The Breeders’ Cup—the most valuable race meeting in the world with over $30 million in prize money on the line—is on the horizon. This year’s renewal returns to the stunning Del Mar in California for the first time since 2021, and several high-profile Irish-trained horses are set to make the lengthy journey to the United States, many of which are favoured in the horse racing betting.
It will come as no surprise that Team Ballydoyle leads the charge Stateside from the Emerald Isle. Aidan O’Brien is the joint-second most successful trainer in Breeders’ Cup history with 18 victories, while Coolmore is third in the owners’ standings behind major operations Juddmonte and Godolphin with over $14 million in prize money.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the Irish-trained horses with the best chance of victory at this year’s Breeders’ Cup.
Babouche – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint
Kicking things off with a horse that isn’t actually trained by O’Brien, Babouche has lit up the turf for Ger Lyons and Juddmonte this season.
The two-year-old wowed onlookers on her debut at Cork in June, racing clear to win a maiden by five lengths, and she followed up with a Group 3 success over Camille Pissarro at the Curragh in July.
Babouche carried on her impressive progression when beating Whistlejacket by over a length in the Group 1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes last month.
She had two options at the Breeders’ Cup, either going back up against Lake Victoria on the Juvenile Filles’ Turf or the Juvenile Turf Sprint.
Lake Victoria – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies’ Turf
That leads us nicely onto Lake Victoria. Following a similar trajectory to her rival Babouche, the two-year-old beat fellow Lyons-trained filly Red Letter by a head on her debut in a maiden at the Curragh.
It was then straight into Group 3 company for Lake Victoria, and the O’Brien-trained juvenile got the better of Mountain Breeze in the Solera Stakes at Newmarket.
A Group 1 win followed last month, with a commanding victory over Simmering in the Moyglare Stud Stakes.
The clash with Babouche in the Cheveley Park Stakes had racing pundits and punters alike on the edge of their seats, and it will be interesting to see if they clash again at Del Mar.
City Of Troy – Breeders’ Cup Classic
The biggest race at the entire meeting, the Breeders’ Cup Classic is the holy grail with a mammoth prize purse of $6 million.
Given his immense success in the biggest races worldwide, it’s mind-blowing that O’Brien has yet to touch the lucrative piece of silverware in 15 attempts.
The master of Ballydoyle will give it a 16th crack this November with City Of Troy. The three-year-old blew the 2000 Guineas but has landed the British and Irish Derbies and the Juddmonte International Stakes since.
A recent workout on the all-weather surface at Southwell left onlookers in awe, and City Of Troy is the 11/4 favourite to end O’Brien’s wait for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Porta Fortuna – Breeders’ Cup Mile
From one O’Brien to another, Aidan’s son Donnacha is making quite an impression as a handler despite being only 26 years old.
Irish flat racing Champion Jockey in 2018, Donnacha hung up the reins in 2019 to pursue training and Porta Fortuna has taken him up a level with an impressive five Group 1 victories.
The likeable filly won the Cheveley Park Stakes last year and has won four top-level races in a row since being narrowly beaten in the 1000 Guineas on her seasonal reappearance.
Porta Fortuna is currently the joint-favourite alongside Notable Speech for the Breeders’ Cup Mile and could land Donnacha his maiden victory at the iconic meeting.
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