Zenyatta firm favourite for Ladies Classic

Breeders Cup Ladies Classic entry Zenyatta is shaping up as one of the best bets of the 2008 Breeders Cup. If her trainer and jockey’s comments are anything to go by, bookmakers would do well to cut their losses and close their books before the race.

“I watch her, and she just blows my mind,” jockey Mike Smith told reporters this week. “When she makes that move and she’s running by everybody, I think, ‘How in the world are you passing these horses just galloping?’ It’s freaky. I’m in awe of her.”

Trainer John Shirreffs was no less effusive in his praise, telling reporters: “”She has a magnificent stride. She is a very big horse, has a huge shoulder, a great physical specimen, great lung capacity, big heart. She has a very big stride and has the ability to just get longer and lower as she goes along in a race.”

With eight wins from eight starts in just under a year of racing, Zenyatta is only 5 race wins away from matching Personal Ensign’s  perfect record of 13 unbeaten runs.

However, Zenyatta’s owner Jerry Moss is taking nothing for granted, and is aware of how rapidly fortunes can change in thoroughbred racing.

“She’ll still have to come up with her best effort to win this race,” Moss said this week. “We’re excited for her, but we don’t consider anything is in the bag.”