Top Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien will bid to add to his tally of 21 winners at the Breeders’ Cup World Championships later this month.
O’Brien is tied with United States counterpart Bob Baffert in the all-time standings and will head to Keeneland with plenty of fancied runners.
Operators of betting sites Ireland are already offering odds on the big races, and many of O’Brien’s horses are prominent in their respective markets.
They include True Love, who salvaged an underwhelming weekend for O’Brien in France by claiming a narrow victory in the Prix de la Foret on Sunday.
True Love Saves the Day for O’Brien
O’Brien had to wait until the final Group One of Arc weekend in Paris to record a victory, and it was one of his favourites who broke his duck.
After enjoying a stellar two-year-old campaign, True Love returned to action with a fine victory in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket in May.
She was subsequently placed in three Group One races, but appeared to be on the downgrade after finishing out of the money on her next two starts.
However, jockey Ryan Moore got a tune out of her in France to defeat Nighttime in a photo finish. O’Brien’s Puerto Rico finished in third place.
The trainer will now aim True Love at the Breeders’ Cup Mile, despite claiming that seven furlongs is her ideal distance.
“She’s had a long season,” O’Brien said.
“When they’re like that, they need a lot of care and attention. I’m delighted for everyone and Ryan gave her a great ride.
“She’s a Queen Mary winner, she’s a Cheveley Park winner and she’s a Guineas winner. Coming back to seven furlongs is probably her perfect trip, but she gets a mile on an easy track.
“She’s an incredible filly really and could go to the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Ryan said she likes the feel of an aggressive race now because she’s gone a little bit laid-back.
“Going round a bend at Keeneland should suit her.”
Sun Goddess Will Lead the Charge for O’Brien
Despite enduring a disappointing weekend in France, O’Brien’s runners will still be a popular pick with punters at the Breeders’ Cup.
His banker bet of the meeting is recent Cheveley Park Stakes winner Sun Goddess, who has been heavily backed to win the Juvenile Fillies Turf at Keeneland.
Sun Goddess broke the track record on her most recent outing and looks a good bet to follow in the footsteps of another O’Brien filly.
Lake Victoria claimed a memorable victory in the race in 2024 and Sun Goddess is strongly fancied to give O’Brien another Breeders’ Cup success.
“She’s a massive specimen for a two-year-old and if you didn’t change anything between now and next year, she would be an impressive looker next year as she is now,” O’Brien said.
“She’s very special and she should get a mile easily. She’s very unusual and looks a freak to be doing what she’s doing.
“We’ll see how she is after this, but we’ll have to see if we go again as regards the Breeders’ Cup.
“She’s not blowing very hard and you can usually tell when you’re saddling them up if they’re close to the limit.”
Green Empress is currently the second favourite to win the Juvenile Fillies Turf, but she faces a tough task against Sun Goddess.
Joseph O’Brien’s filly finished six-and-a-half lengths adrift of Sun Goddess in the Moyglare Stud Stakes at The Curragh last month and may struggle to reverse the form.
