Breeder’s Cup Mile Godolphin flagship Ribchester for last race on the world stage. And what a race it is – The $2 million Gr.1 Breeders' Cup Mile. Multiple group 1-winning son of Iffraaj looks to close out his career for trainer Richard Fahey with a final top-level victory before he enters Kildangan Stud in 2018 as a Darley stallion. His victories this year include the Gr.1 Lockinge Stakes (G1), a course record in the Gr.1 Queen Anne Stakes, and the Gr.1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. Infact throughout 2017 he has finished no worse than the third.

"He's a tough cookie, with a great constitution," Fahey told Racing Post. " He's like a supercar, and when you touch the pedal, he's gone."

The 4-year-old will go up against leading North American hope World Approval, who gained automatic entry through the Breeders' Cup Challenge series with a win in the Gr.1 Woodbine. Mark Casse-trained son of Northern Afleet already has earnings of $1,933,450, will be making his first appearance in the Breeders’ Cup series. Terry Hamilton's Heart to Heart, second in the Shadwell Turf Mile by half-length, also races in pursuit of his long-awaited Gr.1 victory.

Another super contender for the title, is the crowd favourite - Tabor, Magnier, and Smith's Roly Poly. Adian O’Brien trained 3Yo daughter of War Front comes off a victory in the Gr.1 Sun Chariot Stakes. She was ninth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last year.

The 5-year-old Northern Afleet gelding will make his first Breeders' Cup appearance in pursuit of his fourth grade 1 score.

Michael Tabor, Susan Magnier, and Derrick Smith's Woodbine Mile runner-up Lancaster Bomber is another European representative who could factor into his return to the World Championships. The Aidan O'Brien trainee finished second last year to Oscar Performance in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) at Santa Anita Park, demonstrating an afinity for the firm turf found in California. He will need to rebound from a disappointing 14th in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, however, and also wheels back in two weeks.

Le Havre son and Gr.1 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes winner Suedois comes in with great expectations and a fantastic form. While Gr.1 winning son of Sea the Stars, Karar should be one to watch with his love for firm ground.

Bill Mott-trained Ballagh Rocks notched his first Group win this summer when he won the Poker Stakes at Belmont Park. Since then, he's added a pair of thirds in Gr.1 company to his resume. Interestingly, Ballagh Rock is the largest of a group of rocks collectively called Blackrocks, which are very exposed to seas especially from the north and north west. Exactly the way he will probably feel in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. The Kentucky-bred 4-year-old colt was a $70,000 Keeneland purchase heads into the Breeders' Cup Mile with a slate of five wins from 14 starts and earnings of $526,910.

 

Gate	Horse Name	Age	Origin	Pedigree	Trainer	Owner	Jockey	Race Form
1	Midnight Storm	6	USA	Pioneerof The Nile-My Tina(Bertrando)	Philip D'Amato	A Venneri Racing, Inc. and Little Red Feather Racing	Tyler Baze	26 Starts, 10 Wins
2	Heart to Heart	6	CAN	English Channel-Ask The Question(Silver Deputy)	Brian Lynch	Terry Hamilton	Julien R. Leparoux	31 Starts, 13 Wins
3	Mr. Roary	4	USA	Scat Daddy-If Angels Sang(Seattle Slew)	George Papaprodromou	Kretz Racing LLC	Tyler Conner	18 Starts, 4 Wins
4	Lancaster Bomber	3	USA	War Front-Sun Shower(Indian Ridge)	Aidan O'Brien	Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier	Seamus Heffernan	13 Starts, 1 Wins
5	World Approval	5	USA	Northern Afleet-Win Approval(With Approval)	Mark Casse	Live Oak Plantation	John Velazquez	23 Starts, 10 Wins
6	Zelzal	4	FR	Sea The Stars-Olga Prekrasa(Kingmambo)	Jean-Claude Rouget/Frankreich	Al Shaqab Racing	Gregory Benoist	9 Starts, 4 Wins
7	Om	5	USA	Munnings-Rare Cat(Tabasco Cat)	Dan Hendricks	Sareen Family Trust	Drayden Van Dyke	19 Starts, 5 Wins
8	Suedois	6	FR	Le Havre-Cup Cake(Singspiel)	David O'Meara	Turner, George and Clipper Logistics	Daniel Tudhope	32 Starts, 8 Wins
9	Home of the Brave	5	IRE	Starspangledbanner-Blissful Beat(Beat Hollow)	H. Palmer	Godolphin	Mike E. Smith	17 Starts, 6 Wins
10	Ribchester	4	IRE	Iffraaj-Mujarah(Marju)	Richard Fahey	Godolphin	William Buick	15 Starts, 6 Wins
11	Ballagh Rocks	4	USA	Stormy Atlantic -Bells Are Ringing(Sadlers Wells)	William Mott	Donegal Racing & Head of Plains Partners, LLC	Jose Lezcano	14 Starts, 5 Wins
12	Roly Poly	3	USA	War Front-Misty For Me(Galileo)	Aidan O'Brien	Mr M. Tabor, D. Smith & Mrs John Magnier	Ryan Moore	16 Starts, 6 Wins
13	Blackjackcat	4	USA	Tale Of The Cat-Bootleg Annie(Go For Gin)	Mark Glatt	Kirkwood, Al and Saundra S.	Kent Desormeaux	14 Starts, 6 Wins
14	Karar	5	GB	Invincible Spirit-In The Light(Inchinor)	Fh Graffard	Al Shaqab Racing	Lanfranco Dettori	17 Starts, 4 Wins

 

1) Roly Poly

2) Suedois

3) Ballagh Rock