Breeders Cup Turf Sprint: G1 winner the each-way play at 40/1

There are a couple of big beasts in the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint, namely Bacio and Comanche Brave. If they both turn up at Keeneland they'll take some beating.

But we still want to take an each-way swing at the one European runner we know for sure is headed stateside for this race (even Comanche Brave's connections haven't committed yet): Michael Appleby's Big Mojo, who can be backed at 40/1.

Rationale:

• Group 1 winner with many other high-quality runs at that level on his CV;

  
  

• Haydock Sprint Cup 9-length 3rd last time out feel like a highly creditable run on ground he simply hated; most unlikely to come up that soft at Keeneland;

  
  

• July Cup dud also a throw-out: was very isolated on the stands side away from the main action and (very unusually for him) pulled like an ox, probably as a result;

  
  

• Breeders Cup was always the plan, big positive that trainer Michael Appleby confirmed yesterday that Big Mojo will go straight there, bypassing Champions Day at Ascot;

  
  

• Handles racing round a bend in the US just fine, was beaten only a length in the 2024 Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint;

  
  

• This year's Turf Sprint configuration is a big plus: Big Mojo is a Group 1 winner over six furlongs, so 5.5 furlongs is a much better fit than the bare five that was a bit too short at Del Mar in 2024.

  
  

• Seems to have been around for ever but he's actually still a 4-year-old in his prime.

  
  

The win part of the bet is highly speculative but still fun at what is a monster price. However, the real value lies in the place part: this fellow is surely nowhere near 8/1 (equivalent price for the place part of the bet) to finish in the first three.

Recommendation: Back Big Mojo each-way at 40/1 to win the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland racecourse on Saturday 31 October. Price available with Paddy Power and Skybet. The 33/1with Bet365 is also value.