Cumani Duo Fine Ahead Of Cup Challenge

Luca Cumani confirmed Starcraft and Alkaased have arrived in New York safe and well ahead of the Breeders´ Cup on Saturday.

Starcraft will be bidding for victory in the Breeders´ Cup Classic - he is a 6-1 chance with Paddy Power - while Alkaased is a general 12-1 to win the Breeders´ Cup Turf.

'They are both well and left on Friday and travelled through the night and arrived Saturday morning,' Cumani told At the Races.

'My travelling head lad assures me everything went smoothly. They are settling in well but are a little bit jet-lagged - it won´t take too long to adjust though.'

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winner Starcraft will be ridden by American jockey Pat Valenzuela, while Frankie Dettori will be aboard Alkaased, who finished fifth in the Champion Stakes last time out.

Although Cumani acknowledges his two charges face difficult assignments against their American rivals, the Newmarket handler is still confident of landing his first Breeders´ Cup success since Barathea´s victory in 1994.

'It´s very difficult because they (the Americans) are at home and we are away,' Cumani continued.

'They´ve had a long journey and a change of scenery and a change in the racing conditions.

'The turf races are ran on a smallish track with a short straight and if you run on the dirt races you get a change of surface as well.

'All in all it´s very challenging, but it can be done.'

(C) PA Sport