Giant`s Causeway, the so called 'iron horse', will need a tungsten hide when he steps into the ring against America`s best in tonight`s Breeders` Cup Classic.
But the Irish colt will get no better compliment than the unwillingness of the locals to write off his chances.
This is unusual in the Breeders` Cup. The usual European afterthought attitude towards world racing`s richest day has meant that Americans usually pour shovels of salt on the visitors` posturing. It`s hard to blame them. The list of top Europeans blown away in the Breeders` Cup is too long for that.
All of which makes the task facing the two Irish runners in tonight`s big race all the more awesome. Dermot Weld`s Pine Dance has won twice from four trips to the US already this year and has proven he is a better operator on dirt than grass.
But it is Giant`s Causeway who is exercising the minds of the locals. Yes, he is in Churchill Downs after a very busy season already and, yes, he is a virgin on dirt. And as if all that isn`t enough, he has even got the 'car park draw' on the wide outside. But they still won`t discount him.
Part of that may be the wish to find a genuine opponent for the popular Fusaichi Pegasus, but it`s also a genuine respect for the talent and toughness of an American-bred who has lit up the European season.
But having said all that, there is no getting away from Giant`s Causeway`s task this evening. He has to adapt to an alien surface and an alien racing style and do it in the two-and-a-half minutes it will take the cream of the United States to decide a $4 million pot.
If he does it he will prove himself a truly remarkable champion, and maybe he is just that.
But from a betting point of view the value must be elsewhere. It may even be away from Fusaichi Pegasus, who in the past has exhibited all the wilfulness, as well as talent, of the truly privileged.
Instead, there are those increasingly looking at Tiznow, a horsewho was azero six months ago and is something of a hero now after winning the Louisiana Super Derby and Goodwood Handicap on his last two starts.
O`Brien also runs Turnberry Isle in the Juvenile, where Arazi`s half brother Noverre also figures.
But if the Europeans are going to make their mark it will be probably be in the turf races, as per usual.
The Turf has four from Britain and the mighty Montjeu from France. Even in his pomp, Montjeu would have found firm ground and an extremely tight track against him, and sadly he is very far from his pomp now. That is only reinforced by the confidence growing in Fantastic Light, the Godolphin colt who won the Man O War and now looks completely acclimatised. Fantastic Light couldn`t live with Montjeu in the King George in July, yet just over three months later is fancied to at least finish best of the visitors.
Four British horses and a French one fly the European flag in the Mile, but this time it`s the French who canpick up the spoils with Dansili. No one knows better than Andre Fabre how to get the best out of horses in the US, the flat speedy mile should be just right for the colt and Dansili should relish the fast ground.
John Murtagh is already a Breeders` Cup winner with Ridgewood Pearl and will be hoping to double his tally on another super filly in Petrushka. However, at current odds she is hardly a value bet. Maybe there isn`t a value bet in the race, but if there is it could be Bob Baffert`s Ramona winner Caffe Latte.
But for fillies the real Breeders` Cup focus is on the Distaff. The Brazilian import Riboletta is a genuine champion who beat another genuine champion, Beautiful Please, in the Beldame Stakes. And then there are those who will tell you Heritage Of Gold is a champion too.
It`s the smallest race of the night but Riboletta could make it one of the most spectacular.
