Racing: American favourites are pushed out by the draw
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Your support makes all the difference.THE BRITISH did well, and the French satisfactorily, but the Americans fared disastrously in yesterday's crucial draw for the Breeders' Cup.
Even Luca Cumani risked a smile at the extravagant post- position breakfast after Barathea was allocated the ideal low draw of three in the Mile. Gerald Leigh, Barathea's breeder and part-owner, was beaming.
Cumani said: 'I am pleased, three is far better than 13. Barathea exercised this morning and has taken everything well so far. It is now up to the jockey.'
Gary Stevens, the American who rode In The Wings to victory in the 1990 Turf, is entrusted with partnering the three-year-old round Santa Anita's tight grass circuit.
Leigh had been fearing a post position higher than six and defeat by Lure, the favourite. That possibility looks much less likely now, as last year's winner has been given stall 12 on the outside.
John Gosden's duo of Catrail and Wolfhound had mixed fortunes being drawn five and 13 respectively.
The reaction of the bookmakers was swift and unsentimental. Lure, who has dominated the ante-post market, was shunted out to 2-1 by both Ladbrokes and William Hill from 11-8 and 6-4 respectively.
Mike Dillon of Ladbrokes, who brought in Barathea to 6-1 from 8-1 and Catrail to 12-1 from 14-1, declared: 'I'm very happy to lay Lure now. Both he and Kotashaan, drawn 13 in the Turf, will find it very hard to win from their draws.'
Opera House, the sole British horse left in the Turf after Gosden's Muhtarram was eliminated, was trimmed to 7-1 by Ladbrokes after being given stall four. Hernando did best of the French and is 8-1 from 12-1.
In the Sprint a high draw steers runners away from trouble and Sayyedati's nine berth gives Clive Brittain's filly a chance to find her feet as the Americans go wild on the inside. Richard Hannon's Surprise Offer comes out of seven. Stoute's Ezzoud, our sole hope in the dollars 3m Classic, has the favoured two position.
LADBROKES: Mile: 2-1 (from 11-8) Lure, 6-1 (from 8-1)Barathea & Flawlessly, 7-1 (from 5-1) Ski Paradise, 10-1 (from 9-1) Bigstone, 12-1 (from 14-1) Catrail, 12-1 Paradise Creek, 16-1 Toussaud, 20-1 Buckhar, 20-1 (from 14- 1) Wolfhound, 25-1 others.
Turf: 9-4 Kotashaan (from 6-4), 7-1 (from 8- 1) Bien Bien & Opera House, 8-1 (from 6-1) Hatoof, 8-1 (from 12-1) Hernando, 14-1 Apple Tree, Dernier Empereur & Luazur, 14-1 (from 16-1) Wemyss Bight, 16-1 Fraise, 16-1 (from 10-1) Intrepidity, 20-1 others.
Sprint: 3-1 Birdonthewire (from 4-1), 6-1 Meafara (from 8-1), 7-1 (from 14-1) Cardmania, 8-1 (from 6-1) Thirty Slews, 10-1 (from 8-1) Alydeed, 10-1 (from 8-1) Fly So Free, 10-1 (from 12-1) Gilded Time, 10-1 Sayyedati, 16-1 others.
Classic: 11-4 Bertrando & Best Pal, 10-1 (from 14-1) Marquetry, 10-1 Peteski, 12-1 Devil His Due & Missionary Ridge, 14-1 Ezzoud, 16-1 others
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