Vicki Gibbins was trackside on day one of the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar as the O’Brien family stole the show.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a carnival atmosphere at Del Mar.<\/p>\n
Race-day finery, cowboy hats and Halloween costumes: something for everyone.<\/p>\n
A pirate and his wench (are we allowed to say wench in this day and age?) step into the lift with me as I search for the sixth-floor press room. It becomes clear they were aiming to get paddock-side for the upcoming undercard race and I apologise, in a British-like fashion, for our upward trajectory.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t y\u2019all worry,\u201d says the wench. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat goes up, must come down.\u201d<\/p>\n
The same could be said for European spirits. <\/p>\n
The Friday of the Breeders\u2019 Cup meeting has traditionally been a happy hunting ground for the Euros and we need a winner \u2013 it\u2019s a long way to come without one. The late defection of our girl Precise has left a nervous tension in the air.<\/p>\n
The start of the Breeders\u2019 Cup Juvenile Sprint does little to allay fears. Brussels misses the break by three lengths and comes home the best of the Euros to place second behind Cy Fair.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know why I\u2019m retiring,\u201d laughs Frankie as he walks away from Aspect Island. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s an excellent performance from James Owen’s charge to finish a staying-on third, having won a nursery handicap only six weeks ago. \u2018Where the turf meets the surf\u2019 has never been used to describe Yarmouth, but maybe Aspect Island enjoys an afternoon by the seaside.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve learnt a bit, he\u2019s learnt a bit. He\u2019s a lovely horse for next year,\u201d sums up Owen. <\/p>\n
We\u2019re on dirt next, so the Euros can\u2019t win this one even if we had a runner. Stick to your strengths. <\/p>\n
As post time for the Breeders\u2019 Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf draws near, it\u2019s looking like an uphill task for the Europeans. We might be triple-handed with Queen Of Hawaii, Pacific Mission and Balantina but that may not be enough to stop Frankie Dettori, in search of a final swansong aboard the unbeaten Imaginationthelady.<\/p>\n
Thankfully, the combined O\u2019Brien family are a match for one Italian jockey and it\u2019s Donnacha O\u2019Brien\u2019s turn to mark his place in Breeders\u2019 Cup history. Balantina leads home a one-two for the away team, finishing one-and-a-quarter lengths ahead of Andrew Balding\u2019s Pacific Mission.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been coming here since we were babies, watching Dad do it year in, year out,\u201d said Donnacha, who was three when Aidan won his first Breeders\u2019 Cup with Johannesburg in 2001. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt had always been our plan to come here. We probably shouldn\u2019t have run at the Curragh [Debutante Stakes], she\u2019s a low mover and it rained half an hour before the race. <\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s been training exceptionally well over the last few weeks. We came here thinking that we were over-priced and a live shot.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andrew Balding was equally pleased with Pacific Mission, who suffered a luckless run through the field from stall twelve. The team will be hoping See The Fire won\u2019t endure the same difficult task from her widest draw in the Filly & Mare Turf.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom that draw, Colin [Keane] has given her a lovely ride,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere wasn’t much else we could do apart from being patient. She’s ran a hell of a race, so we’re happy.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooking at that run, she might stay a bit further – anything’s possible.”<\/p>\n
You could give me ten tries at pronouncing Gstaad and I\u2019d struggle in the same way the American media are lingering over Dylan Browne McMonagle. <\/p>\n
Track commentator Larry Collmus has clearly been practicing and shouts home the Juvenile Turf finish.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo doubt who the best is, it\u2019s Gstaad!\u201d<\/p>\n
Or maybe not. <\/p>\n
The success marks a record breaking twenty-first victory at the Breeders\u2019 Cup for Aidan O\u2019Brien, who enters the history books as the winning-most trainer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m delighted,\u201d Aidan allows himself, before listing all the people he deems more important.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone knows we\u2019re in a privileged position to be working for the lads, they\u2019ve put so much in since we came to Ballydoyle – breeding, buying, putting the pedigrees together.<\/p>\n
\u201cChristophe [Soumillon] has given him a beautiful ride. I\u2019m delighted for the lads.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s so many people I\u2019m not mentioning, and they\u2019re all the people which make this happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
I think we know who the best is. <\/p>\n
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