Aidan O’Brien has just landed in California, only to receive some disappointing news as two of his top horses were assigned unfavorable post positions for the upcoming Breeders’ Cup races.
O’Brien’s exceptional season has put him on the verge of making racing history, requiring three more Group 1 wins to match his own record of 28 top-level victories in a year and one more win to become the most successful Breeders’ Cup trainer ever.
The renowned Ballydoyle trainer has a total of eight chances to enhance his current tally of 20 Cup wins this Friday and Saturday. Among his top contenders are Minnie Hauk, the runner-up of Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, set to compete in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
His other notable prospects include Precise, the winner of the Fillies’ Mile, entered in the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf, and Gstaad, the second-place finisher in the Dewhurst Stakes, ready for the Juvenile Turf.
Despite the hope for favorable post positions on the tight turf track at Del Mar, both Precise and Henri Matisse faced a setback with Precise drawing post position 13 out of 13, and Henri Matisse positioned at 14.
The news led bookmakers to adjust their odds, with Precise now at 11-10 from Evens and Gstaad at 11-10 from 4-5. William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps commented on the situation, expressing concerns over the European chances due to the challenging berths at the Del Mar track.
A silver lining for O’Brien is the past success of Henri Matisse, who triumphed from stall 12 in the Juvenile Turf at the same venue a year ago.
Observing his horses train on the track for the first time, O’Brien mentioned on FanDuelTV’s Breakfast at the Breeders’ Cup show that they appeared content and relaxed, getting accustomed to the surroundings. The horses will continue their preparation with visits to the start, paddocks, and more track sessions in the upcoming days.
Regarding the post position draws, O’Brien acknowledged the randomness of the process, indicating that the jockeys’ perspectives would play a crucial role in navigating the races effectively.