Aidan O’Brien has just landed in California only to receive unsettling news as two of his top horses were assigned unfavorable starting positions at the upcoming Breeders’ Cup event.
O’Brien’s exceptional season has positioned him near making racing history, as he requires three more Group 1 victories to match his own record of 28 top-level wins in a year and one more triumph to become the most successful Breeders’ Cup trainer ever.
The renowned Ballydoyle trainer has eight opportunities to enhance his current tally of 20 Cup victories over the weekend, with Minnie Hauk, the runner-up at Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, leading the charge in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Among his other prominent contenders are Precise, the winner of the Fillies’ Mile, set to compete in the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf, and Gstaad, the second-place finisher at Dewhurst Stakes, taking on the Juvenile Turf.
Despite the hope for inside draws on the tight turf track at Del Mar, both Precise and Henri Matisse faced unfavorable post positions, with Precise starting from the 13th stall and Henri Matisse from the 14th.
The news of the poor draws led bookmakers to adjust their odds, with Precise now at 11-10 from Evens and Gstaad at 11-10 from 4-5.
William Hill’s spokesperson, Lee Phelps, commented on the situation, stating that the challenging berths for Precise and Gstaad could diminish their chances on the compact Del Mar course.
O’Brien can find solace in Henri Matisse’s victory from stall 12 at the Juvenile Turf on the same track a year ago.
Having observed his horses on the track for the first time, O’Brien mentioned during the Breakfast at the Breeders’ Cup show that they appeared content and relaxed during their initial outing.
Looking ahead, the horses will head to the start on Wednesday, visit the paddocks on Thursday, and return to the track on Friday for their final preparations.
When asked about the unfavorable draws, O’Brien acknowledged the luck of the draw and mentioned that they would consider jockey Christophe Soumillon’s perspective on the matter.