Europe faces tough task in Texas, warns Biancone

The European contingent for the Breeders' Cup flew into Texas last night to be greeted by increasingly stormy weather and a warning that things could be extremely tough for them when the action begins at Lone Star Park on Saturday night.

Thunderstorms which gathered over the weekend in the Dallas area grew in strength yesterday and are likely to rumble on for most of the week according to local forecasters.

Sustained wet weather would come as bad news for Britain's top hope Ouija Board, who has thrived on a fast surface this season, and one of the leading American-based trainers has added a little spice to the occasion by arguing that he feels that even with a dual Oaks winner the European team "has no depth this year."

Patrick Biancone, who will saddle the former British-trained Magistretti for the Turf and Sense Of Style for the Juvenile Fillies' this weekend, argued that "the reason the Europeans are not coming this year is because they just don't have the horses to come.

"If you have the right horse and they run the Breeders' Cup at Timbuktu then they will come, but in Europe this year there is no depth."

Biancone also had a word of warning for any of the European raiders intent on swooping late from the rear in Saturday's races. Ouija Board is a confirmed hold up performer, as is last year's Mile heroine Six Perfections, but Biancone is adamant that jockeys who try to carry out exaggerated waiting tactics can find themselves in an embarrassing position round the tight turns of Lone Star.