Santa Anita racing best bet: 1000 Guineas winner Mawj primed to confirm class in Breeders' Mile

20:30 Santa Anita: Breeders’ Cup Mile (1 mile)  

Two horses in particular appear to be peaking at just the right time, and if that form is carried into this race then the other dozen starters are likely to be battling for the minor places.

Japan’s main hope is Toro Hayashi’s Songline, who has developed into a very smart mare who put a combined 32 rivals behind her when landing back-to-back successes on home soil in Tokyo during the summer.

He turns up here well prepped after coming within a nose of completing a hat-trick when runner-up to Elton Barows in the Group 2 Mainicho Okan four weeks ago, and she looks the one to beat here.

The one who looks most capable of doing so is Saeed bin Suroor’s three-year-old Mawj, who is jostling with Songline for the favourite tag at around the 3/1 mark.

A promising juvenile season quickly confirmed her potential when landing back-to-back high-profile races in Meydan in early 2023, which immediately had connections targeting the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in May.

She promptly obliged, winning by half a length from Tahiyra who has since franked that form with a stellar group 1 season of her own, including the Irish 1000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes.

Mawj has been well prepared for this on American soil, and barely had to extend herself to finish ahead of eight rivals in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland three weeks ago.

The likes of Master Of The Seas, Kelina and homegrown hope Gina Romantica will be hoping to have their say, but it’s hard to see past the two market principals here, with Mawj just getting the nod to give Oisin Murphy a notable win.