Aidan O'Brien out to land first Juvenile Fillies' Turf with top-class Meditate

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (Grade 1) | 1m | 2yo fillies | ITV3/Sky/RTV

Aidan O’Brien has yet to win the Juvenile Fillies Turf despite saddling 15 runners, although he has trained the second three times and has an excellent chance of belatedly opening his account with Meditate.

The No Nay Never filly won her first four starts but has progressed further in defeat on her last two, finishing second in a pair of Group 1s. She leaves the impression that this step up in trip will suit and deservedly heads the market.

Other credible European challengers are relatively thin on the ground, both Midnight Mile and Basil Martini facing an uphill battle from wide draws while Manhattan Jungle has plenty to find on form. Spirit Gal was impressive in a good time at Dundalk last time and could be overpriced, with that form boosted by runner-up Cairo winning a Group 3 in clearcut fashion since.

The US-based team is led by Delight, who was impressive in making virtually all on her way to a five-and-a-half-length win in a Grade 3 last time. She will face more competition for the lead here but has to be considered nonetheless.

Pleasant Passage and Free Look are closely matched judged on their recent running in a Grade 2 at Belmont, just three-quarters of a length splitting them there, but of more interest is Xigera.

She finished ahead of Delight on her debut before winning a maiden by five and a half lengths at Saratoga. She was then fourth past the post (subsequently promoted to third) in a Grade 1 on dirt, a performance that can be marked up given the trouble she met. A wide draw makes life tough but she has the gate speed to overcome that, while her pedigree offers hope of her being as effective on turf, being closely related to a Grade 3 winner on grass.
Race analysis by Matt Gardner

'Usually, a filly after being as busy as her would not be here'

Since Aidan O'Brien arrived at Keeneland early this week, the game for various reporters has been to get him to commit to Meditate as the best chance of his seven runners at this Breeders' Cup. The Ballydoyle maestro is, naturally, far too cunning to be enticed into saying anything he doesn't actually mean and has repeatedly entered caveats when discussing this filly, while obviously still hoping for the best.

Having been runner-up in both the Moyglare and the Cheveley Park, it could be said the battle-hardened Meditate is fully deserving of her day in the sun. But subsequent Guineas winner Cachet was fourth in this race last year, so it is not as though defeat is the end of anything.

"She's had a busy year," O'Brien cautioned. "Usually, a filly after being as busy as her would not be here but her coat never broke and she's never lost a kilo, she's only progressed all year.

"So we said we'd let her take her chance. But every day since her last run, we gave her a chance to back out and if there was any negative sign, she wouldn't be here.

"Her form is right up there but we are stepping up in trip and we're about to learn a lot about her. You're not sure about the mile. She's a No Nay Never, which is a massive influence for speed, but her dam is by Dalakhani. So there's every chance."

What they say

Willie Browne, trainer of Spirit Gal
She's in great form. If she gels with the jockey, I think we'll get a big run. I'm not expecting to win but I think she'll show up to a high level. She breaks very well at home. If she got out level with them, you'd settle for that. The race certainly can be lost at the first bend. I don't think you can win it at the first bend.

Amy Murphy, trainer of Manhattan Jungle
She's travelled over well and she's trained well all week. She's going to be a big price and it's a big ask but I think she deserves to be here. She was only four lengths behind Blackbeard in the Morny. The mile is the question but it tends to be that, if they get six furlongs at home, they can get a mile here. I think she'll be fine on the ground.

Richard Fahey, trainer of Midnight Mile
I love this filly, she's quality and improving the whole time. We'll see a better filly than we did the other day [when she won the Oh So Sharp]. I'm not too bothered about the draw. She's pretty straightforward. She's progressing, improving the whole time. She'll have learned a lot from last time. We're excited about her.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Basil Martini
We're drawn wide but she won a Group race the last day when she led all the way. She has got some speed early. It's her first time going the distance. If she gets a clean break, which she normally does, and gets a good position, then hopefully she'll be in the mix. She got seven at the Curragh last time and this would be an easier track, so we're hopeful.
Reporting by Chris Cook

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