CIGAR, on the verge of setting a new record in tomorrow's Grade One Pacific Classic (10f) at Del Mar, completed his preparations in good style in front of a 7,500 crowd at Saratoga.
The 1995 American Horse of the Year breezed five furlongs in just over one minute prompting big race pilot, Jerry Bailey, to comment: "The horse worked very well and was very willing."
Cigar's bid to set a new modern American record of 17 consecutive wins has been made easier by the defection of Soul Of The Matter, who gave the Bill Mott charge such a fright in the Dubai World Cup in March.
Soul Of the Matter pulled up lame after a training gallop and is expected to be retired.
Cigar has been made 5 to 1 on favourite to make the record. He will face five opponents, with Siphon (5 to 1) and Tinners Way (8 to 1), a winner of the past two editions of the race, expected to follow him home.
Anabaa, the French flyer which cheated death, is riding high at the moment, and Criquette Head's July Cup winner will face a maximum of nine rivals, including Blue Duster, in the Group One Prix Maurice de Gheest (6 1/2f) at Deauville on Sunday.
Head had to endure disappointment at Deauville yesterday when her much touted juvenile, Majorien, could manage only fourth to Spring Dance in the £23,715 Prix des Yearlines (7f).
Paul Cole's El Opera (fifth) and Barry Hills's Aunty Jane (sixth) were British disappointments in £18,445 Listed Prix de la Calonne (1m) won by Hill Silver on the same Deauville card.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)