ARCADIA, United States: John Gosden thinks Europeans with their sights on Breeders’ Cup glory do well to aim at the turf races, and he’s pointed The Fugue at the biggest one there is.

The English trainer formerly based in California says the horses bred and trained to run on US dirt tracks are a different animal to those used to the turf courses of Europe.

So while he wishes Classic contenders such as the Aidan O’Brien-trained Declaration of War and Marco Botti-trained Planteur luck on the dirt track at Santa Anita on Saturday, he’s sticking with the grass.

The Fugue will try to become just the third filly to win the 1 1/2-mile, $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf.

The race offers a chance at redemption after a third-place finish in the 2012 Filly and Mare Turf, when she was hemmed in inside for much of the 1/4 mile race.

Rather than point her at a second try in that race, The Fugue’s connections opted for the tougher Turf, a longer race against a field of males. The last filly to win the Turf was 42-1 shot Miss Alleged in 1991.

“I think we’ve slightly taken the bold step, I’ll admit that,” Gosden said, adding that The Fugue would face quality competition from Point of Entry as well as returning 2012 Turf winner Little Mike.

“But she’s a filly in good form, and we thought to be bold and go for the big one,” he added of The Fugue, who won back-to-back Group One victories this year including a 1 1/4-length win over males in the Irish Champion Stakes in September.

Sixteen European contenders are entered in the 14 Breeders’ Cup races spread over Friday and Saturday in a $27 million racing festival.

But the fact that it comes close on the heels of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Ascot Champions Day in October may have caused some to opt out, while others may be more attracted by a rich payday in Hong Kong on December 6.

Olympic Glory, trained by four-time British champion trainer Richard Hannon, is targeting the $2 million Mile on Santa Anita’s tight turf course.

Olympic Glory, winner of the Queen Elizabeth II Mile on Champions Day by six lengths, will be ridden by Hannon’s son-in-law Richard Hughes.

But the horse to beat in the Mile is returning champion, and 2012 US Horse of the Year, Wise Dan.

Wise Dan, trained by Charles LoPresti, will be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez in an effort to repeat in the race.

“He couldn’t be doing any better,” LoPresti said.