Aiden O’Brien’s twice Gr1 winning fillies – Rhododendron and Seventh Heaven – will each be lining up at the Breeders Cup taking place today and tomorrow at Del Mar, part of the biggest team he has ever sent to the Breeders Cup.
The world record breaking trainer has 14 runners lined up to contest eight of the 13 Grade One races worth a total of $28 million.
Rhododendron, a full sister to Bush Hill Stud sire Flying The Flag will race in the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf Gr1 for a stake of US$2000000 over 1800m. Rhododendron won the Gr1 Prix De l’Opera in her last start on Arc day at Chantilly. A hot family at the moment, both Flying The Flag and Rhododendron’s juvenile sister Magical is a Gr2 winner and ran a whisker second to Happily in the Gr1 Moyglare Stakes.
Flying The Flag’s first crop of foals are on the ground and have impressed with their size and quality.
Seventh Heaven, a Gr1 Oaks winner who accounted for the great Found in one of her Gr1 victories, competes in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Gr1 for a stake of US$4000000 over 2400m.
She is a Galileo half-sister to Crusade, whose progeny have been racking up wins nationawide over the past month. Internationally travelled Seventh Heaven ran in the Arc behind Enable, and finished fourth in the Breeders Cup last year as well as second in the Gr1 Dubai Sheema Classic to the males.
Aidan O’Brien expressed his satisfaction after seeing his Breeders’ Cup contenders take to the track at Del Mar.
Aiden O’Brien said: “They all cantered on the track and they all seem to be fine. I think we’ve got chances of sorts wherever you look.”
O’Brien has enjoyed plenty of success at the Breeders’ Cup over the years, particularly in the Turf, which he has claimed a record six times.
He is paying his first visit to Del Mar, however, and is impressed with what he has seen. He said: “The track is what’s written on the tin. It’s a lovely place to be, for both people and horses.
“We have a big team and as always we are hoping for the best.”
-extract irishtimes.com