Breeders' Cup Turf to Feature International Standouts

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Breeders' Cup Turf to Feature International Standouts
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Up to the Mark is tied for 20th on the World's Best Racehorse rankings and would likely move up that list with a win in the Breeders' Cup Turf

While there will be plenty of debate about who will win this year's $4 million Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park, it's a sure bet that the outcome of the 1 1/2-mile test will impact international rankings.

Five horses in the top 20 of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities' World's Best Racehorse Rankings are scheduled to start in the Turf, including second-ranked Mostahdaf , the 5-2 favorite who will start from post 9 with Jim Crowley up.

A homebred for Shadwell Estate Company and trained by John and Thady Gosden, Mostahdaf already boasts top-level wins on two different continents this year as the 5-year-old son of Frankel   won the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) in June at Royal Ascot and the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) in August at York. In the winter Mostahdaf won the Turf Cup (G2) in Saudi Arabia.

Going into Saturday's race Mostahdaf brings a 129 rating, which is tied with the recently retired Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) winner Ace Impact  and just behind top-ranked Equinox , the reigning Japan Horse of the Year who has added three more top level wins from as many starts this season, most recently winning the Tenno Sho Autumn (G1) by 2 1/2 lengths Oct. 29 at Tokyo.

Other horses among the top 20 entered in the Turf include:

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  • Auguste Rodin , winner of this year's Epsom Derby (G1) and Irish Derby (G1), is tied for ninth in the world rankings with a 124 rating and carries a 3-1 morning-line. Campaigned by owners associated with Coolmore, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, and Westerberg, Auguste Rodin enters off a victory in the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) Sept. 9 at Leopardstown. The 3-year-old Deep Impact  colt is trained by Aidan O'Brien, who is looking for his seventh Turf win, and ridden by Ryan Moore, a four-time Turf winner.
  • Onesto  (tied for 11th in the rankings with a 123 rating, 8-1) carries French hopes as the group 1-winning 3-year-old son of Frankel enters off a third-place finish in the Arc for owners Gerard Augustin-Normand, Jean Etienne Dubois, Haras d'Etreham, Ecurie Billon and Hubert Guy.
  • Up to the Mark   (tied for 20th in rankings with a 121 rating, 5-1) is the top-rated United States-based horse. Trained by Todd Pletcher for owners Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, the Kentucky-bred enters off three straight grade 1 wins, the most recent registered after a furious rally in deep stretch to edge Master of the Seas  by a head in the Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes (G1). With a win over these top international runners, the son of Not This Time   would receive Horse of the Year consideration.
  • King of Steel  (tied for 20th in rankings with 121 rating, 4-1) enters off a victory in the Champion Stakes (G1) Oct. 21 at Ascot. The Kentucky-bred son of Wooton Bassett, boasts a 2-1-1 record from five starts this year for owner Amo Racing and trainer Roger Varian.