Rain fears for Board’s Breeders’ bid
Soft ground would be bad news for the prospects of Britain's principal hope Ouija Board, who was reported to have handled the 10-hour journey across the Atlantic without a problem.
Bookmakers have now removed the Ed Dunlop-trained filly from their betting for the Breeders' Cup Turf amidst increasing speculation that she will line up instead in the Filly & Mare Turf.
Dunlop will arrive at the course today after attending yesterday's Horses In Training sale at Newmarket, with Ouija Board's owner Lord Derby due in shortly afterwards.
But the trainer's travelling head lad, Robin Trevor-Jones, was yesterday keeping an eye on the skies with the forecast suggesting more heavy showers for late yesterday and today.
"She wouldn't want soft ground we know how well she can act on firm so we are obviously hoping that the rain stays away," he said.
"She travelled extremely well, in fact she travels better by plane than she does in a horsebox. This is the third race in a row for which she has had to come by plane and I think she is just used to it now.
"We are going to walk the course now and see how it feels. They tell me that it is very quick-draining which is good news.
"She is just walking around the quarantine barn at the moment and as soon as she's been tested and gets the all-clear we'll get her out on the track so that she can have a look around.
"I believe Kieren is going to arrive tomorrow and ride in the jockeys' championship on Thursday so that he can acquaint himself with the track."
Ouija Board is a best-priced 2-1 chance with William Hill for the Filly & Mare Turf.
The undoubted on-track highlight for yesterday's morning's early risers came with the appearance of Japanese Breeders' Cup Classic challenger Personal Rush.
Wearing a bright pink hood with his work rider attired in matching colours, the three-year-old jogged around the track before being put through the stalls and later walked around the paddock.
If the idea was to prepare him for some of the big-race atmosphere then it was a worthwhile exercise as Personal Rush sweated up badly when on the track and seemed less than impressed by having to walk through the tunnel to the paddock that passes underneath the grandstand.
If connections were concerned, however, then it was not showing.
Spokesman Taki Maruyama, the bloodstock agent who bought the horse in the United States, said: "We have come here because we want to take on the best.
"He is eating up well and taking everything in his stride. He worked on Sunday at Hollywood Park and did a 50.4 for half a mile before he travelled here and he will probably breeze over five furlongs tomorrow.
"When I bought him I knew that he would improve a lot with time and from his form you can see that he is getting better with each race. We haven't come here thinking that we are going to lose."
