BREEDERS' CUP PREVIEW:THERE MAY be plenty of questions nagging trainer Steve Asmussen about Curlin's Breeders' Cup Classic title defence at Santa Anita today, but for most of those outside his barn the superstar has all the answers.
While Asmussen has spent his week at the California track grappling the imponderables facing his 2007 Horse of the Year and 2008 Dubai World Cup winner, experts, oddsmakers and rivals have been singing the praises of Curlin.
The horse, who romped to Classic victory in the slop at New Jersey's Monmouth Park 12 months ago, was installed as 7 to 5 favourite on the official Morning Line following Tuesday's post position draw.
Yet as the €4 million main event draws near, the pace of the race, Curlin's trip on Santa Anita's new synthetic Pro-Ride track and the unknown quantities he faces from European challengers Duke of Marmalade, Henrythenavigator and Raven's Pass, are all problems facing Asmussen.
The trainer at least allowed himself the confidence that his four-year-old 2007 Preakness winner would have the smarts to deal with any situation, especially with jockey Robby Albarado at the helm.
The main concern is the new synthetic surface, with Asmussen drawing parallels with Curlin's debut on grass in July at Belmont Park, which ended in a second place behind Red Rocks in the Grade One Man o' War Stakes.
"We're talking about Curlin because of his accomplishments on the dirt, so of course (the new surface) is where all the questions come from."
Aidan O'Brien goes into battle with Duke Of Marmalade and Henrythenavigator, and admitted a victory in the Classic would be up there with his greatest achievements.
"They're two great horses and they've given their all, and if we're lucky enough to do it we'd be over the moon; I could not describe to you what it would mean. But you don't think of those things happening, you do your best for it to happen and sometimes you make the right decisions and sometimes you don't, but if it did happen it would be unbelievable."
With 21 Group One wins in 2008, O'Brien has a chance to surpass American trainer Bobby Frankel's world record of 25, but he insisted the milestone was not his highest priority.
O'Brien said that had the record been his main objective he would have steered Henrythenavigator towards his best distance in the Mile rather than point him at the mile-and-a-quarter Classic.
"We always try to do what we think is the right thing for the horse and the system and we didn't feel he had anything to prove by running in the Mile," he said.
"If we wanted to be safe and didn't want to expose him we would have stuck to the Mile and he'd probably have been a short-priced favourite. This is more exciting."
