O'Brien moves level with Lukas on all-time Breeders' Cup trainers standings
Lake Victoria and Henri Matisse scored 'Future Stars Friday' wins to move him to 20 victories overall
Saturday, 02 November 2024
Ryan Moore and Henri Matisse gave Aidan O'Brien his 20th Breeders' Cup win - it was also the 25th Irish trained winner and 50th Irish-bred winner at the meeting (Racing Post Photos)
"Wayne is an unbelievable and special man and it's an honour to be anywhere close to his record. He rang me during the week and told me about this track and how to ride it and how not the ride it. He is a very special man and we just feel very grateful and privileged that he was so good to tell us everything - Aidan O'Brien
Aidan O'Brien needs just one more win to become the leading trainer in Breeders' Cup history, after landing a memorable double at Del Mar, writes James Toney.
O'Brien moved to 20 career wins at the meeting, level with the legendary American trainer D. Wayne Lukas, as Lake Victoria and Henri Matisse scored brilliant victories in the Juvenile Fillies Turf and Juvenile Turf respectively.
Both successes owed more than their share to brilliant rides from the mercurial Ryan Moore too, who moved ahead of Frankie Dettori and into the top five jockeys in the 41-year history of the Breeders' Cup.
"Wayne is an unbelievable and special man and it's an honour to be anywhere close to his record," said O'Brien.
"He rang me during the week and told me about this track and how to ride it and how not the ride it. He is a very special man and we just feel very grateful and privileged that he was so good to tell us everything. He has always been such a help to us when we've come over here."
O'Brien's two wins - and a victory for Ger Lyons - means Irish trainers were the toast of 'Future Stars Friday', leading the home team by three wins to two.
Of course, O'Brien could seize the record on his own on Saturday, when City of Troy goes for glory in the Breeders' Cup Classic, in what would surely be the crowning achievement of his storied quarter of a century association with racing's World Championships.
Records are made for breaking but whenever there is a landmark in this sport, you can be sure O'Brien won't be far away - Henry Matisse's win in the final race of the day was the 50th Irish-bred winner in the history of the meeting and the 25th Irish-trained.
O'Brien had seemed a little concerned by his outside draw this week but Moore gave him a textbook perfect ride - his genius in the saddle matching O'Brien's undisputed training brilliance.
Time after time he gets a horse back to winning ways after a disappointing performance, Henri Matisse losing his last two races when an odds-on favourite, including a distant fifth in his last start at the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamps.
"It was very easy and he did it beautifully," said Moore. "I said to Aidan beforehand I felt he was by far the best horse in the race. He just travelled into it and I was wide on the bend, but he took me there very comfortably. He won without even knowing he was in the race."
O'Brien was equally effusive about Moore's ride on Lake Victoria - the brilliant filly has now landed three Group Ones in just 47 days and her return to the racecourse for next year's Classics will be eagerly awaited.
"Ryan was so cool on her and for a two-year old filly to have that success and five unbeaten runs, she's certainly very special," he added.
Such is racing's relentless schedule it's sometimes hard to enjoy moments like these, O'Brien's Coolmore owners have made no secret that Saturday's Classic, where City of Troy will seek to beat the best of the USA on home soil - and dirt - is their big ambition.
"Let's celebrate this and worry about Saturday later," said joint-winning owner Michael Tabor. "We've always said this horse (Lake Victoria) was very special, but when you play away from home it's not easy. While we're here we have everything to gain and nothing to lose."
O'Brien moved to 20 career wins at the meeting, level with the legendary American trainer D. Wayne Lukas, as Lake Victoria and Henri Matisse scored brilliant victories in the Juvenile Fillies Turf and Juvenile Turf respectively.
Both successes owed more than their share to brilliant rides from the mercurial Ryan Moore too, who moved ahead of Frankie Dettori and into the top five jockeys in the 41-year history of the Breeders' Cup.
"Wayne is an unbelievable and special man and it's an honour to be anywhere close to his record," said O'Brien.
"He rang me during the week and told me about this track and how to ride it and how not the ride it. He is a very special man and we just feel very grateful and privileged that he was so good to tell us everything. He has always been such a help to us when we've come over here."
O'Brien's two wins - and a victory for Ger Lyons - means Irish trainers were the toast of 'Future Stars Friday', leading the home team by three wins to two.
Of course, O'Brien could seize the record on his own on Saturday, when City of Troy goes for glory in the Breeders' Cup Classic, in what would surely be the crowning achievement of his storied quarter of a century association with racing's World Championships.
Records are made for breaking but whenever there is a landmark in this sport, you can be sure O'Brien won't be far away - Henry Matisse's win in the final race of the day was the 50th Irish-bred winner in the history of the meeting and the 25th Irish-trained.
O'Brien had seemed a little concerned by his outside draw this week but Moore gave him a textbook perfect ride - his genius in the saddle matching O'Brien's undisputed training brilliance.
Time after time he gets a horse back to winning ways after a disappointing performance, Henri Matisse losing his last two races when an odds-on favourite, including a distant fifth in his last start at the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamps.
"It was very easy and he did it beautifully," said Moore. "I said to Aidan beforehand I felt he was by far the best horse in the race. He just travelled into it and I was wide on the bend, but he took me there very comfortably. He won without even knowing he was in the race."
O'Brien was equally effusive about Moore's ride on Lake Victoria - the brilliant filly has now landed three Group Ones in just 47 days and her return to the racecourse for next year's Classics will be eagerly awaited.
"Ryan was so cool on her and for a two-year old filly to have that success and five unbeaten runs, she's certainly very special," he added.
Such is racing's relentless schedule it's sometimes hard to enjoy moments like these, O'Brien's Coolmore owners have made no secret that Saturday's Classic, where City of Troy will seek to beat the best of the USA on home soil - and dirt - is their big ambition.
"Let's celebrate this and worry about Saturday later," said joint-winning owner Michael Tabor. "We've always said this horse (Lake Victoria) was very special, but when you play away from home it's not easy. While we're here we have everything to gain and nothing to lose."