On Wednesday, trainer Aidan O’Brien and Simon Crisford, Racing Manager for
the Maktoum family’s Godolphin operation, revealed their plans for the Breeders’
Cup at a press event held at Epsom Downs racecourse in England.
O’Brien appears to have a strong hand going into this year’s Breeders’ Cup
and Ireland’s champion trainer was particularly fulsome in his praise of
Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) prospect RIP VAN WINKLE (Galileo [Ire]). The
three-year-old colt, victorious in the Sussex S. (Eng-G1) and Queen Elizabeth II
S. (Eng-G1) going a mile, will be returning to 10 furlongs for the first time
since chasing home Sea the Stars in the Eclipse S. (Eng-G1) at Sandown in July
when he lines up at Santa Anita on November 7.
“The horses have not had an easy season and Rip Van Winkle has not had an
easy season with plenty of setbacks, holdups and tough races,” O’Brien revealed.
“But we are looking forward to the Breeders’ Cup. Rip Van Winkle is a great
horse because he has been swimming against the tide all year and he has had no
clear run at any race. He has had loads of problems.
“We think he is a great horse and if people only knew the half of what he had
to go through this year. Mentally and physically, most horses would have fallen
away. It’s amazing that he has stood his ground and kept doing it.”
O’Brien believes that Rip Van Winkle’s combination of speed and strength at
the end of his races will see the colt through in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
“He’s only a three-year-old and didn’t have it easy but we’re looking forward
to him in the Classic, he’s a real crack miler and full of determination and
strength at the end,” the conditioner continued. “He has never been on a
synthetic surface but he is a good mover and fast ground is his forte. The
season has been long and hard but he is one of those horses with real mile pace
and he is not wilting at the end. Sea the Stars travels like a dream, better
than any horse at the two-furlong marker, but if you look at the Eclipse, Rip
might have been traveling better than him. He has always been an exciting horse.
“It’s a great race and very important for a stallion, such is its prestige,
so we are just delighted to have him going there. The plan is for the horses to
leave on Sunday. They will probably do a little bit of work before then but once
they arrive at Santa Anita, they will just canter on the track. There will be
nothing strenuous.”
O’Brien has a top-class reserve for the Classic in European champion
MASTERCRAFTSMAN (Danehill Dancer). The Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1)
winner is more likely to contest the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) after proving
he handles a synthetic surface with victory in the Diamond S. (Ire-G3) at
Dundalk on October 2.
“We know what Mastercraftsman can do over a mile on turf,” the Ballydoyle
trainer said. “It’s just to give him another dimension. We know he acted on the
Polytrack at Dundalk and we are not sure he really gets the trip of the Classic,
even though he won over it at Dundalk. He is a horse with a lot of speed and the
American horses jump and go fast, so he may not quite get home over the longer
trip. Even though he coasted home and won very easy at Dundalk, Johnny (Murtagh)
wouldn’t have been sure that he stayed the trip because he was just coasting the
last furlong.
“It’s not definite that he goes for the Dirt Mile but we had to make a
preference for him and we chose the mile as first preference, so if all is well
with Rip then there is a big chance that he will run in the shorter race. His
best run ever was over six furlongs at the Curragh last season. He is a horse
that likes a high tempo in a race, he gets into a rhythm.”
Phoenix S. (Ire-G1) victor ALFRED NOBEL (Danehill Dancer) is on course for a
tilt at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), alongside Dewhurst S. (Eng-G1) winner
BEETHOVEN (Oratorio [Ire]), while Group 2 heroine LILLIE LANGTRY (Danehill
Dancer) heads to the Breeders’ Cup Fillies’ Juvenile Turf and listed scorer
VISCOUNT NELSON (Giant’s Causeway) takes his chance in the Breeders’ Cup
Juvenile Turf (G2).
“Alfred Nobel raced in the National S. (Ire-G1) on atrocious ground,” O’Brien
revealed. “We were working the horses on that ground too and minding them, so
they were not quite ready to do themselves justice, but they did come out of
their races well. He likes to be held up and he won his race very easy on his
side at Newmarket last time and obviously there was no pace there. He came out
of the race very well and is a horse with loads of speed, like Johannesburg who
won the Juvenile, he had loads of speed too. You need speed for that race and if
he got a nice, reasonable draw, we would be very hopeful. I think Johnny will
ride him.
“Beethoven is a very tough horse, he is like his dad (Oratorio), he is
getting better with every run. He traveled with the pace in the Dewhurst and
quickened really well — the visor obviously helped. Everybody crabs the
Dewhurst form but that’s wrong. For us, it was the most solid Dewhurst in years.
The second and third both came from the back but Beethoven sat up with the pace
all the way. He wanted a strong run race and fast ground and that brought out
the toughness in him. Joseph (O’Brien’s son) rides him every day and he always
thought he would love the Polytrack.
“Lillie Langtry is very well. We were delighted with her at Newmarket last
time. The season has been long for her but we are happy with her. The trip will
suit her as will the ground. This mile is as far as she has ran, she has only
been over seven furlongs but she always ran like a filly who would not mind
further.
“Viscount Nelson was second in the Champagne S. (Eng-G2) and we are very
happy with him. He will like going the trip and the fast ground. He’s a great
traveler who doesn’t do a lot when he gets to the front. We hope he will run a
big race, we have given him plenty of time since his last run.”
O’Brien looks to MAN OF IRON (Giant’s Causeway), successful at Dundalk last
time, in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon going 1 3/4 miles. The chestnut sophomore is
out of Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister), making him a half-brother to two
Belmont S. (G1) winners in Jazil (Seeking the Gold) and the champion filly Rags
to Riches (A.P. Indy), as well as Peter Pan S. (G2) victor Casino Drive
(Mineshaft).
“Man of Iron has progressed with every run,” he said. “He won at Dundalk last
time after being fourth behind Mastercraftsman and won a handicap there the time
before. He’s a half-brother to a Belmont winner by Giant’s Causeway. He’s
progressing very well and we’re happy with him. We can’t be sure about the trip
but we’re hopeful.”
Godolphin is also set to be well represented at Santa Anita on November 6 and
7.
Godolphin has dual Grade 1 victress SEVENTH STREET (Street Cry [Ire]) entered
in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), alongside multiple Grade 3 winner
SARA LOUISE (Malibu Moon), who defeated Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d’Oro) in the
Pocahontas S. (G3) last season.
“It was a really good effort when Sara Louise was second in a Grade 2 at
Belmont,” Simon Crisford said. “She is a sweet but very small filly and
definitely belongs in this competition. We are happy with her and Frankie
Dettori will ride her. Seventh Street was second in a Grade 1 at Belmont and
belongs in this grade. She has an each-way chance. Both fillies go there with a
bit of a squeak and the seven-furlong trip should play to their strengths.”
There are two possible Godolphin starters in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1) —
Group 2 winner DELEGATOR (Dansili [GB]) and Group 1 hero GLADIATORUS (Silic
[Fr]).
“Delegator is a real nice horse whose previous form is very good,” Crisford
continued. “Next year he will come into his own over shorter but the trip and
track and the way race will be set up might suit.
“Gladiatorus didn’t have to be at his best to win in Italy but won well
enough and we were pleased with that. There were high expectations after his
wins in Dubai but he didn’t like running on straight tracks and horses don’t
always run up to top form. I think going left handed will help — a two-turn
mile is what he wants.
“Frankie will be on Delegator and Ahmed will ride Gladiatorus. I am
interested to see Delegator on this track over a mile. He has a nice finishing
kick but the way he has been training and racing, the mile might just be
stretching him.”
Crisford went on to explain that Grade 1 queens MUSIC NOTE (A.P. Indy) and
COCOA BEACH (Chi) (Doneraile Court), who were third and second, respectively, in
last year’s Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1), are both set to try their
chances again in the nine-furlong test.
“Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]) was just too good in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies
Classic last season but Cocoa Beach and Music Note both ran very well,” Crisford
said. “They are both in good form. Music Note won the Beldame S. (G1) and is a
real tough, good filly when she turns up in peak form. She is a top notch filly
so hopefully has a real strong chance.
“Cocoa Beach is an honest, tough Chilean-bred filly who did well last year in
the U.S. She has not done quite as well this year but is coming to hand. She was
only beaten a length and a half by Zenyatta on the surface at Santa Anita in the
Lady’s Secret S. (G1) on October 10.”
St Leger S. (Eng-G1) winner MASTERY (Sulamani [Ire]) is being aimed at the
Breeders’ Cup Marathon for Godolphin.
“He takes his races really well and although he is not very big, he tries
hard and takes his racing in his stride,” Crisford explained. “He is in super
condition and ran on the all-weather at Kempton earlier in the year. The track
at Santa Anita should play to his strengths, he stays well and goes there with a
real chance.
“It was a hard run in the St Leger and he needed his time out after. This
race is the obvious target for him. He stays in training next year and is also
entered in the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) after the Breeders’ Cup.”
Godolphin’s other entries include Ancient Title S. (G1) victor GAYEGO (Gilded
Time) in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), REGAL RANSOM (Distorted Humor) and
GIROLAMO (A.P. Indy) in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and Forego S. (G1) scorer
PYRO (Pulpit) and champion MIDSHIPMAN (Unbridled’s Song) in the Breeders’ Cup
Dirt Mile
“Gayego is a real nice horse,” Crisford said. “He is a course and distance
winner who finishes his races really well and has a bit of a chance. We are
still undecided about Regal Ransom and Girolamo in the Classic. We need to see
them work on the surface a little bit more before we decide what we are doing
there.
“Regal Ransom is coming into the race fresh after a hard campaign earlier in
the year in Dubai. We were hoping for a better run than we got in the Kentucky
Derby (G1), but he is fresh and well now.
“Girolamo is a horse going places, but we do need to see him on the surface
before making a decision. The older he gets the better he will be and he will be
much better next year. He is just finding an extra gear and going forward. I
think he probably stays quite well so the distance should suit him.
“Pyro won a Grade 1 at Saratoga on dirt and whether or not he will like the
surface, we will find out. He has more of a dirt horse than synthetic but he is
fresh and in good form. Midshipman had a setback in Dubai and has had a very
quiet year. He is a top-notch horse and we are looking for a strong run.”
Godolphin also has a pair of juveniles ready for the Breeders’ Cup.
“Ahmed Ajtebi will ride BUZZWORD (Pivotal) in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Turf,” Crisford explained. “He is super tough and takes his racing very well.
California racing should suit and the track will play to his strengths. He ran
really well in the Dewhurst — he doesn’t quit.
“VALE OF YORK (Invincible Spirit) heads to the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and we
think he will handle the trip and the surface. He is super tough and never
shirks. California racing seems a good idea for him and if he runs well he will
go to Dubai. He ran well in the Royal Lodge S. (Eng-G2) and deserves his chance.”
In other Breeders’ Cup news:
Trainer Ian Wilkes said that Joseph Rauch and David Zell’s CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN
(Candy Ride [Arg]) is scheduled for his final work before the Breeders’ Cup
Sprint on Sunday and will then ship to Santa Anita the next day. Capt. Candyman
Can, who won the first of his four graded victories in last fall’s Iroquois (G3)
and most recently added a win in the King’s Bishop S. (G1) and a close second in
the Phoenix S. (G3) to his resume, has been training at the Skylight Training
Center in Goshen, Kentucky, over the Pro-Ride synthetic track, similar to what
he will run on at Santa Anita.
“He has had two works since the Phoenix and is doing well,” Wilkes said of
the three-year-old gelding. “He will probably work Sunday and then ship Monday.”
Multiple Grade 1-winning PURE CLAN (Pure Prize) came out of her five-furlong
breeze on Tuesday in good order according to Betsy Couch, assistant to trainer
Bob Holthus.
“She ate up everything last night and is in good form this morning,” Couch
said.
Winner of the Flower Bowl Invitational (G1) in her most recent start on
October 3, Pure Clan worked five-eighths in 1:01 2/5 on Tuesday, her second
five-furlong work since the Flower Bowl in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup
Filly & Mare Turf (G1). Pure Clan is scheduled to have a light breeze Sunday
morning and ship to California on Monday.
Trainer Ken McPeek said that CONNIE AND MICHAEL (Roman Ruler) would ship to
California on Saturday for a start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1).
Connie and Michael broke her maiden by 7 3/4 lengths at first asking on October
17 at Keeneland going seven furlongs. McPeek hoped to have another Keeneland
maiden winner on the plane in FIST OF RAGE (Consolidator), but that colt was
sixth on the preference list for the over-subscribed Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.