Trainer Aidan O’Brien reports that Auguste Rodin is firmly on course for what will be a top edition of the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
The double Derby and Irish Champion Stakes winner has enjoyed a break since his victory at Leopardstown, with O’Brien reporting that the Deep Impact colt is in good spirits ahead of his date at Santa Anita on Saturday week.
The mile-and-a-half race is also the destination for Juddmonte International winner Mostahdaf, as well as Champion Stakes winner King Of Steel.
Speaking on a Breeders’ Cup teleconference, O’Brien said: “We’re very happy with him, everything has gone well. He’s had a nice long build-up to this race and it’s a race that we always thought would really suit since the last race.” day.
“Obviously Leopardstown is a flat, left-handed track and we thought and hoped that this would prepare it well for the Breeders’ Cup as we have been looking at it all year. Hopefully all goes well in the coming days.”
Despite disappointment in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day, Paddington, multiple Group 1 winner this season, heads to the Mile.
“Paddington has had a very busy season, showing up again and again and there was no major rift between them, but he continued to produce in all the top races,” O’Brien said.
“He went from the Irish Guineas and on from there. The last day at Ascot he was just a bit fresh and ran too enthusiastically in very deep, heavy ground and Ryan (Moore) just looked after him so it was one of those races that you had to do.” could put an end to it.
“He seems to have come out of the race very well. He is fast, he is strong, he is strong and also tactical, so we are looking forward to him.”
The Ballydoyle handler will be well represented in California, with Cherry Blossom and Pearls And Rubies in the Juvenile Turf Sprint, Content (Juvenile Fillies Turf), Johannes Brahms (Juvenile/Juvenile Turf), Mountain Bear (Juvenile Turf), River Tiber ( Juvenile Turf) Turf), Unquestionable (Juvenile Turf), Warm Heart (Filly & Mare Turf), Bolshoi Ballet (Turf), Broome (Turf) and Aesop’s Fables (Turf Sprint) all nominated.
Opera singer misses Breeders’ Cup
However, who is not going on the trip is 1000 Guineas fancy Opera Singer, winner of the Prix Marcel Boussac.
“Opera Singer had a busy enough season here,” O’Brien explains.
“After her last piece she worked really well, but after that she was a bit quiet. The season was long here. We just thought it was fair to her because there will be a few more next year, that was the best we could do not to ask her to travel.”