tabor excited by 'tip-top' run

By Neil Morrice, PA Sport

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Hurricane Run's owner Michael Tabor emphasised the importance of some cut in the ground in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

Tabor would also prefer to see a fast pace for Andre Fabre's charge in Saturday's mile-and-a-half contest.

He said: "He's been a little disappointing but Kieren (Fallon) got locked up in the Arc half a mile out when there were several top horses all boxing for positions and it was impossible to find a way out.

"At Newmarket (in the Champion Stakes) he was out in the middle of the track but it turned out the rail was the place to be.

"Andre is a special trainer and he tells me the horse is in tip-top form.

"I hope he can put the race to bed on Saturday and if there is any juice in the ground - as well as a good pace - it will give him a much better chance.

"Scorpion is the type of horse who could lie handy and that would be a help, not a hindrance."

Hurricane Run was backed into favouritism with Stan James, who cut him to 3-1 from 7-2 as English Channel slid out to 7-2 from 3s.

The 2005 Arc hero was as short as 11-4 favourite with William Hill.

Tabor was equally upbeat about George Washington in the Breeders' Cup Classic and believes Aidan O'Brien's star will be crowned undisputed world champion if succeeding on the dirt at the weekend.

He added: "If he ran a great race here on Saturday, he would be recognised as a great horse in America as well as in Europe.

"It's a hell of a challenge but if he were to win, boy would I be excited.

"He's a very exciting horse, of that there's no doubt.

"I'm a tennis fan and I'm comparing this situation to Pete Sampras.

"He was just fantastic on hard courts or grass but put him on clay and he wasn't the same.

"I hope the same will not be the case with George.

"The same provisos apply and I just want to see him do his stuff."