Breeders’ Cup 2023: Aidan O’Brien’s 10 runners at Santa Anita meeting

Auguste Rodin and co are Stateside!

Auguste Rodin

By / Horse Racing News / 1 year ago

Aidan O’Brien is one of the most successful trainers in the history of the Breeders’ Cup and the Ballydoyle master sends a 10-strong squad across the pond for this year’s meeting at Santa Anita.

One of the leading stars of the season, Auguste Rodin, spearheads the team travelling from Ireland as the dual Derby hero prepares to face familiar foe King Of Steel and Juddmonte International winner Mostahdaf in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

The Ballydoyle battalion are split across six races and O’Brien will be hoping to add to his list of 16 Breeders’ Cup winners.

The latest Breeders’ Cup odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise details of Aidan O’Brien’s runners at this year’s Santa Anita meeting can be found below.

BREEDERS’ CUP FRIDAY

9.00 Santa Anita – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

CHERRY BLOSSOM

The first race of the meeting looks a hot contest as Big Evs, the leading juvenile sprinter on either side of the Irish Sea, looks to round off his two-year-old campaign in fine style. Cherry Blossom has only managed to score once in five outings but goes well on fast ground and receives weight from the boys.

10.20 Santa Anita – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf

CONTENT

Content took her form to new levels when landing the Group 3 Staffordstown Stud Stakes last time out, although that came on soft ground and the daughter of Galileo has a fair bit to find with market principals Carla’s Way and Porta Fortuna.

11.40 Santa Anita – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

MOUNTAIN BEAR / RIVER TIBER / UNQUESTIONABLE

Without a shadow of a doubt, Aidan O’Brien’s best chance of a winner on the opening day of the Breeders’ Cup. River Tiber proved he can handle big fields when landing the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot – the best piece of form on offer – although this represents a significant hike in trip.

Unquestionable also brings high-class form to the table courtesy of his second in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere last time out and his pedigree suggests he should get the mile.

Mountain Bear is the outsider of the trio and has a wide draw to navigate, but the No Nay Never colt delivered a career-best performance to land the Listed Appeal Stakes at Dundalk last time out.

River Tiber

BREEDERS’ CUP SATURDAY

7.10 Santa Anita – Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf

WARM HEART

One of Ballydoyle’s surprise packages of the season, Warm Heart is seeking a third successive victory at Group 1 level after victories at York and Longchamp. It should be one of the most exciting contests of the meeting as superstar Inspiral is the principal opposition but her Jacques le Marois victory looks like a smashing piece of form as subsequent Queen Elizabeth II Stakes scorer Big Rock was in behind.

9.50 Santa Anita – Breeders’ Cup Turf

AUGUSTE RODIN / BOLSHOI BALLET / BROOME

The big race of the two-day meeting – if you ignore the Classic on dirt – as Auguste Rodin takes on Mostahdaf and King Of Steel.

The dual Derby and Irish Champion Stakes winner has the advantage of a better draw than his rivals, while stablemates Bolshoi Ballet and Broome could provide a perfect tow from the front.

11.25 Santa Anita – Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint

AESOP’S FABLES

Aesop’s Fables is winless in nine outings but last month’s third place in the Prix de l’Abbaye was a massive improvement. The only three-year-old in the field has 12l to find with market principal Live In The Dream from this season’s Nunthorpe Stakes but a repeat of his l’Abbaye run would put him in the mix.

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