefuls in the field, Await the Dawn and St Nicholas Abbey, only arrived on Tuesday night and will not take to the track before Friday.

Brilliant Speed, a three-year-old son of Dynaformer who was seventh in the Kentucky Derby before switching back from dirt to turf, jogged one mile (1600m) and galloped another under Dave Wallace on Wednesday in his first exercise since arriving on Tuesday. He won the Saranac Stakes in his return to turf.

“I’m pretty sure he prefers to be on the grass,” trainer Tom Albertrani said.

“He’s more comfortable on the grass. It looks like his best races have been on turf, other than the Blue Grass on synthetic.”

Dean’s Kitten, 10-1, has only raced the Turf distance in the most recent of his 23 starts, where he lost by a nose at Belmont Park to the favourite Cape Blanco who would have been a genuine contender on Saturday if not for a career-ending injury.

“We would have tried it (at 1-1/2 miles) a lot sooner but the opportunity really never presented itself,” trainer Mike Maker said.

“I wish we had more 1-1/2 mile turf chances in America. I think he’s at his best with more distance.”

The four-year-old won the Dallas Turf Cup and was third in the Arlington Million.

“This horse has really proved himself this year,” Maker said.

“He’s matured, and held his own with some of the top grass horses. He gives 110 per cent effort every time.”

AFP AAP TURF

 
*Existing customers only. 2nd Racing bet. Excl SA & WA. T’s & C’s apply. Gamble responsibly.
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
Set a deposit limit.
Featured News

FREE BETS – Claim $1000’s in Bonus Bets at the TOP Betting Sites

We take a look at the BIGGEST and BEST Free Daily Racing Offers and Betting Promotions from Australia’s leading online...

Golden Slipper Likely Field – 2024

The biggest two-year-old race of the year will jump this Saturday in arguably one of the best fields in recent...

Former trainer handed a five-year ban for pulling stewards pants down

Former trainer Todd Balfour has been handed a five-year disqualification by Racing SA stewards after a misconduct incident at the...

Melbourne Cup champion Verry Elleegant passes away

Verry Elleegant, one of the great mares in the history of Australian racing, has died while giving birth to her...

Watch 📺 Jockey banned from all racing premises over ride

Jockey Dylan Kitts has been penalised with a disciplinary officer exclusion directive due to non-compliance with an inquiry regarding his...

Group 1 winner returns positive swab

Racing Victoria stewards are investigating a positive swab from Group 1-winning mare Prowess, the racehorse trained by Roger James and...

Alligator Blood injured, career in doubt

Cult galloper Alligator Blood may have run his last race, with trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott confirming the star galloper had...

Nikita Beriman returns to the saddle

July 1, 2023 to January 26, 2024 … that period represents the just shy of seven months that Nikita Beriman...

Australia's Best Betting Sites

New Betting Sites Australia + Top List Bookmaker Apps $$$

Betting in Australia has never been more popular thanks to a large increase in new betting Agencies and Apps available...

Top 10 – Funniest Race Horse Names

Horse racing. Known as the ‘Sport Of Kings’, an industry worth billions, a very serious business…but to some, it’s a...

Best Horse Betting Sites in Australia

Best Horse Racing Betting Apps and Betting Sites – March 2024

We take a look at the best online betting apps to bet on horse racing in Australia for the month...

Golden Slipper

The Golden Slipper is one of the biggest and most prestigious horse races in Australia. Taking place each April at...

Australian Bookmaker Reviews – Online Bookie Ratings $$

Which bookmaker should you bet with? We Review each of the leading online Australian Bookmakers and rate them in order...

 
 
Imagine what you could be buying instead.
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au