Irish Runners at Breeders’ Cup will spearhead a major international challenge from Ireland, with 24 horses representing 10 stables from six counties at Keeneland Racecourse in Kentucky on Friday, October 30 and Saturday, October 31. The focus will then shift to Australia, where Joseph O’Brien will prepare a potential five-horse team for the prestigious Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday, November 3.
The 43rd Breeders’ Cup World Championships will bring together Irish-trained runners from Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Kildare, Meath and Westmeath. Champion trainer Aidan O’Brien will lead the Irish challenge with 10 runners from his Ballydoyle stable.
Aidan O’Brien will also have the opportunity to move ahead of American trainer Bob Baffert in the all-time Breeders’ Cup winners’ standings. Both trainers will arrive at the meeting with 21 career victories, making this year’s championship another important occasion for the Ballydoyle handler.
Irish Runners at Breeders’ Cup to Feature Across Friday’s Group 1 Contests
Friday’s programme will feature three Group 1 races with strong Irish representation, beginning with the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint over five and a half furlongs at 6.55pm.
Paddy Twomey will saddle Velozee, with Tyler Gaffalione taking the ride from stall six. Robson Aguiar will also have a representative in Force Noir, who will line up from stall eight under David Egan.
The $1 million John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf over one mile will follow at 8.15pm. Joseph O’Brien will field three runners, with Green Empress set to partner Dylan Browne McMonagle, Alwaysanangel to be ridden by Oisin Murphy and Citrus Springs to carry the hopes of Manuel Franco.
Johnny Murtagh will send out Curracloe under Ben Coen, while Aidan O’Brien will rely on Sun Goddess, who will be partnered by Ryan Moore. Robson Aguiar’s Ballinea Star will complete the Irish representation in the 14-runner contest.
The third Friday Group 1 involving Irish-trained horses will be the $1 million Brown Advisory Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf over one mile at 9.35pm.
Aidan O’Brien will field Florida Bay, Haffner, Man’s Best Friend and Great Barrier Reef, while Joseph O’Brien will saddle Folsom Blues. Wayne Lordan will ride Florida Bay, Christophe Soumillon will partner Haffner, Dylan Browne McMonagle will take the mount on Folsom Blues, Colin Keane will ride Man’s Best Friend and Ryan Moore will partner Great Barrier Reef.
Saturday’s action will begin with the $1 million Prevagen Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint over six furlongs at 5.48pm. Donnacha O’Brien will send out Comanche Brave, who will be partnered by Billy Loughnane from stall seven.
The $2 million Makers Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf over nine and a half furlongs will follow at 7.04pm. Ger Lyons will saddle Red Letter under Dylan Browne McMonagle, while Willie McCreery will rely on Jancis, with Billy Lee taking the ride. Aidan O’Brien will complete the Irish representation with Precise, who will be partnered by Ryan Moore.
Two Ballydoyle runners will also contest the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile at 8.20pm. True Love will have Wayne Lordan in the saddle, while Ryan Moore will partner Puerto Rico.
The $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf over 12 furlongs will provide the biggest prize-money contest for the Irish team on Saturday at 9.36pm. Willie Mullins will field Ethical Diamond, with Dylan Browne McMonagle booked for the ride. Aidan O’Brien will saddle Benvenuto Cellini and Diamond Necklace, while Jessica Harrington will be represented by Hotazhell. Joseph O’Brien will complete the five-horse Irish challenge with Johanna Walsh.
Joseph O’Brien to Lead Five-Horse Melbourne Cup Challenge
Following the two-day championship at Keeneland, attention will turn to Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne for the $10 million Lexus Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, November 3.
Joseph O’Brien will have five horses in line for the two-mile Group 1 handicap, with Defiantly, Sons And Lovers, Trustyourinstinct, Goodie Two Shoes and James J Braddock all set to represent his Kilkenny stable.
Dylan Browne McMonagle will take the ride on Defiantly, while Ryan Moore will partner Sons And Lovers. James McDonald will be aboard Trustyourinstinct, Wayne Lordan will ride Goodie Two Shoes and Craig Williams will partner James J Braddock.
Kizlyar, another horse trained by Joseph O’Brien, may also enter the final field, subject to pre-race veterinary checks.
The Melbourne Cup will offer O’Brien an opportunity to secure a third victory in the famous Australian staying contest. He will draw on previous successes with Rekindling in 2017 and Twilight Payment in 2020.
The final field and barrier draw will be announced on Saturday, following the required veterinary assessments by Racing Victoria. The potential participation of Kizlyar will also depend on clearance.
Irish Runners at Breeders’ Cup will lead a 24-horse challenge from six Irish counties at Keeneland, with Aidan O’Brien targeting a place at the top of the championship’s all-time trainers’ standings. Joseph O’Brien will then aim for a third Melbourne Cup victory with a potential five-horse team at Flemington.
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