Breeders' Cup Buzz Horse: #4 Declaration of War

Breeding: War Front - Tempo West (Rahy)

Four-year-old Colt

Trainer: Aidan O'Brien

Owner: Joseph Allen, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith

 

 

 

Most Impressive Prep Race: Grade 1 Juddmonte International Stakes, York, Aug. 21, 2013

**TimeformUS Speed Figure earned: 130

 

 

Analysis: Declaration of War is one of those horses who probably hasn’t received the credit he deserves, but there’s no knocking him for how tough and consistent he’s been while keeping top company, and this year he’s made a successful step up to racing’s top table, winning the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot in June and the Juddmonte International at York in August. Whilst it’s fair to say the top horses in both races underperformed (Animal Kingdom ran flat at Ascot and Al Kazeem had an off day at York), Declaration of War could do more than beat what was in front of him and it’s worth noting that he’s posted Timeform master ratings in the mid-120s on each of his last five outings, further underlining his durability. Although he has had a long season, Declaration of War has not been seen on a racetrack since August, with soft ground ensuring he swerved the traditional end of term pots at Longchamp and Ascot, and given he has a US dirt pedigree, the Breeders’ Cup Classic looks a realistic assignment. 

- Analysis by Timeform Handicapping Team

 

#10 Vorda (FR)

#9 My Conquestadory  

#6 Dank (GB)

#5 Mucho Macho Man 

 

For Breeders’ Cup Past Performances – complete with best-in-class foreign running lines and European and North American speed figures on the same scale – get TimeformUS Breeders’ Cup PPs. 

 

**In TimeformUS past performances, neither the Timeform Performance Ratings nor the TimeformUS Speed Figures are adjusted for age.