'He's felt super this week' - Oisin Murphy confident New Century can hold off Godolphin and Coolmore brigade in Juvenile Turf

Aidan O’Brien has won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in six of the last 13 years, including the last two runnings with Victoria Road and Unquestionable. 

This year his sole representative is Henri Matisse, who looked one of the yard’s leading two-year-olds when winning his first three starts. The last race in that sequence was the Group 2 Futurity Stakes, in which he beat subsequent Beresford Stakes and Futurity Trophy winner Hotazhell with something to spare.

His stock has fallen since then, however. He looked a little ungainly when second in the National Stakes and then outright disappointing in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere last time, albeit perhaps he was unsuited by the soft ground.

A return to firmer ground here should suit and he sets the form standard, but it’s not an insurmountable one and he has the widest stall to overcome.

Al Qudra and New Century are old rivals, with the former emerging on top in a Listed race at Ascot in July before the order was reversed when they met in the Grade 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine last month. Al Qudra was perhaps a little unfortunate having met trouble that day and there’s unlikely to be much between them again. 

It’s interesting that William Buick favours Aomori City over Al Qudra, with the step up in trip fancied to bring about some improvement. His rapid progress stalled when fourth in the National Stakes last time but he was keeping on well at the finish and should relish this test.

Japan has a fascinating runner in Satono Carnaval, who has won his two starts in good style and is bred to be suited by this step up in trip. He’s likely to be open to plenty of improvement and so is the Chad Brown-trained Zulu Kingdom, who is three from three and did well to overcome a troubled run in a Grade 2 last time.
Analysis by Matt Gardner

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Horses stretch their legs at Del Mar ahead of the two-day spectacular kicking off on FridayCredit: Edward Whitaker

Heavyweight clash 

This race is traditionally targeted by Coolmore and Godolphin, with Aidan O'Brien and Charlie Appleby having won nine of the last 13 runnings between them, and both have fancied runners again.

O'Brien is going for a third straight win in the mile contest and a record-extending seventh overall as he saddles Group 1 runner-up Henri Matisse. Ryan Moore's mount was beaten favourite when fifth in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere last time. 

"The ground at Longchamp was a little soft and I put blinkers on him when I shouldn’t have," said O'Brien. "He was a little bit immature when he got to the front in the National Stakes before that and it was a bit of a knee-jerk decision to put blinkers on so quickly.

"He got tightened up in the early stages at Longchamp and it frightened him a little bit, so I think it was more my fault than his. He’s drawn wide and I imagine Ryan will take his time and see what happens. He’s a horse who doesn’t mind coming from the back and quickens. "

Appleby is going for his fourth win in the Juvenile Turf, having last won with Modern Games in 2021, and saddles Group 2 Vintage Stakes winner Aomori City and Al Qudra, who was runner-up to the reopposing New Century in a Grade 1 in Canada in September. 

"Aomori City looks tailor-made for the Breeders’ Cup in terms of his neat stature and liking for quick ground. He ticks a lot of boxes and fits in very well with this field, although being drawn in 12 is going to be the hardest part," said Appleby. 

“Al Qudra was beaten by a nice horse in New Century at Woodbine, where they were both having their first experience of racing in North America. We have a better draw this time in four and he has trained well going into this.”

What they say

Chad Brown, trainer of Zulu Kingdom
On Saturday he worked as well as you could possibly work for a Juvenile Turf horse coming into the race. He has good positional speed and I’m hoping he can get covered up and close from there.

Hugo Palmer, trainer of Seagulls Eleven and The Waco Kid
The Waco Kid has improved with every run and is going in the right direction. He's totally versatile with the ground. Seagulls Eleven showed incredible gate speed in the National Stakes and is definitely better on faster ground. He got bogged down on softer ground in the Dewhurst. Both horses are crying out for the mile.

Oisin Murphy, rider of New Century
He's felt super this week and all the signs are positive. You have to respect the European horses, especially the two Charlie Appleby runners, of which Al Qudra looks favourably drawn in four. New Century is in 11 and I hope if I get the right trip around he deserves to be favourite. It’s a long enough straight if you have the right trip and hopefully I won’t come back with any hard-luck stories.
Reporting by Lewis Porteous

Read Friday's Breeders' Cup previews:

9.45 Del Mar: Can Mojo emulate Evs and give Mick Appleby and Tom Marquand another Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint success? 

11.05 Del Mar: 'Exceptional' Lake Victoria leads European Breeders' Cup charge as she bids to crown unbeaten season 

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

Welcome to the 41st Breeders' Cup and it's time for the Ballydoyle banker (no, not City Of Troy) 

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