Aidan O’Brien’s arrival in California was met with challenging news as two of his top horses were assigned unfavorable starting positions at the Breeders’ Cup.
O’Brien, known for his stellar racing achievements, is on the verge of making history by aiming for three more Group 1 victories to match his own record of 28 wins in a year. Additionally, he is one win away from becoming the most successful Breeders’ Cup trainer.
With eight chances to expand 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 Juvenile Fillies’ Turf contender and Gstaad, who will tackle the Juvenile Turf after finishing second in the Dewhurst Stakes.
Despite the high stakes, both Precise and Henri Matisse faced a setback as they drew unfavorable post positions at Del Mar. Precise will start from the 13th stall out of 13, while Henri Matisse is positioned at stall 14.
The news led bookmakers to adjust their odds, with Precise now at 11-10 from Evens, and Gstaad’s odds shifting to 11-10 from 4-5 due to their challenging starting positions.
Acknowledging the less-than-ideal draws, O’Brien expressed optimism, citing Henri Matisse’s past success overcoming a wide draw at the same track last year. Following the horses’ first track appearance on Tuesday, O’Brien mentioned that they seemed content and relaxed, familiarizing themselves with the surroundings.
Looking ahead, O’Brien outlined the schedule leading up to the races, including preparations at the start, paddocks, and final track sessions. When asked about the draws, O’Brien maintained a composed attitude, stating that the draws are part of the game and that the jockeys’ opinions would be considered.
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