Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has a strong team on their way to Santa Anita for the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Meeting, he explains who will be going where and what punters should expect.
RIP VAN WINKLE
Breeders’ Cup Classic
Current odds – 7/4 (Paddy Power)
Aidan O’Brien on Rip Van Winkle:
"The horses have not had an easy season and Rip Van Winkle has not had an easy season with plenty of setbacks, holdups and tough races. But we are looking forward to the Breeders' Cup.
"Rip Van Winkle is a great horse because he has been swimming against the tide all year and he has had no clear run at any race. He has had loads of problems.
"We think he is a great horse and if people only knew the half of what he had to go through this year. Mentally and physically, most horses would have fallen away. It's amazing that he has stood his ground and kept doing it."
"He's only a three-year-old and didn't have it easy but we're looking forward to him in the Classic, he's a real crack miler and full of determination and strength at the end. He has never been on a synthetic surface but he is a good mover and fast ground is his forte. The season has been long and hard but he is one of those horses with real mile pace and he is not wilting at the end.
"Sea The Stars travels like a dream, better than any horse at the two furlong marker, but if you look at the Eclipse, Rip might have been travelling better than him. He has always been an exciting horse.
"It's a great race and very important for a stallion, such is its prestige, so we are just delighted to have him going there.
"The plan is for the horses to leave on Sunday. They will probably do a little bit of work before then but once they arrive at Santa Anita, they will just canter on the track. There will be nothing strenuous."
MASTERCRAFTSMAN
Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile
Current odds – 7/2 (Ladbrokes)
Aidan O’Brien on Mastercraftsman:
"We know what Mastercraftsman can do over a mile on turf. It's just to give him another dimension. We know he acted on the Polytrack at Dundalk and we are not sure he really gets the trip of the Classic, even though he won over it at Dundalk. He is a horse with a lot of speed and the American horses jump and go fast, so he may not quite get home over the longer trip.
"Even though he coasted home and won very easy at Dundalk, Johnny (Murtagh) wouldn't have been sure that he stayed the trip because he was just coasting the last furlong.
"It's not definite that he goes for the Dirt Mile but we had to make a preference for him and we chose the mile as first preference, so if all is well with Rip then there is a big chance that he will run in the shorter race.
"His best run ever was over six furlongs at the Curragh last season. He is a horse that likes a high tempo in a race, he gets into a rhythm."
ALFRED NOBEL
Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Current odds – 12/1 (Blue Square)
Aidan O’Brien on Alfred Nobel:
"Alfred Nobel raced in the National Stakes on atrocious ground. We were working the horses on that ground too and minding them, so they were not quite ready to do themselves justice, but they did come out of their races well.
"He likes to be held up and he won his race very easy on his side at Newmarket last time and obviously there was no pace there. He came out of the race very well and is a horse with loads of speed, like Johannesburg who won the Juvenile, he had loads of speed too. You need speed for that race and if he got a nice, reasonable draw, we would be very hopeful. I think Johnny will ride him.
BEETHOVEN
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile
Current odds – 12/1 (William Hill)
Aidan O’Brien on Beethoven:
"Beethoven is a very tough horse, he is like his dad (Oratorio), he is getting better with every run. H e travelled with the pace in the Dewhurst and quickened really well - the visor obviously helped.
"Everybody crabs the Dewhurst form but that's wrong. For us, it was the most solid Dewhurst in years. The second and third both came from the back but Beethoven sat up with the pace all the way. He wanted a strong run race and fast ground and that brought out the toughness in him. Joseph (O'Brien's son) rides him every day and he always thought he would love the Polytrack.
LILLIE LANGTRY
Breeders’ Cup Fillies’ Juvenile Turf
Current odds – 7/1 (Bet365)
Aidan O’Brien on Lille Langtry:
"Lillie Langtry is very well. We were delighted with her at Newmarket last time. The season has been long for her but we are happy with her. The trip will suit her as will the ground. This mile is as far as she has ran, she has only been over seven furlongs but she always ran like a filly who would not mind further.
VISCOUNT NELSON
Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf
Current odds – 5/1 (Blue Square)
Aidan O’Brien on Viscount Nelson:
"Viscount Nelson was second in the Champagne Stakes and we are very happy with him. He will like going the trip and the fast ground. He's a great traveller who doesn't do a lot when he gets to the front. We hope he will run a big race, we have given him plenty of time since his last run. "
MAN OF IRON
Breeders’ Cup Marathon
Current odds – 9/1 (William Hill)
Aidan O’Brien on Man Of Iron:
"Man Of Iron has progressed with every run. He won at Dundalk last time after being fourth behind Mastercraftsman and won a handicap there the time before. He's a half-brother to a Belmont winner by Giant's Causeway. He's progressing very well and we're happy with him. We can't be sure about the trip but we're hopeful."
