Questions finally ready to be answered at Breeders' Cup
Juvenile Fillies Turf favourite Lake Victoria leads the Green Team in opening act at Del Mar
Friday, 01 November 2024
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Lake Victoria - on the Del Mar gallops with Ryan Moore - leads the Aidan O'Brien cast on Future Stars Friday, the opening day of the Breeders' Cup (Racing Post Photos)
Whisper it quietly but City of Troy may not be Aidan O'Brien's biggest star at the Breeders' Cup, writes James Toney at Del Mar.
Lake Victoria has made a late charge to become the standout two-year old filly of the season and is the big name act as we get a glimpse to the future on Friday in California, a race card that proves you can win something with kids.
She's hardly a big secret though, winning two group ones at the Curragh and Newmarket in September and upsetting highly-rated stable mate Bedtime Story to earn early favouritism for next year's Classics.
And even a draw on the rail is not concerning O'Brien as she seeks to stretch her unbeaten run to five in her first race over a mile in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
"I really like her draw, she's just so classy," said O'Brien. "I imagine what Ryan (Moore) will try to do is sneak around the inside on her. We've no worries about the trip, she has lots of speed but you'll need a little bit of luck when you are drawn in there."
READ MORE: O'Brien cautiously confident after City of Troy learns Breeders' Cup draw
O'Brien also aims Heavens Gate, partnered by Wayne Lordan, at the race while Gary Carroll declared himself 'very happy' with Gavin Cromwell's Fiery Lucy as he took her for a gentle spin ahead what will be a significant step up in class.
"She's freshened up really well since she travelled over and we're looking forward to seeing her," said Cromwell.
"She's earned her place to be here and it's special to have a runner at the Breeders' Cup. I've been watching for so many years, I remember Royal Academy (first Irish winner) and Lester Piggott."
From Dundalk to Del Mar, Adrian Murray is dreaming big in the land of dreams. Twelve months ago Murray nearly became the sixth Irish trainer to score a winner at the Breeders' Cup, joining a legendary cast that includes Aidan O'Brien, Vincent O'Brien, Joseph O'Brien, Dermot Weld and John Oxx.
Murray had already tasted Royal Ascot success with Valiant Force but had to watch him finish a half length second to the popular Big Evs in the Juvenile Turf Sprint last year.
He's back to tackle the same race again with Arizona Blaze, while US-bred Hill Road will race on dirt for the first time in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
"We're really happy with all their the preparations, things couldn't really have gone better," said Murray. "It's a different challenge for Hill Road but he has seemed to handle the dirt well and he's in great order. He's class and the mile won't be a problem, we're hoping for a big run, it'll be all guns blazing."
"We're certainly happy with where Whistlejacket is drawn, he's a very fast horse and in this race they'll go at a really fast pace, so I guess we're going to learn a lot." said O'Brien.
Elsewhere, O'Brien's Henri Matisse is the only Irish entry in the Juvenile Turf Colts, as he looks to bounce back from a disappointing run in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp, when starting as favourite. However, the widest possible draw in 13 will mean his supporters will need to be patient if he's going to repeat those those three eye-catching wins from the Curragh this summer.
"Ryan will need to forget about the race in the first half because of that draw," added O'Brien. "Ryan will change his tactics according to what happens, I'd imagine he'll be a long way back at half way but let's see what unfolds."
Lake Victoria has made a late charge to become the standout two-year old filly of the season and is the big name act as we get a glimpse to the future on Friday in California, a race card that proves you can win something with kids.
She's hardly a big secret though, winning two group ones at the Curragh and Newmarket in September and upsetting highly-rated stable mate Bedtime Story to earn early favouritism for next year's Classics.
And even a draw on the rail is not concerning O'Brien as she seeks to stretch her unbeaten run to five in her first race over a mile in the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
"I really like her draw, she's just so classy," said O'Brien. "I imagine what Ryan (Moore) will try to do is sneak around the inside on her. We've no worries about the trip, she has lots of speed but you'll need a little bit of luck when you are drawn in there."
READ MORE: O'Brien cautiously confident after City of Troy learns Breeders' Cup draw
O'Brien also aims Heavens Gate, partnered by Wayne Lordan, at the race while Gary Carroll declared himself 'very happy' with Gavin Cromwell's Fiery Lucy as he took her for a gentle spin ahead what will be a significant step up in class.
"She's freshened up really well since she travelled over and we're looking forward to seeing her," said Cromwell.
"She's earned her place to be here and it's special to have a runner at the Breeders' Cup. I've been watching for so many years, I remember Royal Academy (first Irish winner) and Lester Piggott."
From Dundalk to Del Mar, Adrian Murray is dreaming big in the land of dreams. Twelve months ago Murray nearly became the sixth Irish trainer to score a winner at the Breeders' Cup, joining a legendary cast that includes Aidan O'Brien, Vincent O'Brien, Joseph O'Brien, Dermot Weld and John Oxx.
Murray had already tasted Royal Ascot success with Valiant Force but had to watch him finish a half length second to the popular Big Evs in the Juvenile Turf Sprint last year.
He's back to tackle the same race again with Arizona Blaze, while US-bred Hill Road will race on dirt for the first time in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
"We're really happy with all their the preparations, things couldn't really have gone better," said Murray. "It's a different challenge for Hill Road but he has seemed to handle the dirt well and he's in great order. He's class and the mile won't be a problem, we're hoping for a big run, it'll be all guns blazing."
Aidan O'Brien's Whistlejacket - who has an optimum midfield draw - and Ides of March and Ger Lyons's Magnum Force will be the other Irish horses alongside Arizona Blaze in the five furlong sprint. Champion Jockey elect Colin Keane takes the ride on Lyon's only entry before jumping on a plane to collect his title at the Curragh on Sunday."It's only a dream but dreams come true at odds times."
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) October 30, 2024
- Aidan O'Brien on @Ballydoyle's City of Troy#BC24 #BreedersCup #GreenTeam pic.twitter.com/h9RZVKgrjF
"We're certainly happy with where Whistlejacket is drawn, he's a very fast horse and in this race they'll go at a really fast pace, so I guess we're going to learn a lot." said O'Brien.
Elsewhere, O'Brien's Henri Matisse is the only Irish entry in the Juvenile Turf Colts, as he looks to bounce back from a disappointing run in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp, when starting as favourite. However, the widest possible draw in 13 will mean his supporters will need to be patient if he's going to repeat those those three eye-catching wins from the Curragh this summer.
"Ryan will need to forget about the race in the first half because of that draw," added O'Brien. "Ryan will change his tactics according to what happens, I'd imagine he'll be a long way back at half way but let's see what unfolds."