indian ready for mile test

By PA Sport Staff

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Connections of Sleeping Indian are well aware of the uphill challenge he faces in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Mile at Churchill Downs.

John Gosden's five-year-old took a tour of the main dirt track on Tuesday before being introduced to some other corners of the racecourse he will visit on race day.

Gosden's travelling head lad Barry O'Dowd said: "We had a little bit of a walk round the yard, a bit of trot on the track and then we took him into the paddock for a good look round, just to get him used to the surroundings and he took it all in his stride. It's all systems go."

Sleeping Indian, who will be partnered by local rider Alex Solis, will face top American runner Aragorn, Jeremy Noseda's Araafa and Gorella, third in the race last year.

The Godolphin pair of Librettist and Echo Of Light also line up and O'Dowd admits it will be a tough field to crack.

"You've always got to be optimistic. He's coming off a good win at Newmarket in the Challenge Stakes so we'll see what happens," he added.

"Obviously it's going to be tough but we're talking about championship races, they're always very hard and you need a lot of luck in running. We hope he runs well."

Rob Roy, another Mile hopeful, showed up well in a spin on Tuesday and work rider Kevin Bradshaw was pleased with the ground.

He said: "It walked firm but it doesn't ride it. It's good, fast ground, I think."

American jockey Ramon Dominguez has been booked to pilot Rob Roy for the first time on Saturday.