Trainer Aiden O'Brien Has Several Starters for Breeders' Cup

Henrythenavigator is just one of the powerful horses coming out of Ballydoyle Stable. (AP Images)"]

Irish conditioner Aiden O’Brien is poised to make a lasting impression at this year’s Breeders’ Cup. Europe’s leading trainer and conditioner of the powerful Ballydoyle Stable has the option of starting several horses in the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita and probably has a good chance to dominate both the Breeders’ Cup Turf at 1 ½ miles and the traditional Mile Turf.

One of Ballydoyle’s most powerful weapons figures to be the 3-year-old Henrythenavigator, who followed smashing victories in the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas over talented New Approach with a course record-setting victory at Royal Ascot in the 1 mile Gr. 1 St James's Palace Stakes. The O’Brien trained colt showed his versatility and acceleration when he moved from behind horses to launch a winning run that had him cruising by the finish line.

O'Brien calls “Henry” the best miler he has ever trained, above even the well known Rock of Gibraltar, and he figures to have the Gr. 1 Breeders' Cup Mile circled on his star’s calendar.

While sentimental stable favorite Yeats and Soldier of Fortune have performed outstandingly in the older division for O'Brien, the conditioner has a more likely Breeders’ Cup Turf winner in Duke of Marmalade. Three for three on the season, this striking colt dominated the Gr. 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot in his last appearance and is scheduled to try the 1 ½ mile Breeders’ Cup Turf distance for the first time in the Gr. 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. Another O’Brien runner, Macarthur, who has proven himself over the course, is also expected in the July 26 race.

O'Brien’s Mount Nelson, a son of Rock of Gibraltar, improved his stock when taking last week’s Gr. 1 Eclipse Stakes at Sandown over Pheonix Tower and Pipedreamer, the same pair stable mate Duke of Marmalade had beaten in the Prince of Wales.

With these guns in his stable, O’Brien appears to have the ammunition for an all-out assault on this year’s major Breeders’ Cup turf events.

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