Aidan O'Brien has won just about every important European race multiple times, including the Juddmonte International (G1). He'll try for his eighth Juddmonte trophy Wednesday at York with the 3-year-old standout Delacroix.
The Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" event awards the winner a spot in the BC Classic (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 1.
The Classic is the rare race that has made O'Brien suffer. Starting with Giant's Causeway's narrow loss to Tiznow in 2000, the Irish genius is 0-for-19 in the 1 1/4-mile dirt race. To earn a free shot this autumn in Southern California, Delacroix must defeat Ombudsman, whom he edged last month in the Eclipse Stakes (G1) at Sandown.
Ombudsman prefers to rally off a quick pace, which his owner Godolphin hopes to ensure by entering frontrunning Birr Castle.
“The Eclipse was a muddling race, and we didn't want the prospect of a repeat,” co-trainer John Gosden said. “So Godolphin has kindly provided us with a nice horse to use as a pacemaker.”
Godolphin and Coolmore, which owns Delacroix, are the world's top breeding and racing superpowers. They have been archrivals since the Nineties, and O'Brien often beats Godolphin with the aid of a pacesetter. For once he won't have one.
The International is one of four Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" stakes at York's Ebor Festival, one of the highlights of the British racing calendar. The others are Wednesday's Acomb Stakes (BC Juvenile Turf); Thursday's Yorkshire Oaks (BC Filly & Mare Turf) and Friday's Nunthorpe Stakes (BC Turf Sprint).
For those who bet on horse racing, here are some observations about the Juddmonte (post time 10:35 a.m. ET).
A pacemaker is a sacrificial lamb who fades after setting fast fractions for a late-running stablemate. Once in a great while, though, the lamb wins, which occurred July 30 in the Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood. Don't expect this gelding to equal the feat of 150-1 shot Qirat.
He's been bet down from 16-1 to 9-2 since an impressive recent gallop at Newmarket. His trainer said, "Danon Decile is just where I want him," but will that be enough? Last five races were 1 1/2 miles or longer, so 1 1/4 might be too short against by far the best field he's ever faced.
Lost by a neck to Delacroix last out while giving him 10 pounds. Must spot him seven pounds this time. Quicker pace set by rabbit Birr Castle should suit Ombudsman better than the slow fractions in the Eclipse Stakes. In his best race, a two-length upset in the Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, Ombudsman surged past tiring leaders Los Angeles and Continuous, both trained by O'Brien.
The field's only filly dominated females by 12 lengths in a 1 1/4-mile Group 2 at York in May. Unfortunately, it's her only win in her last six races, and she's 0-for-4 against males, never better than third, in Group 1s. Murphy is a terrific rider, so maybe he can work out a good trip to complete the trifecta.
He's 4-for-4 in France at age 3 after being unraced at 2. You have to respect the undefeated record, but he's never been in a Group 1 or faced horses as accomplished as Ombudsman and Delacroix.
Classy colt has been worse than second only once -- ninth in the 1 1/2-mile Epsom Derby (G1), when he had trouble handling the tricky course. Not as flashy as some of his stablemates but tough, ultra-consistent and winner of his last three tries at 1 1/4 miles. Would be no surprise if he and the brilliant Moore turn back Ombudsman again.
