Storms greet European raiders

The 11-strong European raiding party for the Breeders’ Cup flew into Texas late yesterday to be greeted by a stormy reception.

Heavy and thundery showers delayed the arrival of the plane carrying the team into Dallas Love Field Airport, having left Shannon in Ireland at 6.10am local time on Monday.

Monday started brightly with temperatures soon approaching the unseasonal heights of last week when they reached the 90s.

But by lunchtime things had taken a turn for the worse with flash floods reported around the Dallas-Fort Worth area later in the day.

And the bad news from local forecasters is that more of the same is predicted to be on the way in the run-up to Saturday’s prestigious meeting at Lone Star Park.

Soft ground could be seriously detrimental to the prospects of many of the main European hopes, not least Ouija Board and Six Perfections.

Fortunately the high temperatures will mean that one dry day could cancel out all of the rain if it does arrive, however the uncertain weather will nevertheless remain a concern.

The main attraction at the track on Monday was the arrival of reigning champion Pleasantly Perfect, a hot favourite to land back-to-back runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Camera crews flocked to meet the six-year-old as he enjoyed a leisurely pick of grass on the way to his barn.

Pleasantly Perfect pleased trainer Richard Mandella in a final workout at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Beaten only once in his four outings this year, his handler knows that victory in the Classic and then the Japan Cup Dirt – the race which is scheduled to be his last – would make his charge the all-time leading money-winner.

“He’s getting nearer to it,” said Mandella. “Hopefully with two good runs he can do it. He’s training well and he will just gallop up the race now.”

Pleasantly Perfect is a 7-4 chance for the Classic with William Hill.