ITM Plus · Breeders’ Cup Package
This One’s on Us
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One of the most eye-catching sights during morning training on Breeders’ Cup week is watching the contingent of internationally acclaimed conditioner Aidan O’Brien. The horses will all go to the track together and train in a single file line, which horse racing social media has dubbed “Aidan’s Army”.
O’Brien’s 10 Breeders’ Cup horses cleared quarantine and trained at Keeneland for the first time on Tuesday morning just after 8:30 AM. The group of horses was led by Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Mile entrant Puerto Rico, a close third in the Group 1 Prix de la Foret at Longchamp last out, but much attention was on 2-year-old filly and three-time Group 1-winner Sun Goddess who is one of the most accomplished juveniles that O’Brien has brought over for the Breeders’ Cup.
O’Brien, who flew in Monday night by way of Ballydoyle Training Center, was on hand to oversee his horses’ final preparations for this weekend’s races. On the way back to the barn, he was greeted by Sky Sports reporter Matt Chapman who fittingly sported an “Aidan Is Coming To Get You” t-shirt.
O’Brien indeed has come to get his competition in numerous years during Breeders’ Cup, including in 2022 when Keeneland last played host. That year, O’Brien captured three Breeders’ Cup races with Victoria Road (Juvenile Turf), Meditate (Juvenile Fillies Turf) and Tuesday (Filly and Mare Turf). But despite having won 21 Breeders’ Cup races, O’Brien realizes how difficult creating Breeders’ Cup winners can be.
“These races are always tough every year, and we bring some of the best horses we have when we come,” O’Brien said. “But it’s not simple, it’s quite difficult. They have to make the travel over, and get settled in. Then, they have to get the right breaks and the right trips, so a lot has to go right.
“They all seemed fine. Some of them lost more weight than others, the 2-year-olds lost less weight than the older horses, but that’s the way it is. We find that after a day, they start putting it back on and then once we get them out to the track they start coming back. The lads seem to be very happy with the way they all went this morning.”
O’Brien spoke highly of Sun Goddess, who enters the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf from wins in the Group 1 Cheveley Park on September 26 at Newmarket and the Group 1 Moyglare Stud at The Curragh only two weeks prior.
“She looks to be very special,” O’Brien said. “She looks very unique in everything that she does. She’s relaxed, she has a big, long stride, and she has a lovely mind. It’s going to be interesting and it’s delightful that the lads have come here with her. She is drawn out, which may be a slight disadvantage. But she is very exciting.”
When asked if he had any other 2-year-old start in the Breeders’ Cup with as many credentials as Sun Goddess, O’Brien mentioned 2001 Juvenile winner Johannesburg who also entered with three Group 1 wins.
“He probably wasn’t as scopey as this filly is,” O’Brien said.
In pursuit of his ninth victory in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, O’Brien will saddle four contestants in that event including Haffner, who won going the distance in the last out Group 2 Royal Lodge at Newmarket. He also sends out two-time Group stakes winner Great Barrier Reef, who won his first three starts and finished third last out in the Group 1 Dewhurst at Newmarket.
“Great Barrier Reef is a very offhanded and relaxed horse,” O’Brien said. “Haffer ran a great race with him getting the mile at Newmarket last time, and he should get the mile and a quarter next year.”
In the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, O’Brien has 3-year-old filly Precise, a four-time Group 1-winner who finished second in the Group 1 Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp last out. Piloted by Ryan Moore, she raced in midpack to the inside of eventual winner Miss Scott, piloted by Christophe Soumillion, in the early stages. At the top of the stretch, Miss Scott made her move and was in command just past the 300 meter mark. Precise made a late rally, but was unable to reel in the winner.
“We were delighted with her. Ryan had to take his time on her and Christophe had his eye on Ryan so he knew where he was in the race,” O’Brien said. “He wasn’t going to move until the race was over. We were really happy with her run. Everything has gone great since then so we’re excited for this race.”
Aidan O’Brien guns for an eighth Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf victory with Group 1 Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini—a son of 2018 Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Newspaperofrecord—and four-time Group 1 winner Diamond Necklace. Both stablemates arrive fresh from the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, where Diamond Necklace finished a strong third and Benvenuto Cellini checked in ninth.
Benvenuto Cellini broke slowly out of the gate in the Arc, and lacked racing room in the stretch to finish 4 ¼ lengths behind the victorious Daryz.
“He ran much better in the Arc than anyone thought. He’s a big, long striding horse and the trip was the last thing he wanted. So, we’re putting a line through that race and we think we know why that happened. We always thought this race was made for him. He was a bit slow away in France and still ran a good race. We’ve done a good bit with him in the stall since, so hopefully he’ll get away from there better.”
Of Diamond Necklace, O’Brien said: “I think you’re really going to have to ride her to get the trip, whereas with [Benvenuto Cellini], you can be very straightforward on him.”
O’Brien is not the only European trainer with past Breeders’ Cup success at Keeneland. Trainer Charlie Appleby also won three races in 2022 with Rebel’s Romance (Turf), Modern Games (Mile), and Mischief Magic (Juvenile Turf Sprint). This year, he is represented by two Godolphin color bearers in reigning Mile winner Notable Speech, and El Cordobes, who was third in last year’s Turf.
Both horses were amongst the first European contenders to visit the track on Tuesday morning and went to the track at 7:30 AM under the watchful eye of Appleby’s head traveling lad Chris Connett.
Notable Speech was ridden by Colm O’Donoghue while Jamie Lynwood was on El Cordobes.
Notable Speech is a winner of 10-of-19 starts, including seven Grade/Group 1 events. This year, the son of Dubawi won the Group 1 Lockinge in May at Newbury and the Group 1 City of York before defending his title in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile.
El Cordobes enters the Turf from a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic. The 5-year-old son of Frankel was won his North American debut in last year’s Grade 1 Sword Dancer (now the Christophe Clement) at Saratoga two starts before finishing third in the Turf.
“They got out to the track this morning, flew in Saturday night, and went through the whole quarantine procedures,” Connett said. “I was very happy with how they went this morning. It can make you a bit nervous getting them out there on the first day, but they trained really well and we’re satisfied.”
Connett made the trip to Keeneland four years ago when Appleby had his most successful Breeders’ Cup to date.
“We’ve been very fortunate with the horses that Charlie has brought over,” Connett said. “Each year you learn a little bit more about the type of horse that you want to bring. One of Charlie’s biggest strengths is knowing what you need to have to be competitive here. Obviously, we have a returning champion in Notable Speech and we know that he’s made for it.”
Connett spoke of Notable Speech’s City of York victory in August over good to soft ground.
“There was a bit of cut in the ground that day. It was nice to see an added facet to him. The weather forecast looks like it will be dry to the weekend.” Connect said “Notable Speech might have a slightly higher profile [than Modern Games] with some of the races that he’s won in the UK. They’re both really consistent hard-knocking horses. Royal Ascot isn’t his [Notable Speech] favorite place, but when you get him to North America he shows up every time.”
El Cordobes had the lead at the top of the stretch in the last out Joe Hirsch, but was unable to stave off the late charge of the victorious Minaret Station. The Joe Hirsch was his first start since finishing fifth in the Group 2 Amir Trophy in February at Doha Racecourse.
“El Cordobes had break and he ran in the Joe Hirsch and got a little tired that day,” Connett recalled. “If you go off his form of last year, he was third in this race last year at Del Mar. If he can find that kind of form, he’ll be right there.”
