Brilliant Speed To Bow Out In Breeders’ Cup Classic

US trainer Tom Albertrani has confirmed his attention to send his classy colt, Brilliant Speed, to bid for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on November 3 for what is likely to be the final race in the career of his charge, who is set to retire to stud soon after, writes Elliot Slater.

Although the son of Dynaformer has only won two races from 16 starts since making his debut at Belmont Park in September 2010, he has been campaigned at a high level and put up plenty of good performances in defeat against smart horses.

He also landed the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in April of last year to the surprise of punters eyeing the market movers today on Betfair, who saw him sent off a relatively unconsidered 19/1 shot.

On the back of that success, Brilliant Speed was handed an assignment in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and ran with credit to finish seventh behind Animal Kingdom, before putting up an even better effort when third to Ruler On Ice in the Belmont Stakes the following month.

After a number of solid efforts in the interim, Albertrani’s colt ended last term running a fine race to be third to St Nicholas Abbey in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Although without a win in six outings so far this term, Brilliant Speed has run with credit on a number of occasions and connections are hopeful he will go out with a bang in the Classic and appreciate the switch to dirt from turf.

A career standing at Three Chimneys Farm is already on the cards for the winner of more than £750,000 in prize money and the Breeders Cup odds currently rate him a top priced 20/1 chance to surprise some more fancied contenders and go out in style.