Santa Barbara delivers in US again - and Breeders' Cup now the ultimate aim

Santa Barbara's American adventure is set to continue as the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar in November is now the main aim according to Aidan O'Brien.

The daughter of Camelot, who was sent off joint-favourite for the Qipco 1,000 Guineas and outright favourite for the Cazoo Oaks but could not win either, has managed to restore her reputation by winning Grade 1s at Belmont and Arlington Park.

After overcoming choppy waters to win the Belmont Oaks last month, it was much smoother sailing for Santa Barbara in the Beverly D. Stakes on the final night of action at Arlington on Saturday as she scooted clear for a three-length victory over Mean Mary.

O'Brien told the Racing Post on Sunday morning: "We were very happy with Santa Barbara; delighted in fact. She travelled lovely and quickened. She's slowly progressing all the time and learnt a lot from the last day at Belmont. It wasn't smooth there. She had to stop and wait and then come again. It taught her a lot."

On big-race options, O'Brien added: "The Breeders' Cup has been in the back of our minds for her all along. I'm not sure whether she will run again before then. That's the second time she has travelled in the space of a few weeks and we'll have to see how she is when she comes back to us before deciding anything."

Santa Barbara took on four older fillies and mares at Arlington in the $392,000 (£282,730/€332,300) contest and oozed class throughout. It was the third success in the race for jockey Ryan Moore, who rode Dank and Euro Charline to victory in 2013 and 2014, and he was thrilled with the performance.

Moore said: "She was very straightforward. She's an improving three-year-old. This is a beautiful racetrack, a beautiful turf course. I feel very honoured to have been allowed to come here."

Mean Mary went straight to the front and set fast fractions through the first mile, with the well-positioned Santa Barbara grasping the lead as the field entered the home straight. She extended clear in the final furlong for a dominant win.

The Arlington Million, now registered as the Mr D. Stakes, went to Two Emmys for jockey James Graham and trainer Hugh Robertson, with Santa Barbara's stablemate Armory finishing sixth. The Clipper Logistics-owned Space Traveller finished fourth on his first start for Brendan Walsh.

The steady fractions throughout did not suit Armory who was always towards the back of the pack and O'Brien admitted nothing went to plan for his colt.

O'Brien said: "It was a mess. It was a very, very slowly run race and that didn't suit Armory at all. No horse could really get into it from off the pace. That's racing for you and you can never predict what's going to happen. It's a pity for Armory, but it's just one of those things."

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