Hear the full interview
From 32:18 in Tuesday’s episode of Nick Luck Daily. Press play to start at the interview.
Aidan O’Brien says his Breeders’ Cup team have arrived at Keeneland in good order, even if the draw has handed several of his big guns a tough task.
The Ballydoyle trainer had only just come in himself when Nick Luck caught him on the backstretch early on Tuesday. “I think everyone seems happy so far,” he said. “They’re going to do a little trot and a hack on the track this morning, so we’ll see how everyone feels about that.”
Moore sticks with Benvenuto Cellini
Ryan Moore has chosen Benvenuto Cellini over Diamond Necklace in the Turf, and the colt has a good draw in stall two. O’Brien believes this has been the right race for him all along. “We thought this would really suit him here,” he said. “He ran well in the Arc, but it just didn’t go according to plan.”
Moore also rides Great Barrier Reef in the Juvenile Turf rather than Haffner, whom he partnered in the Royal Lodge. “He ran a very good race, and we think he’s gone the right way since then,” O’Brien said of Great Barrier Reef. Of Haffner, he added: “Whether it’ll be too tight around here for him or not, we’re not sure, because he’s a big, long-striding horse, but he’s in good form.”
Wide draws for the stars
O’Brien has runners spread across the two days, but Monday’s draw was unkind to several of his leading hopes.
- Diamond Necklace, one of the market leaders for the Turf, was drawn in stall 12 of 14. Christophe Soumillon rides.
- Puerto Rico, Moore’s pick in the Mile, has the widest draw of all in stall 14, with stablemate True Love also drawn awkwardly in 12.
- Great Barrier Reef got the widest draw in the Juvenile Turf, stall 14, while stablemates Florida Bay (3) and Haffner (4) fared much better.
- Precise goes from stall 11 in the Filly & Mare Turf, just inside Blue Bolt.
- Sun Goddess is drawn nine in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, with Lagardère winner Amusingly right alongside her in ten.
“There are no excuses for Benvenuto Cellini at the Breeders’ Cup 2026.”
Matt Chapman
‘Everyone’s forgetting that at Chester Benvenuto Cellini looked like a monster’
Matt Chapman, who hosted Monday night’s draw, believes Moore’s choice in the Turf is telling. “Everyone’s forgetting that at Chester, Benvenuto Cellini looked like a potential monster. He started favourite for the Derby,” he said. “He looked a bit of a slug in the Arc, he didn’t have the pace to get a position, but he’s got the perfect draw in the Turf and he’s going to have his conditions. There are no excuses for Benvenuto Cellini at the Breeders’ Cup 2026.”
“I suspect George Scott will think he’d have Bay City Roller over Benvenuto Cellini every day of his life, and on the form book he’s correct,” Chapman added. “But I just feel we haven’t seen the best of him. And at the end of the day, Ryan Moore does not want to lose a Breeders’ Cup Turf. He wants to win it.”
Chapman also expects Notable Speech to win the Mile, believing a strong pace set by Deterministic will play into his hands. “I think he is without doubt a blistering miler,” he said. “They’ll certainly go a lot quicker than they did a few weeks ago at Woodbine, and I think that’ll help him.”
