FRENCH racing has struggled to hold off foreign raiders in recent years, and something similar could be unfolding in Australia, where the three big races at Moonee Valley last Saturday went to Hunting Horn from Ireland (115, Moonee Valley Gold Cup), Chief Ironside from Britain (115, Schweppes Crystal Mile) and Lys Gracieux from Japan (125, Cox Plate).

Japan’s poster girl at present, Almond Eye, ran perhaps her most convincing race yet when taking the Tenno Sho at Tokyo last Sunday with a 126-rated performance.

This year’s Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita lacks a little class of past ones, but one consequence is that the betting on a lot of the races is more open.

Shancelot (rated 129) is my fancy for the Sprint, Circus Maximus (124) has what it takes to win a weak Mile, Old Persian (124) has as good a chance as any in the Turf, and Elate (123) should be there or thereabouts in the Classic with her sex allowance.