Santa Anita racing tip: Auguste Rodin can seal stellar season with Breeders’ Cup glory

21:50 Santa Anita: Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (1 mile 4 furlongs)  

Working from the bottom of the betting upwards, eight of the 13 runners carry a hefty double-digit price with few looking likely to outrun their odds in light of the quality to be found at the top of the market.

Of the five betting principals, arguably the best value at the price is Roger Varian’s King Of Steel, who could consider himself unfortunate to come up against a red-hot Auguste Rodin in the Epsom Derby, and of course he gave Frankie Dettori a fairytale final Ascot ride when landing the Champion Stakes at Ascot two weeks ago.

He could have a big say here if he manages the quick turnaround, but even so he will need a career-best performance to get his nose in front of the two market leaders, Mostahdaf and Auguste Rodin.

The former confirmed his potential when winning the Prince Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot and that was further endorsed when landing the Juddmonte International Stakes at York in August.

Mostahdaf’s previous efforts over a mile and a half have been inconsistent, so this step up could be a test and possibly gives the edge to Auguste Rodin whose own form can follow something of a zero-sum pattern, including stellar wins with unexpected goose-eggs.

The blemishes came in the 2000 Guineas (12th of 14) and the King George at Ascot (last of 10), but his six other most recent outings all ended with a visit to the winner’s enclosure.

Those successes include impressive wins in both the Epsom and the Irish Derby’s, and were rounded off nicely with the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown in September.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien has saddled six previous winners of the Breeders’ Cup, albeit none since Highland Reel back in 2016, and having teamed up with Ryan Moore to win the Juvenile Turf with Unquestionable on the opening day, Auguste Rodin could be in line to follow suit.