Hear the full interview
From 37:35 in Tuesday’s episode of Nick Luck Daily. Press play to start at the interview.
The plane carrying most of Europe’s Breeders’ Cup team was forced to circle for around two hours as a storm stopped it landing at Shannon, before it finally touched down to collect the Irish and French contingent and continue to Kentucky.
Brian Taylor of shipping company Luck Greayer, who is responsible for the European runners outside the Godolphin team, told Nick Luck at Keeneland that it was “touch and go for a little while”.
“We couldn’t get into Shannon for a little while,” Taylor said. “We flew around for about two hours until we could land. It took us about two and a half hours in all. But as soon as we landed, we got the horses on pretty quick and got them here, and they’ve all done really well.”
“It was touch and go for a little while, but we got down.”
Brian Taylor
Three countries, one plane
The operation brought together horses from three countries. The British-trained runners were loaded at Stansted, the plane then headed for Shannon to pick up the Irish horses, and the French team flew in from Paris to meet them there. Only once all three groups were together could the flight leave for Kentucky.
That meant every minute in the air above Ireland mattered, with dozens of the world’s top racehorses, including the Ballydoyle team, waiting either on board or on the ground.
“It was a pretty busy flight, but I’m glad we got there,” Taylor said. “You can’t nod off. It was busy for the whole flight. The storm was causing us nightmares for a little while.”
All settled at Keeneland
The horses have since settled into the Keeneland barns, with Aidan O’Brien among the trainers to report their charges in good form after the journey. Most of the European team were due to stretch their legs on the track on Tuesday morning.
For Taylor, the hard work is done. “They all came in great,” he said. “No problems at all on the flight.”
