Mother Earth rerouted to the Breeders' Cup after Santa Barbara setback

Mother Earth is to be rerouted from running in the A$7.5 million Golden Eagle in Australia next month to go to the Breeders' Cup according to Aidan O'Brien, who revealed the change of plans came about after Santa Barbara picked up a small setback in training.

Santa Barbara, winner of the Belmont Oaks and the Beverly D. Stakes, was on course to run at the Breeders' Cup but Mother Earth is now likely to take her place.

Desperately unlucky in the Matron Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend, Mother Earth could take in another run in Europe, possibly the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket next month, before heading to America.

O'Brien explained: "Santa Barbara picked up a little setback so Mother Earth will take in some of the races that Santa Barbara was being aimed at."

Watch Mother Earth win the 1,000 Guineas

He added of this year's 1,000 Guineas winner: "Mother Earth had been due to run in the Golden Eagle but she'll go to America instead.

Santa Barbara: misses the Breeders' Cup

"She could have a run beforehand. She's in the Sun Chariot at Newmarket or she could go to Keeneland for the fillies’ race. It’s possible that she could do both and then on to the Breeders’ Cup but we’ll take one race at a time.”

The future of St Mark’s Basilica, the shining light of the Flat season, remains undecided. He took his Group 1 haul to five with a memorable triumph over Tarnawa in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown but a decision on if, more so than where, he runs again has yet to be decided.

Watch St Mark's Basilica win the Irish Champion Stakes

O’Brien said: “St Mark’s Basilica hasn’t gone into full work just yet. He was a little bit sore on where he got the cut so that’s why he hasn’t gone back into full work.

“Usually, they would be back by now, but he’s not. When we went back into full canters with him he was a little bit sore so we had to pull back and go slow so that’s where we are with him for the moment.”

Luxembourg was also reported to be on course for the Group 2 Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday with O'Brien chasing a 21st win in the race.

O'Brien said: "The plan is for Luxembourg to go for the Beresford. Whatever else joins him in the race, that hasn't been decided yet, but he's the main one and we're very happy with him."

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