Irish racing is preparing for an extraordinary few days on the international stage, with 24 horses from ten different stables competing at the Breeders’ Cup in Kentucky this weekend before attention switches to Australia, where Joseph O’Brien could have as many as five runners in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.
The two meetings offer some of the richest prizes in international racing, bringing together many of the sport’s leading owners, trainers and jockeys, with Irish connections prominent across both programmes.
At Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky, trainers based in Carlow, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Kildare, Meath and Westmeath will be represented at the 43rd Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Friday and Saturday, October 30 and 31.
Aidan O’Brien arrives in America with ten runners and a record firmly within reach. His 21 career Breeders’ Cup victories put him level with American trainer Bob Baffert at the top of the all-time standings, with several opportunities over the two days to move clear.
Among his strongest prospects is Sun Goddess, the short-priced favourite for Friday’s $1 million Juvenile Fillies Turf, a race in which Irish-trained horses account for six of the fourteen runners.
Joseph O’Brien has three contenders in that race, while Johnny Murtagh and Robson Aguiar are also represented. Friday’s programme includes five Irish-trained runners in the Juvenile Turf, four from Ballydoyle, with Paddy Twomey also involved on opening day.
Saturday brings the richest prizes and a broader spread of Irish interest, including runners for Donnacha O’Brien, Ger Lyons and Willie McCreery before the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Turf provides one of the weekend’s most intriguing contests.
Willie Mullins, whose ability to move between the great National Hunt occasions and major international Flat races has become a defining feature of his career, is represented by Ethical Diamond. Jessica Harrington sends Hotazhell, Joseph O’Brien saddles Johanna Walsh and Aidan O’Brien has both Benvenuto Cellini and Diamond Necklace, the latter expected to start as favourite.
While the runners at Keeneland compete for some of the most prestigious prizes in American racing, another Irish operation prepares for an equally ambitious challenge on the other side of the world.
At Flemington in Melbourne, Joseph O’Brien is seeking a third victory in the race that stops a nation, with five horses from his Owning Hill base in County Kilkenny still in contention for Tuesday’s A$10 million Lexus Melbourne Cup.
O’Brien first captured Australia’s most famous race with Rekindling in 2017, becoming the youngest trainer to do so at just 24, and returned to the winner’s enclosure three years later with Twilight Payment.
Those victories established his reputation as a trainer capable of identifying and preparing horses for major international targets, with the Melbourne Cup presenting particular challenges around stamina, preparation and adapting to unfamiliar conditions.
Trustyourinstinct, with leading Australian jockey James McDonald booked to ride, is among his strongest contenders, alongside Defiantly, Sons And Lovers, Goodie Two Shoes and James J Braddock.
Four have passed their initial mandatory veterinary inspections, with Defiantly requiring a further examination on Saturday before the final field is confirmed.
For O’Brien, who will also be represented at Keeneland over the weekend, the logistical demands of competing at both meetings underline the international nature of his operation, with horses prepared in Kilkenny travelling thousands of kilometres to compete in America and Australia.
The weekend also has a substantial commercial dimension. Performances at the Breeders’ Cup and Melbourne Cup can influence international demand for bloodstock, with the reputational benefits extending beyond individual trainers to breeders, owners, sales companies and the wider network of businesses supporting the sport.
The involvement of ten different Irish stables at Keeneland ensures exposure extends beyond the biggest training operations, while the prospect of another Melbourne Cup victory for Joseph O’Brien heightens anticipation.
By the time the Breeders’ Cup concludes late on Saturday night, the final declarations for Melbourne will be known, and attention will already be turning towards Tuesday morning’s race at Flemington, bringing an exceptional few days of international competition to a close.
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Image Credit: Horse Racing Ireland
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