Breeders’ Cup: Get to know 10 British & Irish candidates

The annual invasion from Europe underpins the Breeders’ Cup claims to being the "world championships," and there again will be strong representation from across the Atlantic at the two-day extravaganza. Here are 10 British and Irish potential contenders for glory at Keeneland in November.

Adelaide River, Juvenile Turf

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien

Sire: Australia

Record: 1: 1-0-0

Aidan O’Brien has any number of Breeders’ Cup possibles, and his intentions won’t become clear until much nearer the big day. But he unleashed a very interesting colt on the all-weather at Dundalk last week. Adelaide River, reportedly a lazy type with plenty of scope for improvement, won by 2 3/4 lengths on his debut over a mile and holds big entries in the coming months. He certainly has the pedigree to shine in the U.S., being out of a half-sister to champion juvenile and top sire Uncle Mo.

Highfield Princess, Turf Sprint

Trainer: John Quinn

Sire: Night Of Thunder

Record: 29: 11-5-5

There won’t be a more heartwarming story at the Breeders’ Cup than this mare, in the form of her life after winning the Maurice de Gheest (G1) at Deauville over 6 1/2 furlongs and the win-and-you're-in Nunthorpe (G1) at York over five furlongs. Highfield Princess is trained in rural Yorkshire, began her career at the very bottom of the scale and has risen majestically through the ranks. She’ll run in a Group 1 at Longchamp at the beginning of October, the Foret or the Abbaye, and handles any ground.

Homeless Songs, Mile

Trainer: Dermot Weld

Sire: Frankel

Record: 5: 3-0-0

Homeless Songs earned rave reviews when cantering to victory in the Irish 1,000 Guineas (G1) over a mile at the Curragh in May, drawing off to win by 5 1/2 lengths from Tuesday, a subsequent Group 1 winner. Absent since because to her dislike for fast ground, she will be fresh for an autumn campaign, and her veteran trainer is renowned for international success. Those with long memories will recall him winning the 1990 Belmont Stakes with Go And Go, with the same ownership as Homeless Songs.

Isaac Shelby, Juvenile Turf

Trainer: Brian Meehan

Sire: Night Of Thunder

Record: 2: 2-0-0

This tough cookie showed plenty of fight to win the seven-furlong Superlative (G2) at Newmarket by a head, and the runner-up made the form look good when easily winning a stakes next time. Isaac Shelby is expected to have one more start – possibly the Champagne (G2) at Doncaster on Sept. 10 – before shipping stateside. His trainer, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf in 2006 and 2010, doesn’t have the same strength in his barn these days. But he is a renowned target trainer and has kept his colt fresh for Keeneland.

Lezoo, Juvenile Fillies’ Turf

Trainer: Ralph Beckett

Sire: Zoustar

Record 4: 3-1-0

Lezoo’s connections were represented when the Breeders’ Cup last visited Keeneland, and they could travel again with this progressive filly. She won a stakes at Newmarket in June and made her breakthrough at group level in the Princess Margaret (G3) over six furlongs at Ascot in July, winning with authority by a length. She is on a break after four races in quick succession, holds Group 1 entries in the autumn and, although she has yet to go beyond six furlongs, races as though extra yardage will not be a problem.

Mysterious Night, Juvenile Turf

Trainer: Charlie Appleby

Sire: Dark Angel

Record: 5: 2-1-2

Godolphin won the Juvenile Turf last year with Modern Games, and it has another leading contender in Mysterious Night, a brother to dual U.S. Grade 1 winner Althiqa. Last time out he won the Prix Francois Boutin (G3) over seven furlongs at Deauville more easily than the margin of half a length suggests, and he is being aimed at the Summer (G1) over a mile at Woodbine on Sept. 17. It's a win-and-in contest won last year by barnmate Albahr, the horse who was trapped under the gate and withdrawn before the Juvenile Turf.

Nashwa, Filly & Mare Turf

Trainers: John & Thady Gosden

Sire: Frankel

Record: 6: 4-0-2

She patently lacked the stamina for 1 1/2 miles when third in the Oaks (G1) at Epsom, but a drop in distance has been the making of Nashwa, who has gone on to win the Prix de Diane (G1) at Chantilly and the all-aged Nassau (G1) at Goodwood. Her next target is the win-and-in Prix de l’Opera (G1) at ParisLongchamp in October and the 1 3/16 of this year’s Filly & Mare Turf should be ideal. Regular rider Hollie Doyle is one of the best jockeys in Europe.

Rebel’s Romance, Turf

Trainer: Charlie Appleby

Sire: Dubawi

Record: 10: 7-0-0

It has been a long learning curve for Rebel’s Romance, who didn’t run on turf until June but is now 3-for-3 on the weeds. He won the Grosser Preis von Berlin (G1) at Hoppegarten over 1 1/2 miles in his last start. There is improvement to come from the 2021 UAE Derby (G2) winner, and although his trainer has several Turf contenders – including last year’s winner, Yibir – he is now near the top of the pecking order. One more run, probably in Germany, should set him up nicely for Keeneland.

Saffron Beach, Filly & Mare Turf or Mile

Trainer: Jane Chapple-Hyam

Sire: New Bay

Record: 11: 6-2-0

This filly has improved markedly since last summer and is one of the best distaff milers in Europe, winning the Duke of Cambridge (G2) at Royal Ascot and the Prix Rothschild (G1) at Deauville on her last two starts. Saffron Beach has never won beyond a mile, but she was fourth in the 1 1/8-mile Dubai Turf (G1) at Meydan and connections are leaning toward the Filly & Mare Turf in the belief she can stretch out. Her final prep will probably be the Sun Chariot (G1) at Newmarket on Oct. 1.

The Ridler, Juvenile Turf Sprint

Trainer: Richard Fahey

Sire: Brazen Beau

Record: 5: 2-0-1

The Ridler has secured a paid berth to the Breeders’ Cup after winning the five-furlong win-and-in Norfolk (G2) at Royal Ascot in hugely controversial style. His jockey took him diagonally across his rivals and caused major interference, although in the end he won by daylight and European rules don’t require disqualification in such cases. He looked a cut below the top level when last of five Sunday in the Prix Morny (G1) at Deauville, but his earnest connections are unlikely to waste their free pass to the big time at Keeneland.

Steve Dennis is a free-lance racing writer based in the U.K. He was a senior writer for Racing Post for 16 years and is the author of the book The History of Horse Racing in 100 Objects.