Three Leading Aidan O’Brien Horses For The Breeders’ Cup 2020
The Breeders’ Cup is an international affair these days, and that will mean that some of the leading British and Irish trainers will be sending some of their best horses over to Keeneland to compete for the biggest prizes in the world of racing.
One of the trainers that will have the best chance of success at the huge event in the States will be Aidan O’Brien.
O’Brien already has esteemed success when it comes to the Breeders’ Cup, as he has won 12 races at the huge event throughout his career.
His selection of horses that he is taking over to the States this year would indicate that the number of winners that he has recorded thus far is set to increase further.
Magical
There is no doubting the horse that will have the best chance of success for O’Brien at the Breeders’ Cup, as that will be the esteemed Magical. She has won seven Group 1 races throughout her career, and this season she has looked better than ever throughout the season.
She will be looking to bounce back from her defeat in the Breeders’ Cup from 2018, as she was beaten by the remarkable Enable in the Breeders’ Cup Turf on that occasion. It is expected that she will likely go down the same path again this year, and her form going into the huge race couldn’t be much better.
This season she has continued to excel as a five-year-old and has already won three from five starts. She beat Melbourne Cup hopeful Sir Dragonet by two and quarter lengths in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at Curragh, and recently beat Ghaiyyath in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown.
On that form, she will be a huge favourite for the Breeders’ Cup Turf.
Circus Maximus
It has been the best season in terms of form for Circus Maximus, but the four-year-old will remain one of the horses to watch in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.
O’Brien is adamant that this horse will run much better on the Keeneland track, as it has recorded just one win from five starts so far this season.
That victory came on his very first start of the season in the Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal Ascot Festival. It was an excellent display on that day from Circus Maximus, as he won by a head from Terebellum.
Since that victory, he finished second to Mohaather at Goodwood and finished third in consecutive races at Deauville and Longchamp.
He was also disappointing his last run in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot in the middle of October, as he finished in tenth place. However, it’s hard to ignore the quality of Circus Maximum when he is in his best form.
Peaceful
Peaceful could be one of the higher-priced winners for O’Brien at the Breeders’ Cup, as she is expected to compete in the Filly and Mare Turf. There will be high-quality competition in this race in the form of Tarnawa, Rushing Fall and Mean Mary. But, O’Brien will be optimistic that Peaceful has a realistic chance of claiming the win.
The three-year-old has had a difficult season and will travel to the United States after finishing last in the Kingdom Of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket in early October.
However, that run can simply be put down to a bad day at the office for Peaceful, as she was competitive in her only other start since September at Leopardstown, as she finished second behind Champers Elysees.
Peaceful will be a big player if she can repeat the form that she showed at the start of the season in her win at Curragh in June.
Final Thoughts
Here are our top 3 horses from O’Brien to look out for in the Breeders Cup. The event will take place in Keeneland between November 6 and 7, without audience due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
Even though the contest is happening under atypical conditions this year, we bet it will be as exciting to watch as a match from the latest MMA fight odds. Let’s keep an eye on the ring… we mean on the track! May the best horses win!