Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf: Two new Europeans would bring solid credentials

Dundonnell and Fantastic Moon are two new European candidates being considered for the Juvenile Turf, according to the International Racing Bureau, and both horses have the credentials to make a serious impact on the race.

Dundonnell has won two of four starts, the most important and most recent of which was two starts back in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York. In that race, Dundonnell scored by almost a length over Steeler, who earned high marks winning last month’s Group 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket.

In his last start, Dundonnell was a narrowly beaten second at 4-5 in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.

Fantastic Moon won the first two starts of his career, including the Group 3 Solario Stakes at Sandown. He was the 2-1 favorite of eight starters in the Royal Lodge but could manage only a fifth-place finish.

Artigiano, a strong second in the Royal Lodge in his best performance to date, is a possible candidate for the Juvenile Turf, for which he might arguably be the favorite. However, he is still also being considered for the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster on Oct. 27. Artigiano would be an outsider in the Racing Post Trophy, especially with the highly regarded Battle Of Marengo going in that race.

The participation of European horses in the Juvenile Turf is noteworthy because they have won three of the five runnings of the event – Donativum in 2008, Pounced in 2009, and Wrote last year. Also worthy of note is that Donativum and Pounced won at Santa Anita, the site of this year’s Breeders’ Cup.