Father & son clash in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

William Dobbie Updated: 30 Oct 26 09:06

The final top-level juvenile race of the Flat season concludes the action on day one of the Breeders' Cup.

This race has been dominated by European contenders in recent years and Friday's renewal could head the way of the visiting contingent yet again, with five of the top six in the betting making the trip over the Atlantic.

Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O'Brien has taken each of the last four runnings and sends a typically strong team over to Keeneland.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf

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First up, and vying for favouritism, is Great Barrier Reef. The No Nay Never colt landed the Coventry at Royal Ascot over the summer, before suffering a shock defeat when sent off 4/5f at the Curragh two moths later. That loss led many to question the strength of the Coventry form, but he proved that he had plenty of ability when posting a career best behind Desert Castle and Darkness Falls in the Dewhurst. Drawn out in stall 14, he won't get an ideal trip.

Challenging him for market dominance is Group 1-winning two-year-old Folsom Blues, arriving here off the back of a good runner-up effort to Amusingly in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. Despite defeat at Longchamp, connections will have come away fairly pleased with his effort and there is a solid case for his form being the strongest of any in this contest. He did well to get within a length-and-a-quarter of three-time Group 1 winner Sun Goddess at the Curragh back in August.

Trained by Aidan's son, Joseph, he has a good chance of keeping the race in the family.

Aidan also runs Haffner and Florida Bay, such is the strength and depth within his yard. Drawn in four, Haffner is probably the most interesting of the remaining three, able to bring a brace of Group 2 successes to the table.

Ballydoyle did have Man's Best Friend in the race before he was scratched late on Thursday evening.

How's Al Today is flying the flag for the US and Riley Mott's charge has been full of promise this season. If you disregard his Saratoga effort -- clearly operating at far below his best -- then he would rock up here having won all three of his starts. His most recent win came in a Group 2 at Kentucky Downs, swatting aside two subsequent winners in Jas and Agate.