Mustajeeb ticks all the right boxes in BC Mile
Weld has broken down barriers for European trainers in international events, and is most renowned in America for Go And Go winning the Belmont Stakes in 1990.
Along with Alain de Royer-Dupre, he is also the only European to have won the Melbourne Cup, which he claimed twice with Vintage Crop (1993) and Media Puzzle (2002).
Mustajeeb arrives at Santa Anita with strong form claims, having won the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot and having just been touched off by Bow Creek on Irish Champions Weekend after a mid-season break.
Weld said: “He has been a very consistent horse all year.
“The ground wasn’t right for him when he was beaten by Kingman at the Curragh in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and he was beaten by a very good horse at Leopardstown last time.
“Toronado will obviously be hard to beat and the French filly (Veda) of the Aga Khan’s is smart, but we have a good draw and a good jockey (Pat Smullen).
“He ticks all the boxes and we are all set.”
Smullen expects his mount to have improved for his last run, telling At The Races: “I’m really looking forward to him.
“He seems to have travelled over well, I sat on him the other morning and everything seems to be going to plan, so hopefully he’ll run a big race.
“The boss gave him a good, long break after Ascot and that (Boomerang Mile) was always going to be his next race.
“We got a little bit further back than ideal and we’d be hoping he’ll improve from that run to leave him spot-on for this race.”
Aidan O’Brien suffered a blow when last year’s winner Magician was ruled out of the Breeders’ Cup Tuft on Wednesday, but he will still be represented by 2013 Irish Oaks heroine Chicquita.
However, she has a bit of work to do to rebuild her reputation after throwing away what looked probable victory at Ascot on Champions Day at Ascot by veering across the track, a trait she has shown before.
O’Brien said: “Chicquita is drawn well, even though I would have preferred to be slightly more inside than she is.
“She has travelled over well, and I hope that we can hang on to her a bit longer and leave it late to make her move.
“She’s very talented, She’s a brilliant filly if things just fall right for her.
“Frankie Dettori will have to deliver her late, and that’s not easy to do round here.”
Dettori replaces Joseph O’Brien in the saddle as the young rider would not be able to make the weight.
“She’s very talented, she’s won an Irish Oaks,” Dettori saids.
“She’s got plenty of ability. I just need to make sure I do the right thing.”
In the Breeders’ Cup Mare Irish eyes will be on Fiesolana for the popular combination of trainer Willie McCreery and jockey Billy Lee.
Her win in the Matron Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend was a highlight for many, but she races over 10 furlongs for the first time since her days in France as a much younger horse.
McCreery said: “This filly is a star.
“She is a well-travelled filly, to the extent that she has only had one outing in Ireland so you could say she is responsible for getting me out of the place.
“All her victories were on watered ground, but although she has won on the soft she doesn’t get the mile in those conditions and obviously I don’t have to worry on that score out here.
“I haven’t seen a cloud since I arrived.”
