Breeders' Cup 2016: A guide to the latest edition of America's lucrative two-day race series

Ron Wood, International Racing Expert from the Racing Post, previews the 2016 Breeders' Cup from Santa Anita...

Sprint - A small field and it is disappointing Lord Nelson has been withdrawn but still a good, competitive race. Drefong and Masochistic have been doing their winning from the front so they aren't going to help each other, and A. P. Indian and Limousine Liberal, who were separated by just a nose when running 1-2 in a Keeneland Grade 2 last time, should be well placed to pounce, with the latter most tempting. He found this all a bit much with the selection in last year's Sprint but was better than ever with blinkers added on that latest start and still has potential, so h is worth another chance.

Turf - Found has had a week longer to recover from Ascot compared to when she won this last year, although this will be her tenth run of the campaign compared to the Turf being her eighth start of 2015. She is such a tough filly, although Aidan O'Brien seemed to have some reservations about her competing in this race owing to the really firm ground - it will be firmer than at Keeneland last season.

The feeling is to play against her. O'Brien, who has won this race five times, has another chance with Highland Reel and, of the two, this one is preferred, but Flintshire is taken to handling them both. The selection was runner-up to Highland Reel in last year's Hong Kong Vase, but he has since switched to Chad Brown and gets medication these days. Forget his last run - he is with an excellent trainer who will have him spot on for this.

Mile - Tepin may not be quite the force she was when winning this year, while Limato should find the trip within reach but will have to get the splits around this tight circuit, and there are plenty of interesting alternative options in an intriguing race. Alice Springs is solid enough, while What A View and Spectre are tempting at big prices, but Ironicus is most appealing. A top-two finisher in 12 of 13 turf starts, his latest run screamed 'Breeders' Cup Mile'. He had been off for four months and raced in an unpromising position, but flew home for second. With more pace to run at this time, he can explode past them all in the straight.

Classic - California Chrome is one of the greats of the sport and comes into this at his peak so if he runs to form it will take a special performance to deny him. However, two of his rivals, Arrogate and Frosted, have run races this year that fall into the 'great' category. They've only done it once, so the question is whether they can do it again, but it's worth betting Arrogate is up to the task for a trainer who has won the last two runnings. The selection showed at Saratoga he can sustain strong fractions over this distance and if he repeats such brilliance then California Chrome will have to raise his level again. As for Frosted, maybe he is better over shorter but he can cruise through this and, if Chrome and Arrogate engage early, he could be the freshest horse come the straight. What a race in prospect.