Breeders’ Cup Turf Betting Tips, Offers and Odds

Part of the spectacular Breeders’ Cup meeting which takes place in late October/early November each year is this top-class contest which regularly attracts the best European performers. Here we take a look at the best odds and offers and provide our betting tips for the Breeders Cup Turf.

This Grade 1 event for runners aged three and older was first run as part of the Breeders’ Cup in its inaugural year of 1984. The premier turf contest of the meeting, the 1m4f event now offers $3 million in total prize money, not too far behind the biggest of the lot, the Breeders’ Cup Classic!

Breeders’ Cup Turf Tips 2019

The turf races during the two days of racing of the Breeders’ Cup Carnival are traditionally the most lucrative for European-based trainers and horses. Some big names from British and Irish racing have certainly had great success in the Breeders’ Cup Turf over the years with the likes of John Gosden, Andre Fabre, Sir Michael Stoute and Aidan O’Brien all landing winners in the last 10 years. There’s another strong contingent of European horses set to go to post in this 1 mile 4 furlong, Group 1 race but will any of them have what it takes to win?

Derby Winner Can Get the Favourite Beaten

Despite all the recent European success, it’s an American-trained horse, Bricks And Mortar, who sits top of the betting for this year’s edition. That Chad Brown has chosen the Breeders’ Cup Turf over the Mile has gone down as something of a surprise to some racing fans but his connections clearly believe that he has enough stamina to allow him to utilise his incredible turn of foot to full effect in this one.

Bricks And Mortar is understandably getting plenty of support in the betting. That support will only increase from American punters on the day but the shorter he gets, the more appealing the odds of 9/4 that Coral are quoting about Anthony Van Dyck’s chances get.

Clearly, there are questions to be answered regarding his incoming form. Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old has not won since landing a thrilling renewal of the Derby and was particularly disappointing in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Ascot. Those who were worried that his Derby win was little more than a fluke were happy to see Anthony Van Dyck much more competitive in the Irish Champion Stakes where he was a decent third behind Magical and Magic Wand.

The return to 12 furlongs should bring out an even better performance from Anthony Van Dyck. Providing everything has gone well with his journey to California, he should be able to return to his best which would surely be too much even for this high quality field.

Mount Everest a Tempting Outsider

We know a great deal about the two horses jostling for position at the head of the betting for the Breeders’ Cup Turf. That’s not the case for Aidan O’Brien’s other runner, Mount Everest. He didn’t get his three-year-old season going until mid September and didn’t really catch the eye until winning a Listed race on heavy ground last time out at Leopardstown.

He showed a real combination of hardiness and class when winning that contest, enough even to absolve him of a pair of average runs over 12 furlongs. The way that he coped with the heavy conditions at Leopardstown suggests that O’Brien was right to run him over a mile and a half earlier in the season. He is entitled to come on considerably from that win so has each way appeal in the Turf at 14/1 with bet365.

Betting Predictions

Aidan O’Brien has two very interesting runners in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, both of whom have a better chance of winning than their odds suggest. Whilst Mount Everest is a tempting each way bet, Anthony Van Dyck could prove to be the best bet of the two days at 9/4 with Coral.

Breeders’ Cup Turf Previous Winners

  • 2018 – Enable – jockey Frankie Dettori, trainer John Gosden
  • 2017 – Talismanic – jockey Mickael Barzalona, trainer Andre Fabre
  • 2016 – Highland Reel – jockey Seamie Heffernan, trainer Aidan O’Brien
  • 2015 – Found – jockey Ryan Moore, trainer Aidan O’Brien
  • 2014 – Main Sequence – jockey John R. Velazquez, trainer Graham Motion
  • 2013 – Magician – jockey Ryan Moore, trainer Aidan O’Brien
  • 2012 – Little Mike – jockey Ramon Dominguez, trainer Dale Romans
  • 2011 – St Nicholas Abbey – jockey Joseph O’Brien, trainer Aidan O’Brien
  • 2010 – Dangerous Midge – jockey Frankie Dettori, trainer Brian Meehan
  • 2009 – Conduit – jockey Ryan Moore, trainer Sir Michael Stoute
  • 2008 – Conduit – jockey Ryan Moore, trainer Sir Michael Stoute
  • 2007 – English Channel – jockey John R. Velazquez, trainer Todd A. Pletcher
  • 2006 – Red Rocks – jockey Frankie Dettori, trainer Brian Meehan

Breeders’ Cup Turf History

Many of the races at the Breeders Cup meeting put the European raiders at a distinct disadvantage due to their unfamiliarity with the dirt surface. Not so here. The European runners have made their presence felt in this right from the off, with Alain de Royer-Dupre’s Lashkari winning the first edition back in 1984.

With the brilliant filly Pebbles following up for Clive Britain and Pat Eddery the following year, it seemed that the foreign performers may have the Americans measure in this event, only for the Americans to fight back with seven wins in the next ten editions of the race. As of 2016 the overall score stands at Europe: 20, USA:13.

The names of the most successful trainer and jockeys in the race will certainly be familiar to UK racing fans. With six wins overall, it the master of Ballydoyle, Aidan O’Brien, who leads the way in the training ranks. Amongst the jockeys it is one of the finest horseman to have plied their trade in Britain over the past 20 years, Frankie Dettori, who leads the way with five wins after his win on Enable in 2018.

Only two horses have landed this valuable prize on more than one occasion, one from Ireland and one from Britain. The Derby winner, High Chaparral, came first, when following up his 2002 victory with a dead heat here in 2003. Next was the St. Leger champion, Conduit who won back to back renewals for Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore in 2008 and 2009.

A number of smart older performers have been given a crack at this over the years but no runner over five years of age has ever won the race as of 2015. Overall it is the male horses who have dominated, with only the aforementioned Pebbles and Aidan O’Brien’s, Found recording wins for the female of the species.

Be sure to check out our Breeders Cup Mile betting tips and our offers for the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare too!