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Fev Rover, a familiar name, poses a significant threat to Inspiral in the upcoming Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita. Fev Rover aims to continue her recent dominance in North America.
Before joining Mark Casse, Fev Rover was a winner of the Star Stakes and a Deauville Group Two, as well as placing in the 2021 edition of the 1000 Guineas during her time racing in Britain.
Tracy Farmer bought her for 695,000 guineas at the end of the year, and since then, the mare has shown improvement with age, resulting in some outstanding performances this season. Fev Rover kicked off her 5YO campaign in Woodbine's Nassau Stakes, followed by Grade One triumphs in both the Beverly D Stakes and the E.P Taylor Stakes, where she accounted for Charlie Appleby's With The Moonlight.
Now, some British bookmakers are offering odds as short as 7-1 for her Breeders' Cup glory. Casse, who saddled Tepin to victory at Royal Ascot in 2016, believes that Fev Rover has all the right qualities to thrive around the tight turns of the famous California venue.
“I think Fev Rover has a big chance and she is training well,” said Casse.
“It looks like a real international race and obviously it is not going to be easy, but she is doing well and as far as things in North America go, she has kind of stamped herself as one of the better turf horses, that’s for sure.
“Her race at Saratoga was very good in the Diana (Stakes) and of course she won Beverley D. Both of those were around similar type turns and one thing about her, and I think it is one of the reasons why she is pretty good, is she is very versatile.
“If there is no speed she can go to the lead and if there is speed she can sit off them. She kind of makes her own race which is nice, she is not dependant on others.”
Fev Rover's impressive season not only positions her decorated handler for a seventh Breeders' Cup victory, but also places the mare in a strong position to be named Canadian Horse of the Year. Casse believes this recognition would be well-deserved, given the mare's development into a complete package this year.
“Looking at everyone’s accomplishments, as of today, she would be the favourite for horse of the year,” added the trainer.
“The only thing would be if one of the Canadian horses won at the Breeders’ Cup, that might hurt her chances.
“She has really grown up. Her physique and everything changed a lot from four to five and she’s a really stout filly now. She has just got really good and her behaviour is much better. She could misbehave some times but as she’s got older, she has got a little smarter about that.”
In 2018, the Filly & Mare Turf was last won by a North American-trained contender. This year, John and Thady Gosden’s Inspiral will be joined by Aidan O’Brien’s Yorkshire Oaks and Prix Vermeille heroine Warm Heart, Lumiere Rock trained by Joseph O’Brien, and State Occasion for Ralph Beckett. Casse anticipates a tough competition from this formidable group of raiders, as well as Japanese contender Win Marilyn. However, the experienced handler is focused solely on ensuring that Fev Rover is in the best possible condition for the race.
“I’m worried about six or seven of them! I’m sure the Euros will be tough, they always are,” he said when asked about the opposition.
“But in all honesty though, I kind of just worry about my own horse. There is nothing I can do about the competition so I don’t fret about it. I figure it is what it is and we have to try to beat them.”