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Aidan O’Brien String Exits Quarantine And Steps Out At Keeneland Ahead Of The Breeders’ Cup

Tuesday marked the first day the seven-strong Aidan O'Brien string got a taste of the Keeneland track ahead of the two-day Breeders' Cup on Nov. 4-5.

Leading the Coolmore partners septet after their quarantine period was Group 1 winner Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and G3 Derby Trial S. hero Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who both line up in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf and will leave from stalls four and three, respectively. Second in the 2021 Turf to Godolphin and Charlie Appleby's Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) at Del Mar, Broome took the G2 Hardwicke S. from six starts this term and enters the Breeders' Cup having run eighth in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe last out at the beginning of October.

“Looking at the team, we have two horses in the Turf,” O'Brien said. “Broome ran very well in the race last year. Conditions have not always been in his favour, but I think he will enjoy the ground if it's quick.

“His one flaw is he misses the break. He's a late loader, but he can get on the back foot. We are trying to do things to help him break better. He broke badly at Del Mar under Irad [Ortiz, Jr.] and he rides him again. That day he gave him a chance and said he couldn't believe he got beat.

“Stone Age ran well [when fifth] in the heavy [G1 Champion S.] and is comfortable over a mile and a half, but I think there'll be no more rain this week and the going will be different for him.”

Already a Breeders' Cup winner after taking the GI Mile in 2020, Order Of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) aims to take his second Mile. The 5-year-old entire ran second in the G1 Prix du Moulin to Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in September and he was third to the re-opposing Annapolis (War Front) and Ivar (Brz) (Agnes Gold {Jpn}) in the GI Coolmore Turf Mile S. over this course and distance on Oct. 8. He exits stall 10 in the 16-horse field.

“We have Order Of Australia in the Mile, going for a repeat of two years ago,” O'Brien said. “I was very happy with his run at Keeneland and he was drawn out a bit. I've taken my time with him all year and have just gently turned the screw on him and his last work was very pleasing. We bred him and still own a leg in him.”

O'Brien also has a pair of fillies entered in the GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf in listed winner and G1 Irish Oaks runner-up Toy (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G1 Cazoo Oaks victress Tuesday (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Ryan Moore will be aboard Tuesday and will leave from barrier five, while Wayne Lordan has the call on Toy. The latter pair have drawn gate seven.

O'Brien said, “Tuesday is very well, she has a nice draw. It was bad ground when she ran in France [G1 Prix de l'Opera], but her work has been very good.

“Toy has made very good progress since her last race, she has a good draw and the trip and ground should be fine for her.”

Consistent filly Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never), who is four-for-six, flies the flag for O'Brien in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Besides winning her first four starts in succession, including group victories in the G3 Coolmore Stud Fillies Sprint S., G3 Albany S., and the G2 Debutante S., the dark bay rolled a pair of twos in the G1 Moyglare Stud S. and the G1 Cheveley Park S. both in September.

“Meditate is one I really like stepping up in trip and I think that, coupled with going round a bend, will help her,” he said. “She's a No Nay Never out of a mare by Dalakhani (Ire) and we are still learning about these No Nay Nevers who are fast, precocious horses. Meditate has plenty of stamina on the dam's side, we are still working out about what we do with her next year.

“She's never lost a kilo since her last run, we've given her the chance to back out in her work but there are no negative signs. She's also got a good mind and is a hardy filly whose constitution will also help her with the distance.”

The master of Rosegreen also saddles G3 Prix de Conde hero Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. He's drawn in stall one and will be ridden by Ryan Moore.

“Our 2-year-old colt [Victoria Road] came from a good bit back at Chantilly and we think he could develop into a [G1] French Derby horse,” O'Brien said. “The main thing is that we don't want him to get lost early in his race on Friday, but I feel it's only when he goes further that we will see him in a better light.”

O'Brien also reflected on the strong European Breeders' Cup participation, and added, “It's always good to see Charlie Appleby with his team at the Breeders' Cup. He's a very good trainer, he's doing a great job and has an adept team of horses and people to bring with him.

“We love coming to Keeneland because its weather can be similar to ours and everyone here is horsey minded, like we are in Ireland. You have to be tactically quick around here, but you need to be able to finish off your race as well.

“We will be looking at the ground, but in my opinion I prefer it quick because Flat horses should be all about speed.”

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Breeders’ Cup Notes: War Like Goddess, Domestic Spending, Tyler’s Tribe Add Intrigue to Turf Races

While all eyes were on where undefeated superstar Flightline (Tapit) would be slotted at Monday's Breeders' Cup draw, and overall the dirt races this weekend have gotten a bit more attention, the fields for the turf contests also bring plenty of interesting storylines.

George Krikorian's War Like Goddess (English Channel) was the beaten favorite when finishing a close third in last year's GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, and received that betting attention because of her utter dominance over her fellow American turf mares. This year, trainer Bill Mott has decided to try to conquer new territory for the 5-year-old, as she defeated males in her first try in the GI Joe Hirsch Turf Invitational S. last out and this time will take on the boys in the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf.

The seven-time graded stakes winner continued her preparations for the 1 1/2-mile test with a gallop over the Keeneland dirt track at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

“She's as good a turf horse as we've got in our country,” Mott said. “That doesn't mean she has to win on Saturday, but she's a competitor and she's done very well throughout her entire career. We've won the race a couple times and it would be really nice to win it with a filly.”

War Like Goddess seeks to give Mott a third Turf win, but first since he scored with Fraise in 1992. He also took the 1987 renewal with Theatrical (Ire). Mott explained that the decision to race her in the $4-million Turf mostly has to do with the 1 3/16-mile distance of the $2-million Filly & Mare Turf being too short for the star mare.

“First of all, it's not about the money, it's about winning. Frankly, if you win, the money follows. Sometimes I don't even know the size of the purse,” Mott explained. “With her, it happens to be the distance. I think that she's a true mile-and-three-eighths, mile-and-a-half horse and we wanted to get her in that type of race and that's what we did last time [in the 12-furlong Hirsch]. We ran her against the boys and she pulled it off. She was very good. A mile and three-sixteenths was probably just a little short for her. That doesn't mean she couldn't get up, but I think she's a little more effective [going longer] … and it is a big purse.”

In the GI Breeders' Cup FanDuel Mile, trainer Chad Brown will try something outside the box with Klaravich Stables' multiple Grade I winner Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}). Sporting a record of six wins in eight career starts, the gelding figured to be among the favorites in last year's Turf, but had to be sidelined because of an injury. Now, in total, he hasn't raced in over 14 months, having most recently run second in the 2021 GI Mister D. S. in August at Arlington.

“I have thankfully good horses in my barn for him to work with, even if I haven't had the benefit of a prep race for him,” Brown said. “A few weeks ago, I started to watch him work thinking this is a possibility. I know it's a tall order, but all I can do is get him ready to run the best race I can and he's going to have to work out his own trip. We are going to find out if he needed the benefit of that prep race. It's a likely possibility that it will affect him–I'm not confused about that–but there's also a chance that he's such a brilliant racehorse that he can overcome it, especially if the dynamics of the race fall right for him.”

The Cinderella story of the Breeders' Cup is Iowa-based Tyler's Tribe (Sharp Azteca), the undefeated and untested gelding owned by Tom Lepic and trainer Tim Martin who will contest Friday's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. Five-for-five so far in his career, all races coming over dirt, the speedy dark bay got a spin over the Keeneland turf Tuesday morning.

“We did the turf today, will walk Wednesday, go to the gate Thursday and won't go to the track Friday morning,” Martin said. “I'm quarter horse training; I want him fresh and fast!”

Tyler's Tribe drew the 10-hole in the Juvenile Turf Sprint, which Martin says is no problem.

“The 10 is fine; he broke his maiden from there,” he said. “On the dirt, he has a fast cruising speed and I'd like to see him get out of the gate good and then settle. He's a fast horse and the speed [Speed Boat Beach and The Platinum Queen] is outside of us. If they want the lead, they are going to have to go around us.”

The colt is named for the followers of Lepic's grandson Tyler Juhl, who was declared cancer free last week in his battle with leukemia.

“There are going to be watch parties all over the state and there will be about a hundred Iowans here for the race,” said Lepic, who has turned down offers for Tyler's Tribe.

“We never ever had even a thought of selling. We had a lot of awfully good offers but it was never considered,” Lepic said. “He's a family horse, a horse that means so much more than just to our family but to the Leukemia Foundation. He will stay with our family and Tim Martin his entire life.”

Tyler's Tribe also had been pre-entered in the $2-million GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but the connections opted to stay at a sprint distance and try the grass.

“He's going to Oaklawn Park right after this,” Lepic said. “They have four stakes there and we will stretch him out and see what happens.”

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Breeders’ Cup Security Team Assembles Once Again to Protect World’s Horses

Members of the Organization of Racing Investigators (ORI) are once again working diligently to provide the highest level of security for the world's best Thoroughbreds that have assembled for the 2022 Breeders' Cup.

With a handpicked team of some 30 investigators, the BC Equine Security Team (BCEST) hails from all corners of the United States, and also includes international representation from Canada and Ireland.

Working closely with a local company of security personnel, the BCEST will provide 24-hour round-the-clock care for the horses that will be running on Friday November 4 and Saturday November 5 at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky.

With a wealth of experience in law enforcement, members of the BCEST work for racetrack and state agencies back home. The opportunity to come to the Breeders' Cup is the chance to ensure that compliance is of the utmost importance.

Not only will members be working closely with the Breeders' Cup Veterinarian Team to collect samples, ensuring the chain of custody, but they will be onsite to showcase their knowledge and expertise by keeping everyone safe.

“Customer service and experience is so important to us,” said Don Ahrens (Sam Houston Race Park). “Everything we do is for the care of these equine athletes, and making sure everyone is compliant is our top priority.”

Ahrens, along with Mike Kilpack (NTRA), spearhead this operation, having done so for over a decade. “We are driven to provide the Breeders' Cup and its fans with all the security that we can muster, said Kilpack. “Each and every member of this team is the best of the best.” The BCEST assembled on Sunday Night for a 'Meet and Greet,' but the planning takes place months in advance.

Picking a group of investigators from across America is no easy task, but Ahrens and Kilpack have a vast set of experiences in their toolkit.

This year, there are several additions to their squad, including a 'dispatcher' that will manage the day and night shifts, utilizing camera technology that will monitor the stalls.

As the Breeders' Cup does every year, a quarantine area for international runners will also be located in the barn area, with restricted access to a select few.

The BCEST 2022 edition, also includes over 10 'rookie' members at Keeneland. For their first event, it is up to the senior leadership to get them up to speed as quickly as possible.

Ahrens said, “These folks know their business, and are used to the rigors of investigating in their own locales, so that is incredibly helpful when it comes to training them for an event of this magnitude.”

After an orientation on Monday at the Keeneland Sales Ring, BCEST will officially swing into action on Tuesday. Led by Juan Estrada (Arizona Department of Gaming), the 'Night Crew' will acclimatize themselves before their posting begins at 4 p.m. each afternoon.

Both shifts have Saturday after the Breeders' Cup Classic as their target. Until then, paying attention and monitoring their barns will be the focal point. In other words, the best of the best will protect their counterparts to the fullest extent.

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Al Sagar Bullish On Nashwa, Who Will Return Next Year

Veteran owner/breeder Imad Al Sagar is hoping for a positive run from his dual Group 1 winner Nashwa (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the GI Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Keeneland on Saturday. They bay, who was third in the G1 Cazoo Oaks prior to taking the G1 Prix de Diane in June and the G1 Nassau S. in July, enters the 1 3/16-mile race on the back of a good second-place run in the G1 Prix de l'Opera in October. She will leave from stall three with regular rider Hollie Doyle in the irons.

“I think the distance at the Breeders' Cup will suit her very much,” Al Sagar said. “Nashwa has a very strong cruising speed and a good turn of foot. She demonstrated her speed at Haydock over 1-mile in April, so this trip will suit her and so will the track at Keeneland. I have had two runners previously at the Breeders' Cup. Araafa (Ire) at Churchill Downs in 2006 and Decorated Knight (GB) at Del Mar in 2017. I would go through the roof if Nashwa were to win at the Breeders' Cup. It would make me very happy.”

Of his retained rider Hollie Doyle, who won her first Classic aboard Nashwa in the Diane, he said, “It is a dream for any jockey to win a Classic, so for Hollie to achieve that at 25 made me very happy and proud. Her discipline and love for her job is what makes her so good. Hollie is a very dedicated jockey, and she is very disciplined from all angles, and she loves her job. She is a very positive person. She looks at the positive side of everything and is always looking forward to her next ride. That eagerness for success has paid off.”

The John and Thady Gosden trainee has made all bar one of her seven starts this season, and she will remain in training in 2023.

He added, “I have decided to keep Nashwa in training as a 4-year-old. I think she will be a better filly at four. The whole family thrive with age, and I think she will be stronger next year. We are excited that Blue Diamond Stud will soon have a full sister to Nashwa, with Nashwa's dam Princess Loulou (Ire) currently in foal to Frankel with a filly.”

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