Charlie Appleby and Aidan O'Brien showcase their formidable talent as they prepare for the Breeders' Cup, with promising contenders aiming for victory in Del Mar's prestigious races.
Charlie Appleby appears to have the upper hand as Aomori City and Al Qudra vie for success in the Prevagen Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar. The trainer from Moulton Paddocks has an impressive Breeders' Cup track record, having celebrated his first victory in 2013 with Outstrip. He has since added two more wins in this mile contest, with Line Of Duty triumphing in 2018 and Modern Games clinching victory during the last Breeders' Cup at Del Mar in 2021.
The latter's win was marked by controversy after he was mistakenly scratched by the stewards before being reinstated to compete for purse only, leading to some boos from frustrated attendees. However, Appleby is optimistic that one of his two talented entrants can bring joy back to the winner's circle.
"Aomori City and Al Qudra are hard to separate based on their achievements in the Juvenile Turf," Appleby commented. "Aomori won the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood and performed well on slower ground in the National Stakes at the Curragh. He's sharp and fits in very well." Aomori City has been chosen by William Buick, while former Godolphin second-string rider James Doyle takes the reins on Al Qudra.
The son of No Nay Never seeks to overturn a previous defeat against Andrew Balding's New Century, who won the Summer Stakes. Appleby notes that Al Qudra faced some misfortune in Canada, adding, "He was beaten by a nice horse, which felt like his first start since he hadn’t raced since July. He's drawn in four, and we're pleased with that. He has trained well."
Hugo Palmer also brings two contenders, The Waco Kid and Seagulls Eleven, across the Atlantic after encouraging performances this season. Seagulls Eleven, representing the colors of Brighton football club, carries the hopes of several star players, including James Milner and Danny Welbeck.
"Seagulls Eleven has always shown us a bit more at home and is more highly tried, but he’s only won a novice race despite placing third in the National Stakes and second in the Superlative," Palmer explained. "He exhibited incredible gate speed in the National Stakes, and he’s definitely better on faster ground. He struggled in the Dewhurst on soft ground, where he finished fourth, possibly on the unfavorable side of the track."
Meanwhile, The Waco Kid won the Group Three Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket in his last race and has shown consistent improvement throughout the season. "The Waco Kid has just gotten better with each race, which has been exciting," Palmer said. "After his last performance, there were two Group Ones left in Europe and no Group Twos, and if you combine the value of those two Group Ones and double it, you still wouldn’t match the value of the Breeders' Cup, making it easier to convince the owners to come to Del Mar. I believe both horses are ready for the mile distance."
This race has been dominated by Aidan O'Brien in the past two years, and Henri Matisse will try to secure a third consecutive victory. After an impressive start to the season with three wins, his form has slightly declined. However, O'Brien remains optimistic about a Stateside resurgence.
"We believe he'll bounce back. The ground was a bit soft at Longchamp, and I mistakenly put blinkers on him too soon. He was a bit immature in the National Stakes, and I should have left the blinkers off. He tightened up early at Longchamp, which startled him, so I believe it was more my fault than his. He emerged from that race in good condition, which is why we decided to come here to a lovely flat track. We believe it will benefit him, and he’ll gain valuable experience."
In the John Deere Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, hopes for a European winner rest largely on O'Brien's shoulders with Lake Victoria as the leading fancy and Heavens Gate as a strong second string. Lake Victoria arrives unbeaten, showcasing her versatility with Group One wins at both six and seven furlongs, aiming for her third straight success at the highest level this time over a mile. "She's exceptional," O'Brien remarked.
"What she's accomplished this year has been remarkable. Ryan felt she could have run in the Fillies' Mile, but the team decided that if she was to run a mile this year, this would be an ideal opportunity. It’s a lovely flat track, and she's a classy filly, so we’re excited to see her perform."
Regarding Heavens Gate, he noted, "She's been training well, and her last piece of work was impressive. When Ryan rode her for the first time at Navan, he believed she was a filly that wanted seven furlongs or a mile. We only pushed her to seven in her last race, and she won. She's a big, strong filly, and I’m very pleased with her potential."
