Tag Archive for: Aidan O’Brien

Titanium Emperor impresses in scaling Mount Kilimanjaro at Dundalk

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Aidan O’Brien’s first domestic runner of 2025 suffered a shock reverse, with Mount Kilimanjaro having no answer to smart-looking debutant Titanium Emperor at Dundalk.

Winner of a valuable conditions race on Arc weekend, Mount Kilimanjaro had ended his juvenile campaign with a runner-up finish to stablemate Twain in the Group One Criterium International at Saint-Cloud.

Ridden by Ryan Moore in the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Patton Race over a mile, the 1-4 favourite travelled alongside Titanium Emperor and David Egan for much of the way, but was unable to assert when push came to shove, as 4-1 chance Titanium Emperor found plenty of pressure, scoring by three lengths from Spicy Margarita, with Mount Kilimanjaro only third.

Winning trainer Adrian Murray said of the beautifully-bred Amo Racing-owned colt: “We have always thought a lot about him.

“We did stick him in at the deep end, but he didn’t let us down.

“We knew the favourite was the one to beat, and was going to be tough to beat, but we were happy to come and take him on.

“Gorgeous looker and a beautiful temperament. He’s a beautiful horse and a beautiful way of racing. His temperament is second to none.

“Maybe the Tetrarch Stakes at the Curragh next. We will take him in steps.

“I’d say 10 (furlongs) and I’d say he would get a mile and a half.”

On a good night for Murray, Egan and Amo Racing, smart sprinter Valiant Force – winner of the Norfolk at Royal Ascot in 2023 and runner-up at the Breeders’ Cup – made his first try at a mile a winning one with a clear-cut success as the 8-11 market leader in the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Race.

Murray said: “I’m very impressed with that, he put it to bed very early. It was a fact-finding mission for him today, but we thought with pedigree that he is bred to be a miler. It gives us great options, more options over the summer.

“We have no real plans, everything is opening up for us – six, seven or eight furlongs.”

There was a poignant winner on the card, too, with Paddy Smullen, son of the late Pat Smullen, recording his first victory in the saddle courtesy of the Dermot Weld-trained Grappa Nonino in the Every Cheltenham Festival Race Live Only On Racing TV (Q.R.) Handicap.

Smullen, 17, said after the 20-1 success: “It is amazing really. It doesn’t feel real to get my first winner at the same track as my dad did (Vicosa in 1993) and for the trainer he rode so many winners for.

“A great big thank you to Mr Weld. He has given me two chances now and I’m happy to have repaid him. For a trainer, it is not easy to give a rider with such little experience rides so I am grateful to him and his family.”

On Grappa Nonino, he added: “He’s a brilliant horse. I rode him in the Curragh last time obviously as well, so I had a feel for him.

“At home, he has been in the best form he has ever been. Everyone kind of knew that he had a chance of winning because he was up here working a few weeks before – he worked superbly.”



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O’Brien ‘thinking of starting’ Fairy Godmother in 1000 Guineas

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Aidan O’Brien looks well placed for another assault on the major three-year-old races in 2025, with his team containing strength in depth in all departments.

Lake Victoria is a firm favourite for the Qipco 1000 Guineas and the Betfred Oaks after being crowned Europe’s champion juvenile filly, but O’Brien is also expecting big things from Fairy Godmother this term.

Her two-year-old campaign was cut short, but the manner of her Albany Stakes success when last seen at Royal Ascot left a lasting impression.

“She’s cantering at the moment and physically has done very well. She’s a very quick filly, looking at her,” the trainer said.

“Obviously, we’ll be thinking of starting her in the Guineas and seeing if she can get a mile or not, but she looks very exciting.

“What she did at Ascot, she shouldn’t have been able to do. It’s a very difficult thing to get stopped once at Ascot and I think she might have got checked twice or three times in the race and still won very easily.

“She’s very strong physically, she’s big and she’s powerful, she’s loads of scope and could be anything, really.”

Impressive Acomb Stakes scorer The Lion In Winter and Dewhurst runner-up Expanded are rated Ballydoyle’s best hopes of landing Qipco 2000 Guineas and Betfred Derby glory, but O’Brien has quality and quantity when it comes to top-class colts.

Juvenile Turf winner Henri Matisse
Juvenile Turf winner Henri Matisse (PA)

Camille Pissarro prevailed in the Group One Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp, while Henri Matisse was a beaten favourite that day but made amends in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.

Delacroix is another talented individual in the mix, having followed up a Group Three victory at Newmarket by finishing a neck second to Hotazhell in the Futurity at Doncaster.

O’Brien said: “Henri loves good ground, he likes to probably be produced late and he’s a very good mover, so I’d imagine he’s kind of a miler type.

“We always thought the world of Camille and we just probably didn’t get it right with him. He’s the same, a fast horse who can quicken.

“He was super impressive in France when Christophe (Soumillon) rode him and he took his time and he said when he quickened, he put the race to bed very quick and doesn’t do too much when he gets there.

Curragh Races – Saturday August 10th
Delacroix (left) ridden by jockey Ryan Moore on the way to winning at the Curragh (Brian Lawless/PA).

“We learned about him as he went on and he’s a big, imposing individual as well, so physically you would imagine he should be better at three than two.

“Delacroix was a little bit slow to learn and was a bit of a baby in his first few runs but learnt as he went along and Ryan (Moore) was very happy with him and impressed with him in Doncaster.

“He felt that he was still coming at the line and he looks like a horse that will have no problem getting a mile and a quarter and could get a mile and a half.

“He’s a big, powerful horse, he’s physical, has loads of scope. Sometimes Dubawis can be a little bit short and strong – he’s not, he’s a big, rangy type of horse. He’s another horse to look forward to as well.”

O’Brien told the British Horseracing Authority: “We seem to have a nice team of nicely-rated horses over all kinds of distances, so I think you’d have to be very happy with our group of two-year-olds from last year, really.

“They’d be doing kind of strengthening and conditioning work now, we’d be building them up and getting them ready for the spring. They are all cantering away all the time.

“Obviously, if any of them have any little physical or mental issues, we’d be trying to go through that now and trying to get it sorted before we start putting more pressure on them.

“But usually it’s straightforward, it’s to get them through the winter safely and hopefully have them in good enough shape when you start moving on with them.”



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Lake Victoria crowned top juvenile filly following stellar campaign

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Aidan O’Brien is eyeing Classic glory with the unbeaten Lake Victoria after she was confirmed as the Champion European Two-Year-Old Filly for 2024.

The daughter of Frankel rattled off five straight victories as a juvenile, the last three of which came at Grade One level over a trio of different distances.

Having claimed the Moyglare Stud Stakes over seven furlongs at the Curragh, she dropped back to six for Newmarket’s Cheveley Park and then closed her campaign with victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf over a mile at Del Mar.

A rating of 119 put her second to Godolphin colt Shadow Of Light (120) in the overall standings and only Minding has managed a higher rating from O’Brien’s eight past winners in the leading filly category.

The Ballydoyle handler said: “What she did was very unusual, you couldn’t really believe that a two-year-old filly would do that – to win all three Group Ones over three different distances.

“She’s obviously quick and she got a mile well in America the last day. You’d imagine that she’s going to be a miler-type and might get a mile and a quarter.

“She’s by Frankel and out of Quiet Reflection, who was very quick, but she’s big, she’s powerful and has a great mind, plus a great constitution.

“She was obviously going through her races very easily and doing her work very easily. If you see her in a race, she travels very well and when she quickens, she puts a lot of her races to bed.

“But obviously she has a lot of class, that’s what she has and it made her very different.”

Lake Victoria was a comprehensive winner of the Juvenile Fillies Turf
Lake Victoria was a comprehensive winner of the Juvenile Fillies Turf (PA)

Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board handicapper Mark Bird said: “Lake Victoria created her own piece of history on the way to emerging as the Champion European Two-Year-Old Filly for 2024 by becoming the only champion filly in the history of the classifications to win three Group/Grade One races at the age of two.

“Almost as remarkable, the daughter of Frankel recorded top-level wins at six furlongs, seven furlongs and a mile, as well as in three different countries.

“She matches the feat previously only achieved this century by Found (2014) in becoming the outright two-year-old Champion ahead of the colts in her native Ireland, a country which this year had the highest number of horses on the Two-Year-Old Classification for the first time ever.”

The leading juvenile filly in Britain was Godolphin’s Desert Flower, who achieved a rating of 117 following an unbeaten campaign that ended with a five-and-a-half-length success in the Fillies’ Mile at Newmarket.

The July Festival 2024 – Cup Day – Newmarket Racecourse
Desert Flower ridden by William Buick winning at Newmarket (Nigel French/PA).

Her trainer Charlie Appleby said: “She’s won over a mile already and she’s a filly I’d imagine going straight to the Guineas with. Obviously we’ve got a few months to see how she progresses, but she’s done very well over the winter and I’m very pleased with her.

“I’m sometimes a fan of going straight into the Guineas without a prep and just timing-wise it suits us better. I feel we’re getting these horses fit enough and it’s a long season ahead of them.

“Will she be a likely Oaks filly? I don’t know if I see her stretching out that far, although on her running style, I think she’d give herself a chance of getting that trip, but for the foreseeable future we’ll stick to a mile and our target is very much the Guineas.”



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Shadow Of Light picks up European Champion Two-Year-Old title

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Shadow Of Light is set to go straight to the Qipco 2000 Guineas after being crowned the Champion Two-Year-Old of 2024, giving Godolphin and Charlie Appleby their third such success in the last six seasons.

Appleby’s Pinatubo topped the ratings in 2019 with a magnificent mark of 128 and Native Trail led the way for Moulton Paddocks in 2021 on 122.

A ranking of 120 was good enough for Shadow Of Light to edge out exceptional filly Lake Victoria by one point, having completed a rare Middle Park-Dewhurst Group One double.

The son of Lope De Vega won his opening two starts at Yarmouth and Newmarket before finishing second in the Gimcrack at York.

He stepped up to a different level when landing the Middle Park by four lengths and returned to Headquarters to shade Expanded by a neck in the Dewhurst, when trying seven furlongs for the first time.

Appleby said: “Bar last year with Notable Speech being a left-field type having not run at two, as a rule you are always hoping to be in the first three in the Dewhursts and Middle Parks and the like, otherwise you are scratching around for a serious Classic contender.

Expanded looks exciting
Expanded looks exciting (PA)

“Given what Shadow Of Light, Desert Flower and to a lesser extent Ruling Court achieved it gives you confidence going into the spring and their three-year-old careers.

“We’re definitely going to try to see if Shadow Of Light stays the mile and we’ll probably go straight into the Guineas, I don’t want to test him over the mile beforehand, firstly timing-wise and secondly I’d rather keep the dream alive going into the Guineas.

“The way the horse relaxes and his mannerisms, he gives himself a chance to see out a mile. There’s question marks on the back of some of his pedigree, but if you actually dig into it there’s enough there to say a mile should be within his compass.

“I’m very pleased physically with how he’s done, he’s lengthened and as a physical you’d have a job to knock, he’s done all the maturing you’d want to see. With a clear run into the Guineas you’d have a job to knock him in the paddock.”

Expanded finished joint-third in the table on 118 after quickly backing up a narrow Curragh maiden win with that close second to Shadow Of Light in the Dewhurst.

His trainer Aidan O’Brien said: “We thought the world of him in the spring and we kind of ran out of time and he ended up not starting until late, but we always thought he was very good.

“I suppose what we did wasn’t really fair to him, to bring him back after a maiden to go straight into the Dewhurst – and it was only a few days after, really.

“He’s an unusual horse in that he has speed and we always thought he would get a mile-plus, so we always had it in our head that he had every chance of getting the Derby trip.

“He’s out of a Galileo mare, he has a very easy, relaxed way of going. His profile always suggested that he’d have no problem getting a mile and a quarter and could get further, so he’s obviously a very exciting horse.

“From his draw (at Newmarket), Ryan (Moore) ended up having to do a lot of the donkey work on him and that didn’t suit a horse that had only run a week before, but he didn’t surrender and was still going at the line, we felt.

“So we thought it was a very good run and he’s wintered very well, you couldn’t be happier with him looking at him now; he’s very relaxed and physically he’s a great size and shape of a horse. He could be very exciting.”

The Lion In Winter has a big year ahead
The Lion In Winter has a big year ahead (Niall Carson/PA)

Stablemate The Lion In Winter was forced to miss the Dewhurst due to suffering a bruised foot but still shared third spot on 118 after building on a Curragh maiden win by taking the Acomb Stakes at York in impressive fashion.

The son of Sea The Stars is ante-post favourite for the Qipco 2000 Guineas and the Betfred Derby, and O’Brien added: “He’s good.

“We won’t rush him. He could go to the Guineas but obviously he looks a Derby-type horse, so we’re not sure and if he doesn’t go to the Guineas, we’ll start in a (Derby) trial.

“He’s not over-big, he’s a nice type of size. He looked mature as a two-year-old, obviously he has a great mind. When he went to York, I suppose he dominated the race and the way he quickened and found plenty just made him look very exciting to everybody.

“He had two very kind of easy runs; he won his maiden and then he won very easily at York, I don’t think Ryan even hit him in York. He had two very good experiences and that will stand him in good stead from two to three.”

Hotazhell (left) on the way to victory at Doncaster
Hotazhell (left) on the way to victory at Doncaster (Mike Egerton/PA)

On 117 were Godolphin duo Ancient Truth and the filly Desert Flower, Jessica Harrington’s Futurity Trophy winner Hotazhell and the Joseph O’Brien-trained Scorthy Champ.

Graeme Smith, handicapping team leader at the British Horseracing Authority, said: “Shadow of Light became just the third horse in more than a century to win both the Middle Park and Dewhurst, with his runaway success in the first of those earning him the title of European Champion Two-Year-Old of 2024 with a rating of 120.

“What’s unusual about this year’s classification is the level of competition at the top. There are eight horses rated between 117 and 120, and that really whets the appetite for some enthralling competition in their classic season ahead.”



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Luxembourg aiming to finish on a high in Hong Kong

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Luxembourg will try to end his career on a high when he lines up in Sunday’s Longines Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin.

The five-year-old will take up stallion duties in the new year and bows out a Group One winner in each of his four seasons racing, with this year’s top-level strike coming in the Coronation Cup at Epsom back in May.

He has been unplaced in three subsequent runs, most recently when sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar, and moves up to 12 furlongs in the Vase this time after being beaten just a short head by Romantic Warrior in the shorter Hong Kong Cup last year.

Luxembourg (first left) with his Aidan O'Brien stablemates at Sha Tin
Luxembourg (first left) with his Aidan O’Brien stablemates at Sha Tin (HKJC)

O’Brien said: “We thought he ran a great race last year. He’s a very high-class horse. Last year he was coming home very well and he was just beaten on the line, it looked as if we’d had run him over a mile and a half it would have suited him.

“He ran a very good race in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, much better than you’d think. He’s off to stud after this. He’s been a great horse, big, strong and consistent. Obviously, he wasn’t always first string, but we’re looking forward to it, see what happens.”

O’Brien has previously won the race with dual scorer Highland Reel (2015 and 2017) and Mogul (2020) and he has another string to his bow in last year’s St Leger winner Continuous, although he has struggled to find his stride this season.

Continuous won last year's St Leger at Doncaster
Continuous won last year’s St Leger at Doncaster (Tim Goode/PA)

“Continuous is probably more forward than he’s been all year,” the trainer added.

“Things haven’t really worked for him yet this year but he is in good form, very happy with his work. A mile and a half and nice ground should be fine for him.”

The Marco Botti-trained Giavellotto and William Haggas’ Dubai Honour also line up, with Iresine and Marquisat running for French handlers Jean-Pierre Gauvin and Andre Fabre respectively.

O’Brien will be represented in the Longines Hong Kong Cup in which local favourite Romantic Warrior is a short price to claim an unprecedented third victory.

Yorkshire Oaks winner Content and Breeders’ Cup Turf fifth Wingspan line up for the Ballydoyle trainer in a race which also features Andrew Balding’s The Foxes and Spirit Dancer, who is hunting another big international prize for Richard Fahey and his ownership group that includes Sir Alex Ferguson.

Content claimed the Yorkshire Oaks in August
Content claimed the Yorkshire Oaks in August (Mike Egerton/PA)

“We had the choice of the races for Wingspan and we think the mile and a quarter will be fine for her,” O’Brien said.

“Content can be keen and we think the pace of the race will suit her. She ran in America last time (sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf) and the pace wasn’t really fast enough for her. We thought going back will suit and get her relaxed.”

Docklands will wear blinkers for the first time in the Longines Hong Kong Mile after two Australian runs for Harry Eustace, having found Via Sistina a tough nut to crack in both the Cox Plate and Champions Stakes.

Eustace told Grosvenor Sport: “We are going to use the blinkers with him on Sunday for the first time in a race. Even though he’s coming here after what might look like middling runs on paper, we have reason to believe there’s more to come from him. Back to the mile, blinkers on, and with a top international jockey in Mark Zahra booked, we can’t wait for Sunday.

“I think he will be a good each-way bet. He always turns up, and for me, he ran two excellent races in Australia, and he hasn’t thrown in a dud yet. He’s a solid chance of running into the places.”

Eustace added: “There’s no doubt that he’s earnt a holiday after his travels! He’ll return to the UK after this run and understandably we’ll have our eyes firmly fixed on the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot again. We’ll see what we do after that, but it’s no secret that we’d love to come back to Australia. Fingers crossed for a big run on Sunday to round off what’s been one hell of a trip.”

Starlust goes for gold in the Hong Kong Sprint
Starlust goes for gold in the Hong Kong Sprint (HKJC)

Ramadan changed hands for €1.5million after winning at the Arc meeting and he makes what is likely to be his first and only start for James Ferguson, as he is due to continue his career in Hong Kong.

Breeders’ Cup winner Starlust represents trainer Ralph Beckett and jockey Rossa Ryan in the Longines Hong Kong Sprint but will have to contend with local sensation Ka Ying Rising.

Beckett said: “We’ve come to the conclusion that a flat track around a bend suits him best so the way it sets up here is ideal for him. He came out of Del Mar in good shape.

“Everything went his way that day at Del Mar, I’m well aware of that, but you’ve still got to get it done and he did. I think there’s a good chance he’ll run well on Sunday, but we shall see whether that’s good enough.”



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City Of Troy’s groom celebrating ‘Moment of the Year’

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Aidan O’Brien praised City Of Troy’s groom David Hickey after he won a trip to Hong Kong for himself and three friends through City Of Troy’s Derby win being voted the World Pool ‘Moment of the Year’.

The Epsom showpiece earned the vote above Rashabar’s Coventry Stakes success at Royal Ascot, Celestial Legend’s win in the Doncaster Mile at Randwick and Laurel River’s victory in the Dubai World Cup.

Hickey is a regular sight at the biggest racecourses all over the world and has looked after the likes of Galileo and Yeats as well as this season’s standout performer.

“Derby Day was extra special. To come back and do what he did after what happened in the Guineas was brilliant,” said O’Brien.

“David is a special fella, always has been. The line of horses he’s looked after and led up is incredible; Yeats, Galileo, many more, and of course City Of Troy, who we think is the best we’ve ever had.

“David is big, relaxed and has a great understanding of a horse. Things don’t upset him, he’s very calm and he’s unique in the way that he can influence horses. Not only that, he’s a leading trainer of greyhounds in our area. He gets up early and trains them before starting his work on the horses, so that tells you something about his work ethic!”

Hickey said: “Winning the £4,000 World Pool Moment of the Day was a huge reward, so to be named Moment of the Year is even more special and I’m now looking forward to a trip to Hong Kong. I think I’ll head out there in March for the Derby, so it should be great fun.”

“He’s the most genuine horse that you could ever have anything to do with. I’m mad about him and it’s been a pleasure looking after him. He’s a classy gentleman of a horse.”



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Auguste Rodin hailed by Japanese fans after Tokyo finale

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Auguste Rodin was afforded a hero’s farewell after finishing eighth in his Japan Cup swansong at Tokyo racecourse.

A son of Japanese sensation Deep Impact, Aidan O’Brien’s dual Derby-winner was attempting to follow in his sire’s footsteps and add the Japan Cup to his hugely-decorated CV.

However, he struggled to make his presence felt in Tokyo as Do Deuce took home the spoils, leaving Auguste Rodin to bow out having won eight of his 16 career starts, with six of those victories coming at the highest level.

As well as his Derby triumphs at both Epsom and the Curragh, he landed the Futurity Trophy as a juvenile and along with further success on home soil in the Irish Champion Stakes, was a winner in America when capturing the Breeders’ Cup Turf under a fine Ryan Moore ride at Santa Anita in 2023.

Auguste Rodin's final victory came at Royal Ascot in the summer
Auguste Rodin’s final victory came at Royal Ascot in the summer (John Walton/PA)

His final Group One victory came at Royal Ascot this summer when producing a brilliant display to win the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and he retires having amassed just shy of £5million in prize-money.

Auguste Rodin was honoured with a farewell ceremony following his final outing in Japan and Moore, the man who has ridden the colt in all but one of his career starts, paid tribute.

He said: “He was very special from the first day I saw him and the first day I sat on him he impressed me and I believe I said to Aidan ‘I think he’ll win the Derby’.

“He was always a special horse and a beautiful mover, much like his sire, and the way he won the Derby, he gave me an unbelievable feel.

“I have been privileged to ride a lot of great horses but he is right up there with the very best.”

Over 15,000 spectators stayed behind after racing to witness Auguste Rodin’s retirement ceremony, where O’Brien also spoke, expressing his gratitude at being entrusted with one of Deep Impact’s finest progeny.

O’Brien said: “It’s been an incredible journey for us and we’ve been privileged to have him. There have been so many people involved with him and Ryan took him all the way through his career and gave him unbelievable rides.

“It’s been unbelievable for us really, he has shown class from day one and through all of his races. He has a great mind and is a beautiful mover. Being by Deep Impact out of a Galileo mare, he brought two continents together and it was a privilege to have a son of Deep Impact with such class and quality.

“We always dreamed he would end up here for his last run, that was the dream and he retires safe and sound.”



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O’Brien open to Saudi Arabia option for Jan Brueghel

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Aidan O’Brien could look to Saudi Arabia for St Leger winner Jan Brueghel after deciding to bypass a possible Hong Kong run.

The unbeaten colt travelled to Australia and looked to hold strong claims of giving his trainer a first victory in the Melbourne Cup.

However, he was ruled out of the Flemington contest after failing to satisfy the Racing Victoria vets in a pre-race examination.

O’Brien initially suggested the Hong Kong Vase as a possible target but as Jan Brueghel was unable to maintain his fitness while in Australia, his aim will now be reassessed.

In a post on Coolmore’s X feed, the trainer said: “He had a long journey back from Australia and was restricted to only trotting while over there.

“Unfortunately we didn’t have enough time to prepare him properly for Hong Kong so we will revisit his plans. We may aim for a race in Saudi early next year.”



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Auguste Rodin ‘in good condition’ after Japan Cup gallop

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Multiple Group One winner Auguste Rodin went through his paces at Tokyo racecourse on Wednesday as he prepares for the final race of his career in the Japan Cup.

Aidan O’Brien arrived in the country to witness the send-off of a horse who has won six Group Ones, including a Derby double, the Breeders’ Cup Turf and the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

Last time out, he went down narrowly to William Haggas’ Economics when attempting to win back-to-back Irish Champion Stakes, and he will sign off his career in the country of his sire Deep Impact, who is hero-worshipped in Japan.

“He did a lovely seven furlongs on the grass this morning, just to show him the track, and he looked comfortable. Rachel (Richardson, rider) was happy with him, Patrick (Keating), who takes care of him, said he came back to the barn in good condition, and we’re all pleased with how he is,” said O’Brien.

“He’s a horse that has speed and class, has long strides and big actions and is great at the mile-and-a-half distance, so I think the course here at Tokyo and the Japan Cup will suit him.”

Before even taking the home team into consideration, however, Auguste Rodin will need to see off Goliath, impressive winner of the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, in which Auguste Rodin could finish only fifth.

Goliath’s trainer Francis Graffard watched him work under big-race pilot Christophe Soumillon and said: “The horse is in good form and we are very satisfied with how he ran on the turf course this morning.

Goliath was an easy winner of the King George
Goliath was an easy winner of the King George (Steven Paston/PA)

“This year after winning the King George, we concentrated on preparing him for the Japan Cup. I think he’s the best horse I’ve brought here so far and have been very much looking forward to coming to Japan.”

Soumillon was very positive about Goliath’s condition, adding: “The horse looks stronger than he did back home. This morning, Le Nomade led and they ran smoothly in a good pace.

“The turf condition is not bad and since he does well on softer ground, I’m hoping that it stays the same up to Sunday.

“You need a good horse with speed and the stamina to sustain that speed to win the Japan Cup. We are here with Goliath because we have the confidence that he will perform well.”



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Luxembourg taking on National Hunt stallion duties

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Four-time Group One winner Luxembourg has been retired to Castlehyde Stud to stand as a National Hunt stallion for Coolmore.

The son of Camelot struck at elite level at two, three, four and five, starting out with an odds-on success in Doncaster’s Futurity Trophy as a juvenile.

After being placed in the 2000 Guineas, he was forced to sidestep the Derby through injury but recovered to claim the Irish Champion Stakes ahead of Onesto and Prix du Jockey Club and Eclipse hero Vadeni.

Luxembourg battled to victory in the 2023 Tattersalls Gold Cup and was runner-up in three more top-tier contests that term, while this year he prevailed in the Coronation Cup at Epsom.

Described by Aidan O’Brien as “a very serious horse” who is “tough and has loads of class”, he does have something of a jumping pedigree on his dam Attire’s side, with Grade Two-winning hurdler Forgotten Voice and Midlands Grand National victor Big Occasion among her siblings.

Coolmore’s Cathal Murphy said: “We’re delighted to have Luxembourg join our team here in Castlehyde.

“He has a very similar profile to the much-missed Fame And Glory, in that he is a Group One winner at two, three, four and five years and he is also from that wonderful Montjeu sire-line.

“Physically, he ticks every box, he has all the size, scope, strength and action you could ask for and he has shown incredible soundness and resilience throughout his extraordinary career. I have no doubt that Luxembourg will be a big hit with breeders.”



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Henry Longfellow added to list of Coolmore stallions

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Coolmore has announced the retirement of the impeccably-bred Group One-winning colt Henry Longfellow.

A son of Dubawi out of the brilliant racemare Minding, the three-year-old won each of his three juvenile starts last season, completing his hat-trick with a dominant victory in the National Stakes at the Curragh.

He failed to add to his tally in five starts this season, but did finish a neck second to Rosallion in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and also performed well in finishing fourth in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood and third in the Prix du Moulin at ParisLongchamp.

Henry Longfellow was well beaten on what turned out to be his final start in a soft-ground Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day at Ascot, but connections are looking forward to seeing him commence his stallion career in Ireland in 2025.

Coolmore’s director of sales David O’ Loughlin said: “He went unbeaten in three starts at two years, including the Group One National Stakes just like his sire Dubawi, who is becoming a very significant sire of sires.

“He again showed top-class form at three over a mile when beaten just a neck by Rosallion in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

“He’s arguably the best-looking son of Dubawi to go to stud and he’s out of one of the best Galileo racemares ever. I have no doubt that he will prove extremely popular with breeders.”



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Classic disappointment for City Of Troy at Del Mar

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Coolmore got their hands on the Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, but it was Sierra Leone and not City Of Troy who landed the spoils, as Aidan O’Brien’s quest for a fairytale success in Del Mar ended in disappointment.

Most of the pre-race build-up had centred on whether O’Brien’s all-conquering son of Triple Crown hero Justify could transfer his exceptional turf form to dirt and end O’Brien’s quest for an elusive win in the $7million showpiece.

However, Ryan Moore knew his fate very early as the Derby winner was slowly away and almost immediately had plenty of work to do.

While City Of Troy was floundering it appeared chief US hope Fierceness had the race at his mercy as he swung the turn for home with Bob Baffert’s Newgate for company, but Chad Brown’s Kentucky Derby runner-up was eating up the dirt with every stride in the hands of Flavien Prat and edged his way to an unassailable lead as the wire came into range.

Japanese contender Forever Young ran on for third, with the Frankie Dettori-ridden Newgate fourth.

O’Brien said: “He was left at the start where he lost three lengths and we didn’t have him prepared to break quickly enough. We thought we had, but we hadn’t. He was making up ground at the end (finishing eighth), but Ryan had no chance.

“He inspired us as a horse that could do well in the Classic, and it was so sporting of the lads to run him in it.

“When you get back that far on a dirt surface you can’t do anything about it. I should have had him coming out quicker, it just left Ryan with no chance really. I need to step it up a bit, don’t I, have them a little bit better prepared. We’re learning all the time. Hopefully we’ll try harder next year.”

City Of Troy in the paddock before the Breeders' Cup Classic
City Of Troy in the paddock before the Breeders’ Cup Classic (Neil Morrice/PA)

As well as the Derby, City Of Troy won the Eclipse and Juddmonte International this year, adding to his Dewhurst win as a juvenile.

He now heads for a stallion career, and O’Brien added: “The lads were never afraid to push the boundaries. It’s been a great privilege to train him. It was an incredible experience for us all and we will look forward to his babies now.”

Moore felt his mount was brave in defeat. He said: “They went so hard and he just couldn’t get going.

“I let him get comfortable and he’s done well to keep going to the line.”

For Brown, it was a 19th win at the Breeders’ Cup, just one behind O’Brien, and a first in the Classic.

He said: “To lose a Kentucky Derby by a nose – for him to come out and show so much and be on the go since January he’s a remarkable horse in soundness and mind. He’s a good horse who is cooperative. He makes your job easy.

Flavien Prat rides Sierra Leone to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic
Flavien Prat rides Sierra Leone to victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

“For him to have this moment having seen what happened in the Derby and the Travers (third to Fierceness) this more than makes up for it all.”

He went on: “To finally get this done (win the Classic). We haven’t had many runners and have just dabbled in the Classic. You never know when you will be up here again because this is the toughest race in the world.

“Fierceness is a great horse, but our horse hasn’t ever thrown it in. Our horse is all consistency, for me it’s hard to see that he’s not the best three-year-old.”



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Henri Matisse masters Juvenile Turf challenge

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Henri Matisse came out on top to land the Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar.

Aidan O’Brien’s colt and his rivals were made to wait in the stalls after Aomori City broke through the starting gates and had to be reloaded.

When the field got away, the winner’s class showed as he overcame a wide passage to soar to success on a fruitful day for Ryan Moore and the Coolmore team.

Henri Matisse was O’Brien’s 20th Breeders’ Cup winner, equalling the record of the great D Wayne Lukas.

“It’s incredible, we all know what a special man he is. I’m honoured to be anywhere close to his record,” said O’Brien.

“I’m delighted for everybody. What can you say about Wayne? He rang me earlier in the week and he told me about this track, how to ride it and what to do and what not to do.

“He was saying about the Classic and how he thought we should ride our horse (City Of Troy). We feel very grateful and really privileged that he was so good to tell us everything – honoured really.

“I remember Wayne came down and told us what to do about the pony (when Giant’s Causeway ran in the 2000 Classic), then he said ‘I’ll come down and I’ll do it for you’.

“That was the Giant’s Causeway time and ever since he’s been such a help to us, we’re just so grateful to him. What a special man.”

Henri Matisse won his first three starts earlier in the year
Henri Matisse won his first three starts earlier in the year (Brian Lawless/PA)

Henri Matisse won his first three starts and then finished second in the National Stakes, prompting O’Brien to try him in blinkers in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

The trainer said: “He went to the front in the National Stakes and dinked a bit. Then he had another legitimate excuse when I put blinkers on him.

“Ryan thought in France we did the wrong thing in putting blinkers on him, he was a little bit shy and he got a bad bump early and got a bit of a fright.

“He had to come through the bad ground and Ryan said to put a line through the run, there were a good few things went wrong.

“We always thought he was a very good horse, he’s another Wootton Bassett, an unbelievable talent.

“He’s not finished article yet but Ryan gave him a brilliant ride, he’s a beautiful horse, a very well bred horse.

“It’s so special and one thing about them is they get better every week.

“Ryan thinks he’ll be a miler, which means he’ll be a Guineas horse.”

Moore was impressed with the manner of Henri Matisse’s victory over Iron Man Cal, with Aomori City having made up late ground to take third.

The rider said: “He won that very easily, he showed us ability right from the start but things didn’t go his way in the National Stakes.

“A couple came out today and he was drawn 12 but he was easily the best. It was a very good performance.”



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Lake Victoria sweeps aside Breeders’ Cup rivals

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Lake Victoria’s flawless record remains intact after she struck in the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar.

Aidan O’Brien’s Frankel two-year-old was ridden by Ryan Moore on an inside line in the opening stages of the one-mile contest, with the filly significantly tightened up for room on the first bend.

Lake Victoria appeared to briefly lose her balance, but Moore soon got her back on an even keel and was able to regain momentum on the rail.

In the straight she was switched out to find some racing room and when asked was easily able to pull away to a comprehensive success, extending her unbeaten run to five races and adding a third top-level success after victories in the Moyglare and Cheveley Park Stakes.

O’Brien was full of praise for Moore’s ride given the trouble Lake Victoria encountered in the initial exchanges.

He said: “Whether she got crowded or was bumped I’m not sure, but Ryan was further back than he wanted to be. He was in a terrible position but he gave her a brilliant ride

“The lads (Coolmore) decided to give her a bit more time (after the Cheveley Park) and come here and Ryan was very confident.

“Ryan says she will be a miler and we will train her for the Guineas. Hopefully she will get a mile and a quarter.

“We will let her thrive over the winter with the colts and then we will map out plans for all of them into the new year.”

Moore was in no doubt about Lake Victoria’s class before the race and felt she had stamped her authority in style.

He said: “She had very strong form, all she needed was normal racing luck she had her share of that and she was much the best.

“I had no concerns about the distance she had won over seven at the Curragh and to me there was no doubt that she would get the mile – she was way too good for them.

“Going forwardm she’s more of a miler and probably a Guineas filly.”

Reflecting on the incident on the first turn, Moore added: “She got pushed into the fence and that was that. They had gone pretty quick and by the end of the back (straight) most of them were done.

“She jumped very well but there were quite a lot of them wanted to lead, there wasn’t much space.”

Aidan O'Brien (right) celebrates with Derrick and Paul Smith
Aidan O’Brien (right) celebrates with Derrick and Paul Smith (PA)

The filly is owned by the Coolmore triumvirate but runs in the colours of Michael Tabor, who is eager to see what the filly achieves in the future.

He said: “Something happened that I couldn’t quite see but she showed she is special under a great ride.

“She ranks very highly with some of our best fillies, only time will tell how good she is.”



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O’Brien on City Of Troy: ‘We don’t think we could have done any more’

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City Of Troy’s Del Mar date with destiny has finally arrived and on Saturday he will attempt to etch his name into the history books when lining up for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

It is a race courted by all associated with the son of Justify since he proved unstoppable at two and the momentum has continued to build and build throughout his three-year-old season, now reaching a crescendo in California ahead of the final start of the colt’s somewhat brilliant career.

The Classic has proven something of a holy grail for trainer Aidan O’Brien and his quest to get his hands on the dirt feature has seen him saddle some of Ballydoyle’s best in the $7million contest.

Breeders Cup Horse Racing
Rachel Richardson rides City Of Troy at Del Mar (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Giant’s Causeway has come closest to breaking O’Brien’s Classic curse when agonisingly denied by Tiznow in 2000, while the likes of Galileo, Hawk Wing and George Washington have all tried and failed when tasked with conquering America’s richest purse.

O’Brien now prepares to saddle the horse he regards as the best to have ever graced his hallowed Tipperary training grounds, as the imperious Derby, Eclipse and Juddmonte International winner tackles the dirt surface on which his Triple Crown-winning sire made his name.

He said: “There’s so many things that are going to be new and different to him. Obviously, we prepared him in Europe and he has an awful lot to overcome.

“Ryan (Moore, jockey) is vastly experienced now. Dreams don’t always come true, but we’re very happy with where we are and at the moment, we don’t think we could have done any more.

“Winning the Classic is more difficult than any other achievement in sport.”

In a truly international contest, Yoshito Yahagi will attempt to add the Classic to his decorated CV with leading Japanese contender Forever Young, the Saudi and UAE Derby scorer who went oh so close to plundering the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs earlier in the year.

Yahagi saddled a memorable Breeders’ Cup double the last time the festival was held at Del Mar, and his hopeful arrives on the back of a confidence-boosting win in the Japan Dirt Classic in early October.

“Everything has gone well since he has arrived at Del Mar, he settled in well and we’re very happy with how he has been training,” said Hiroshi Ando, racing manager to owner Susumu Fujita.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get the result in the Kentucky Derby, we had no luck in that race but we had always planned to come back to the Breeders’ Cup after that run in the Kentucky Derby. We are on plan and he had a great win in his prep race to prepare for this.”

Forever Young is ready for his Breeders' Cup assignment
Forever Young is ready for his Breeders’ Cup assignment (Neil Morrice/PA)

Joining Forever Young among a three-strong raiding party from the Far East is last year’s runner-up Derma Sotogake and Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup silver medallist Ushba Tesoro, who was fifth at Santa Anita 12 months ago.

However, it is City Of Troy the Forever Young team fear, as their son of Real Steel bids for Classic glory from an inside draw.

“Obviously, number one is a very tough barrier number, but it is what it is, we have to go through it,” continued Ando.

The Forever Young team fear City Of Troy
The Forever Young team fear City Of Troy (Adam Davy/PA)

“There are three Japanese runners and they are all very talented, but also from Europe there is City Of Troy, who is an amazing horse.

“We have seen City Of Troy’s performances and he moves fantastically. He is an amazing horse, a champion horse – and we are very honoured to race against him, he is one of the best horses in the world and of course a very dangerous horse to us in this race.”

The Classic’s most successful trainer Bob Baffert has called on a familiar name and a rare European jockey to win the race in Frankie Dettori to partner his California Crown Stakes third Newgate.

However, America’s main hope is the Todd Pletcher-trained Fierceness, who claimed last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in emphatic style.

Fierceness is already a winner at the Breeders' Cup
Fierceness is already a winner at the Breeders’ Cup (PA)

Owned by the Repole Stable operation of New York businessman Mike Repole, the colt has established himself as North America’s leading middle-distance performer on dirt thanks to success at Saratoga in the Jim Dandy and Travers Stakes.

“The time off since the Travers has done him well and we’re all very pleased with how he is heading into the race,” said Ed Rosen, general manager of Repole Stable.

“To use a cliche, you want to keep them happy and healthy once they have hit top form and Todd seems to be very happy with Fierceness since his most recent workouts.

“It’s very exciting and it’s been a build-up over time and now we are getting closer, you begin to get a little bit more nervous. When you compete in the Classic here, you need to be at your very best to win.”



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