Aidan O’Brien has just landed in California and received some disappointing news as two of his top horses were assigned unfavorable starting positions at the Breeders’ Cup.
O’Brien is on the verge of making racing history with his remarkable season, needing only three more Group 1 wins to match his own record of 28 victories in a year. Additionally, he is one win away from becoming the most successful Breeders’ Cup trainer ever.
With eight opportunities to enhance his current tally of 20 Cup wins, O’Brien’s key contenders include Minnie Hauk, the runner-up in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, set to compete in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Among his other hopefuls are Precise, the winner of the Fillies’ Mile, entered in the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf, and Gstaad, the second-place finisher in the Dewhurst Stakes, taking on the Juvenile Turf.
Unfortunately, both Precise and Henri Matisse drew unfavorable post positions on the tight Del Mar turf track, with Precise starting from gate 13 out of 13 and Henri Matisse from gate 14.
Following the draw results, bookmakers quickly adjusted the odds, with Precise now at 11-10 from Evens and Gstaad at 11-10 from 4-5.
Commenting on the situation, William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps remarked that the European contenders, Precise and Gstaad, faced challenging starting positions, impacting their odds on the tight Del Mar track.
Despite the setbacks, O’Brien can draw some confidence from Henri Matisse’s past success overcoming a wide draw to win the Juvenile Turf at the same venue last year.
Observing his horses on the track for the first time, O’Brien expressed satisfaction during the Breakfast at the Breeders’ Cup show, noting their calm demeanor and ease in adapting to the surroundings.
Looking ahead, O’Brien outlined the upcoming schedule for his horses, emphasizing preparations leading up to the races.
When asked about the challenging draws, O’Brien acknowledged the circumstances, highlighting the importance of jockey input in navigating the races effectively.