Aidan O'Brien

DEL MAR, USA -- From the 2,000 Guineas to the Breeders' Cup Classic, he is the horse who has kept us captivated, wondering and engaged, through to season's end. And that, really, is why we are all fans of horse racing. That longing to know what can't be known for sure until those gates spring open, the skirmishes are had, and the winning post looms.  In the end, for City Of Troy (Justify), unbeaten and burgeoning with promise at two, redeemed in the Derby and then some at Sandown and...

DEL MAR, USA -- "If we get the horses we can deliver," said Ger Lyons after proving his point emphatically in the opening Breeders' Cup race on Future Stars Friday. "We have to up our game every day to take on Aidan. It's just fantastically competitive at home." That second point was also proved, again and again, in the hours to follow as Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) remained unbeaten in her taking of the Juvenile Fillies Turf and Henri Matisse (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) gave Aidan O'Brien a record-equalling...

It was a frustrating few days in the lead-up to the Breeders' Cup meeting for Team Ballydoyle, with the likes of Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) forced to miss the event, not to mention Jan Brueghel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) having to forego an appearance even farther afield in the G1 Melbourne Cup next Tuesday. Their biggest moment comes Saturday with City of Troy (Justify) in the $7-million Classic, but 'TDN Rising Star' Lake Victoria (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) was first to strike for the Irish-based...

Diego Velazquez (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) will be a non-runner for Saturday's FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile having been scratched by Aidan O'Brien on Friday morning.  ''We just weren't 100 per cent happy with him this morning on the track so we decided to take him out ourselves," said the trainer.  The three-year-old colt is the second withdrawal from the Grade I contest in the last 24 hours after the French-trained Ramatuelle (Justify) was scratched by the vets on Thursday afternoon. O'Brien also had Ylang Ylang (GB) (Frankel {GB}) withdrawn from the Filly...

DEL MAR, CA -- It's showtime. Featuring 14 Grade I races worth more than $34 million in purses, the Breeders' Cup World Championships, with an emphasis on World, return to the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club for a third time, beginning with the 'Future Stars Friday' program. Ideal conditions with sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 60s are expected. A total of 179 horses were entered for the two-day Championships, including a record 67 international participants from nine different countries as well as three previous winners. A stacked renewal of...

Aidan O'Brien was at pains on Tuesday to spell out Team Coolmore's uncertainty as to the prospects of City Of Troy (Justify) mastering the task of Saturday's GI Breeders' Cup Classic. "We think we have him prepared to go forward. Whether he is quick enough to go forward from that slot, in this type of race -- I'm not sure," he said. And therein lies the big question mark regarding how this particular turf impresario transitions to dirt racing first time on the biggest stage. In many ways, the decision...

DEL MAR, CA - With the rising sun attempting to make its way out of a dense cloud cover, contenders for Saturday's $7-million GI Breeders' Cup Classic were out in force during about a 30-minute window following the renovation break at Del Mar Tuesday morning. 'TDN Rising Star' Newgate and Pyrenees, a pair of blaze-faced, 4-year-old sons of the all-conquering Into Mischief, both entered on their toes and filled the frame nicely while training with good energy. Newgate, listed at a very generous 20-1 on the morning-line, adds blinkers for...

DEL MAR, USA -- October 2001 was a sobering time to be in New York. Some seven weeks on from the devastating attack on the World Trade Center, the city was shrouded in sadness and America was a nation united in grief for the thousands who lost their lives on 9/11. Horseracing, often referred to as the great triviality, doesn't usually feel like that to those who work in the sport, but it did feel trivial, almost intrusive, to be at Belmont that year for what was a first visit...

The title of champion apprentice is still up for grabs ahead of the final day of the Irish Flat season at the Curragh on Sunday, with Wayne Hassett and James Ryan currently sharing the lead on 31 winners apiece, just two ahead of last year's championship runner-up, Adam Caffrey, in third. All three jockeys will be heading to Dundalk on Wednesday where Ryan and Caffrey have a full book of rides, while Hassett will be in action in six of the seven races on the card. After that Dundalk hosts...

Aidan O'Brien's Jan Brueghel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has been ruled out of the G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup after failing a pre-race veterinary check. The unbeaten St Leger winner had been among the ante-post favourites in his quest to provide O'Brien with a first victory in 'the race that stops a nation' at Flemington next week, but Ballydoyle will now be without a runner in the race as a result of the ruling made by the Racing Victoria Stewards. A statement from Racing Victoria said, "Racing Victoria Stewards, acting on specialist...

Despite never having raced on the dirt in his two seasons at the races, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's champion and 'TDN Rising Star' City of Troy (Justify) was assigned gate three as the 5-2 morning-line selection in a full field of 14 and will be ridden by Ryan Moore in Saturday's $7-million GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. Deemed by trainer Aidan O'Brien--a two-time runner-up in the Classic (Giant's Causeway, Declaration of War)--'the best he's ever trained,' the son of G1SW Together Forever (Ire)...

Multiple Group 1 winner 'TDN Rising Star' City of Troy (Justify) was the first horse into the quarantine barn from the 11-horse Saturday evening ship-in for Ballydoyle at Del Mar, as per a Breeders' Cup release, which references information from the International Racing Bureau. The Aidan O'Brien-trained star is scheduled to make a first appearance on track Tuesday morning. Many of the European horses used the weighing scale in the quarantine barn and connections are reporting positive prognoses for their runners. The arrivals will remain in quarantine until Monday afternoon...