Breeders’ Cup: Lake Victoria and Henri Matisse shine on perfect night for Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore - day one as it happened

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the 41st Breeders’ Cup from sunny Del Mar as two days of spectacular action – with an eyewatering total prize-fund of $34 million on offer – kicks off with five Grade 1s this evening

City Of Troy’s bid for Classic glory has dominated the build-up this week and we are now just over 24 hours away from finally finding out if he can justify the many platitudes thrown his way by trainer Aidan O’Brien. 

Whether he’ll handle the dirt surface or not is a debate which will continue to rumble on, but this is no one-horse show and tonight sees some of the best two-year-olds in the world lining up on this tight, fast track.

Ballydoyle will hope to get their massive weekend off to a perfect start with Lake Victoria viewed as their banker in the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf (11.05).

Before that, a fascinating Juvenile Turf Sprint (9.45) features a host of British and Irish contenders do battle. Big Mojo bids to emulate the success of stablemate Big Evs in this race last year for Mick Appleby and Tom Marquand, but powerhouses Coolmore and Wathnan Racing - plus the favourite Ecoro Sieg from Japan - will have something to say about that.

The Juvenile Turf (12.25) is the finale and again sees a host of European talent dominate the market.

The glitz and glamour is here. Enjoy the ride.

Racegoers dressed up for the first day of the Breeders' CupCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

Before we fully turn our attention to tonight’s action, we must reflect on what has been a tremendously sad day for horseracing following the passing of Alastair Down.

The most celebrated racing wordsmith of his generation, and a broadcaster of equal talent, was adored and admired by devotees of a sport he documented with passion, sincerity and wit.

The great and the good have been lining up today to pay tribute and I hope you’ll join in raising a glass tonight, for Alastair.

Alastair Down 1956-2024:

• Alastair Down, legendary Racing Post writer and beloved broadcaster, dies aged 68 
• Obituary: a master conjuror of words and a cherished advocate for racing 
• 'He had a gift and an extraordinary one' - AP McCoy, Nicky Henderson and more remember racing hero Alastair Down 
• Alastair Down: Kauto v Denman v Long Run was one of those rare and treasured days when everything you hoped for unfolds before scarce-believing eyes 
• You can wash the mud off the silks, but not the stain off the race - Alastair Down on a 'rancid' 2001 Grand National 

https://www.racingpost.com/news/alastair-down-1956-2024/alastair-down-legendary-racing-post-writer-and-beloved-broadcaster-dies-aged-68-a3DoJ3U1ECwk/

Back to tonight, and this blog would be nothing without all of you reading and watching along with me.

So please feel free to get in touch with any and all Breeders' Cup thoughts on your mind and I'll feature as much correspondence as possible throughout the evening. 

Who are you backing? Can City Of Troy get the job done tomorrow? Email liveblog@racingpost.com

Diego Velazquez: misses the Breeders' Cup MileCredit: CAROLINE NORRIS

The latest breaking news from Del Mar this evening concerns another scratching in tomorrow's Breeders' Cup Mile.

After Ramatuelle was withdrawn earlier today on a precaution following a scan, Diego Velazquez now joins her in missing the $2 million dollar contest.

His trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "We just weren't 100 per cent happy with Diego Velazquez this morning on the track so we have decided to take him out ourselves." 

It's another blow for O'Brien, who also ruled out Ylang Ylang from the Filly & Mare Turf earlier this week and was mystified at the decsion by Racing Victoria stewards to withdraw Jan Brueghel from next week's Melbourne Cup.

Frankie Dettori has enjoyed a brilliant first year riding full-time in the USCredit: Edward Whitaker

The undercard action is under way and Frankie Dettori (remember him?) has just been touched off riding Just Nails in the Senator Ken Maddy Stakes by Twirling Queen, for trainer Jose D'Angelo and jockey Luis Saez.

Dettori has two rides in the championship races this evening, on Ides of March for Aidan O'Brien in the Juvenile Turf Sprint (9.45) and the US-trained May Day Ready in the Juvenile Fillies' Turf (11.05).

Emily Upjohn in tomorrow's Breeders Cup Turf is his big hope for the weekend, with the pair reunited for the first time since last year's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Dettori was onboard for her last win in the 2023 Coronation Cup, and the vibes around the five-year-old mare have been positive this week.

Our man on the ground in Del Mar, David Jennings, was particularly impressed with her work on Wednesday morning.

The Californian flag flies in amongst the palm trees at Del MarCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

We're getting to the time of year when I usually wake up every morning dreading finding out which course is the latest to be waterlogged or frozen.

Thankfully, the sun is shining in southern California and there is no sign of frost covers with the ground officially firm on the turf track and fast on the dirt.

Non-runners in tonight's championship races

9.45: Out On Bail (1) Smash It (14)
10.25: Non Compliant (7)
11.05: Supa Speed (15), Tigerish (16), Acquitted (17)

Runners in the paddock at Del MarCredit: Edward Whitaker

By David Jennings at Del Mar

Welcome to a balmy Del Mar, where there is not a single cloud in the sky and it's about 24 degrees. Sorry, everybody at home. I hate when people do that when they go on holidays and now I've just gone and done what I said I would never do.

It's my birthday, by the way, and I'll cry if I want too, especially if Al Qudra doesn't win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (12.25). He's made for a race like this and has had a lot better luck on the draw front than his stablemate Aomori City, the choice of William Buick before the gates were assigned. He's my strongest fancy on day one.

Lake Victoria is all the rage for the Juvenile Fillies Turf (11.05) and rightly so. She's drawn against the rail and the winner of the sprint I saw on the grass at Del Mar on Thursday was drawn in one, too. It might be the place to be. Fiery Lucy could pick up some of the pieces there, perhaps for a place.

Ides Of March poked by eye out in his final piece of track work yesterday morning. Yes, I know he's drawn out in the Pacific Ocean and gate 12 is going to be a hazard in the Juvenile Turf Sprint (9.45), but he was moving beautifully yesterday. He's a very fast horse. Shareholder has a squeak in that, too, and I might chance a small few quid on both at biggest prices.

There is little the Racing Post's award-winning photographer Ed Whitaker enjoys more than a trip to the Breeders' Cup, and he has been a busy man this week documenting everything that has been happening in the build-up to the big event.

Here is a selection of his best snaps . . .

Aidan O'Brien's strong are in sync as they had their morning exercise on ThursdayCredit: Edward Whitaker

City Of Troy walks into the paddock on Thursday morning at Del MarCredit: Edward Whitaker

Aidan O'Brien and the Coolmore team have a big weekend in storeCredit: Edward Whitaker

Shareholder enjoys the surroundings - the Norfolk winner runs in the Juvenile Turf Sprint at 9.45Credit: Edward Whitaker

Steaming Horses walk off the track at sunriseCredit: Edward Whitaker

Aidan O'Brien's string on the main track at Del Mar Credit: Edward Whitaker

Horses train on the main trackCredit: Edward Whitaker

Japanese star Ushba Tesoro, entered in the Breeders Cup Classic, exercises on Monday morningCredit: Edward Whitaker

Not a big follower of American form and wondering who to back?

Our resident US racing tipster Shane Ketteridge has you covered with four fancies for day one, including a big outsider in the Juvenile Turf Sprint (9.45) and a 2pts win pick in the Juvenile on the dirt (11.45)

Members' Club subscribers can find out his tips here. Not a member? Sign up now and get 50% off your first three months by using the code MEMBERS24.

Charlie Appleby and William Buick have enjoyed great success together at recent Breeders' CupsCredit: Edward Whitaker

William Buick and Charlie Appleby kicked off their Breeders' Cup meet on the undercard, but were unable to begin with a bang.

The jockey, trainer and owners Godolphin were represented by Cavallo Bay in the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes, and he finished a creditable third behind Chasing Liberty.

However, bigger things await for the trio across the two days, including with Aomori City in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (12.25) later on tonight's card. Buick also rides the Wathnan Racing-owned Shareholder in the Juvenile Turf Sprint (9.45) – more on him shortly.

Buick, Appleby and Godolphin's envious list of contenders tomorrow include Breeders' Cup Turf-bound Rebel's Romance, Cinderella's Dream in the Filly & Mare Turf and Breeders' Cup Mile favourite Notable Speech.

Shareholder is being backed for the Juvenile Turf SprintCredit: Edward Whitaker

The opening championship race of the Breeders' Cup is just an hour away and Norfolk Stakes winner Shareholder has been attracting support in the Juvenile Turf Sprint (9.45).

James Doyle, retained rider for owners Wathnan Racing, has opted to partner Flying Childers winner Aesterius, but Shareholder, who will break from stall nine in the 13-runner field, has closed up to his ownermate and is 13-2 (from 10) with Betfred. A win here would be some way to round off a sensational season for trainer Karl Burke.

Japanese raider Ecoro Sieg, unbeaten in two starts, heads the market at 11-4. 

Elsewhere, Lake Victoria is no bigger than 4-5 for the Juvenile Fillies' Turf (11.05), although Frankie Dettori's mount May Day Ready has attracted each-way support and is 12-1 (from 22) with Betfair.

The market for the Juvenile Turf (12.25) is extremely tight with several bookmakers unable to split the Andrew Balding-trained New Century and Henri Matisse at 9-2.

Aidan O'Brien's runner, who was a beaten favourite in the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes before disappointing on soft ground in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, was as big as 7-1 this morning but that has long gone.

Del Mar was co-founded by Bing Crosby in 1937Credit: Sean M Haffey (Getty Images)

Del Mar offers many reminders of the golden age of Hollywood, when the seaside resort was the go-to destination for A-listers. The connection began in 1937, when Bing Crosby, alongside other big names from the world of entertainment, founded the racecourse. The legendary singer and actor even manned the turnstiles at its first fixture.

The track hit the ground running, thanks in no small part to Seabiscuit, owned by one of the members of the consortium behind Del Mar, Charles Howard. The 1938 Horse of the Year was brought to California for a $25,000 match race against Crosby and Lindsay Howard's Ligaroti and the duel, narrowly won by Seabiscuit, made front-page news.

Del Mar underwent major renovations in the 1990s, when it also introduced the valuable Grade 1 Pacific Classic, a qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Classic, but has never lost its links to Hollywood. Crosby sold his share in the track in 1946 but there is still a Grade 1 named after him, while the song he penned about Del Mar, Where the turf meets the surf, is played at every meeting.

• Where the turf meets the surf: Del Mar's Hollywood history and what makes the Breeders' Cup track unique 

American racing journalist Michelle Yu was a guest on our special Breeders' Cup edition of In The Know, and she fancies Irish trainer Adrian Murray to cause a big upset in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (11.45) with Amo Racing's Hill Road.

• In The Know: watch the full Breeders' Cup preview show 

A reminder, you can get in touch and share your thoughts on anything and everything Breeders' Cup by emailing liveblog@racingpost.com. Don't be shy!

The turf and dirt tracks at Del MarCredit: Edward Whitaker

The track at Del Mar, on which the turf course runs on the inside of the dirt, is sure to provide some hard-luck stories with the draw being particularly crucial. As John Gosden explained recently: "The draw is very important at Del Mar – if you start getting high draws, and double numbers, things start getting quite complicated."

That is because even by the standards of the other major US tracks, the turf course is particularly tight with a short finish. It has a sharp left-handed turn, which one typically expects from US racing, and it is favourable to be drawn low. The ground is firm and it is important to break quickly to get a clear run to the bend.

Track position is of even more importance on the sweeping dirt track, on which City Of Troy will attempt to provide Aidan O'Brien with an elusive victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic. The course is also left-handed, positioned on the outside of the turf track, and it can pay to race prominently to avoid kickback and having to make up ground late on. You've only got to watch Gun Runner and Knicks Go win the Classic at Del Mar in recent years to see the bias.

There has just been a rousing rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner out at Del Mar and that marks the official beginning of the 2024 Breeders' Cup!

From left: Aesterius, Big Mojo and Whistlejacket are big players

By Richard Young

British and Irish-trained runners, who make up more than half of this year’s field, look the ones to concentrate on.

Big Evs won the Flying Childers before winning here last year, and the Doncaster Group 2 looks the key form guide.

Archie Watson’s Wathnan Racing-owned Aesterius landed that prize in September, showing a good attitude to beat Mick Appleby’s Big Mojo by a neck, with Magnum Force back in third.

Both winner (drawn two) and runner-up (three) are speedy, progressive sorts who have bagged low draws and it should be close between them again. 

Watson and Wathnan will be bidding for a first Breeders’ Cup success, and the owners look to have a strong second-string in Shareholder. Karl Burke’s runner was well beaten in the Prix Morny over 6f, but he’s better judged on his Norfolk success over this trip.

US trainers won this four times in a row between 2018 and 2021, but the home contingent looks up against it this time. The pick of their runners is Listed scorer Governor Sam, but he makes limited appeal from box ten.

Of more interest is the unbeaten Japanese-trained Ecoro Sieg, who most recently gained an RPR of 107 when scoring at Nakayama. He drops in trip but is clearly smart and should not be underestimated.

• Full preview
  

Aidan O'Brien: has two good chances in Whistlejacket and Ides Of MarchCredit: Edward Whitaker

Here is what the key players have to say about their big-race contenders in the Juvenile Turf Sprint, which is now only 10 minutes away

James Doyle, rider of Aesterius

"Letting him use his stride like we did at Doncaster definitely seems to suit him. We've got to go around a turn here, but he's trained well around a bend. We went anti-clockwise around Kempton, which is about as tight as you can get, and he went around it as if he was on rails."

Tom Marquand, rider of Big Mojo

“Big Mojo is a different model to Big Evs. He's a bit stronger and bigger, with a different running style. He tends to take a lead, so we’ll see how he breaks. I’m really looking forward to getting on him and he felt fantastic on the grass on Wednesday morning. 

"It’s probably taken him a little bit longer to settle into American life, but you can forgive a horse when he’s a quick learner. He looks a picture.”

Aidan O'Brien, trainer of Whistlejacket and Ides Of March

"Ryan [Moore] thought he should have gone forward more from the stalls on Whistlejacket in the Middle Park, but he still ran well. We think he’s quick and he should run well. Ides of March is also fast, and we think he’s going to be a sprinter next year. He probably doesn’t know as much about sprinting as Whistlejacket just yet but he’s going to learn a lot here."

Christophe Lemaire, rider of Ecoro Sieg

"He's always keen, so I didn't ask too much when he worked during the week. He should handle five furlongs and I have to be confident."

Richard Brown, racing adviser to Wathnan Racing, owners of Shareholder

"The Morny told us Shareholder isn’t a six-furlong horse. He’s had a much smoother preparation for this and Karl Burke feels he’s the horse he was going into Royal Ascot. He’s very fast so five furlongs on firm ground will be right up his alley."

Can lightning strike twice for Mick Appleby?Credit: Edward Whitaker

The Americans sure can do patriotism, but our reader Ian Sanderson, from Barnsley, can give them a run for their money and is backing his local boy Mick Appleby to strike again.

He says: "I’ve a feeling the Juvenile Turf Sprint will be dominated by Great Britain’s runners Big Mojo and Aesterius despite Aidan O’Brien having Whistlejacket in the race and I think Barnsley’s Mick Appleby can pull it off again as he did last year with Big Evs."

Big Mojo had drifted to 7-1 but, perhaps inspired by Ian's confidence, has come back in to 6-1 for the Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Ecoro Sieg, on the other hand, is very strong and is now a general 9-4 favourite to give Japan more success at a meeting that has been kind to them in recent years, with Loves Only You and Marche Lorraine becoming the first Japanese horses to win at the Breeders' Cup when triumphing here at Del Mar in 2021. A total of 19 runners from the Asian nation are set to take their chance across the two days

It's worth noting that Governor Sam, seeking a fifth consecutive win for US trainer George Weaver, is around the 9-1 mark with Britain's layers but is much shorter in the American market.

Despite shortening earlier, Shareholder is a major drifter and is now 12-1.