Aidan O’Brien’s arrival in California was met with disappointing news as two of his top horses drew unfavorable post positions for the upcoming Breeders’ Cup races.
O’Brien’s remarkable season has positioned him close to setting a new record in horse racing, needing just three more Group 1 victories to match his own world record of 28 wins in a year. Additionally, one more victory would make him the most successful Breeders’ Cup trainer in history.
The master trainer from Ballydoyle has a total of eight opportunities to enhance his current tally of 20 Cup wins, with Minnie Hauk, the runner-up in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, leading the charge in the Breeders’ Cup Turf event.
Among his other top contenders are the juvenile horses, Precise and Gstaad. Precise, winner of the Fillies’ Mile, will compete in the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf, while Gstaad, the second-place finisher in the Dewhurst Stakes, is set for the Juvenile Turf race.
Both Precise and Henri Matisse faced an unfavorable draw on the tight turf track at Del Mar, with Precise starting from stall 13 out of 13 and Henri Matisse from stall 14. Consequently, bookmakers adjusted their odds, with Precise now at 11-10 from Evens and Gstaad at 11-10 from 4-5.
Commenting on the draw results, spokesperson Lee Phelps expressed concerns about the challenging berths for Precise and Gstaad, potentially impacting their performance on the compact Del Mar course.
Despite the setbacks, O’Brien can draw inspiration from Henri Matisse’s victory from stall 12 at the same track last year in the Juvenile Turf.
Reflecting on his horses’ first training session on the track, O’Brien mentioned that they appeared comfortable and relaxed, adapting well to their new surroundings. The horses are scheduled for further preparations leading up to the races, including visits to the start and paddocks.
Regarding the unfavorable draws, O’Brien acknowledged the randomness of the process and noted that the jockeys’ perspectives, such as Christophe Soumillon’s, would be crucial in navigating the races effectively.