Head feels Anodin will fit well at Santa Anita

Freddy Head wasn’t at the Breeders’ Cup last year, which was somewhat surprising since Head, the French jockey turned trainer, has taken part in 12 of the 30 Breeders’ Cups. Quite often, he can be found winning the Mile. He rode Miesque to Mile victories in 1987 and 1988 and trained the great Goldikova to Mile wins in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Goldikova was third in the 2011 Mile, Moonlight Cloud finished eighth in 2012, and Head was out of Breeders’ Cup action in 2013.

His absence will not last long. Head confirmed Wednesday that he intends to return to the Breeders’ Cup this year – and where else would he go but the Mile? Anodin, who finished fifth Oct. 5 in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp, remains on course to start in the Mile, Head said. Olivier Peslier, Goldikova’s jockey, will ride him.

Anodin, a 4-year-old bred and owned by Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, has failed to win in five starts this year, but he is a good colt who has raced competitively against the best European milers of 2014 – Kingman, Toronado, and Olympic Glory – and his placing last weekend in the Foret would have been higher if not for stretch trouble.

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“He had to check and was very unlucky. I think he would have fought for the win otherwise,” said Head.

Head long has considered Anodin for the Mile. The colt, by Anabaa, wants firm going and a fast pace, characteristics atypical of French races but the norm at Santa Anita.

“He’s fast, I think he’ll turn well, and he’s quite handy. He won’t mind if the ground is a bit firm or on the fast side,” Head said. “He’s been improving all year. He was a backward horse at first.”

Head well knows who sits at the head of the Mile class: Wise Dan, who will try to equal Goldikova by winning his third straight Mile this year.

“I know he’s going to be a tough cookie,” Head said. “He’ll be hard to beat. I like going to the Breeders’ Cup, and my owners, they like it, too, so we’re going to have another try.”

There are no consequential Mile preps this weekend, and among races before the Breeders’ Cup, only the Oct. 18 Queen Elizabeth II at Ascot in England has much chance of producing a Mile starter. The England-based filly Kiyoshi, fifth in the Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes last weekend, now is an expected runner, giving her owner, Qatar Racing, a second Mile starter to go with Woodbine Mile winner Trade Storm.