AIDAN O’Brien is responsible for 21 of the early Breeders’ Cup entries, with Irish representation boosted by entries from Adrian Murray, Donnacha O’Brien, Gavin Cromwell and Ger Lyons.
City Of Troy has been a major talking point ahead of the $7million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic, for which he is currently favourite.
The last European winner was Raven’s Pass for John Gosden in 2008, which was run on a pro-ride surface.
O’Brien provides the top three in the betting for the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, in which Lake Victoria will aim to extend her unbeaten record. It will be her first attempt over a mile, following Group 1 wins over six and seven furlongs. She will be joined by group-winning stablemates Bubbling and Heavens Gate.
The latter beat Fiery Lucy a neck last time out, a second consecutive runner-up position at group level for Gavin Cromwell’s representative in the $1million contest.
The Adrian Murray-trained US-bred Hill Road features in early entries for the next race, the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, for which he is the only European entry. Amo Racing’s impressive debut winner has first preference for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, but he is the 22nd entrant for a final field of 14.
The Ballydoyle pair of Henri Matisse and Monumental have made the preliminary cut, the former ahead of his stablemate in the betting, with European contenders dominating the market.
The Europeans are also well-represented in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, with Ides Of March and Whistlejacket currently the best supported of the Irish quartet.
Ger Lyons’ Flying Childers Stakes third Magnum Force and Adrian Murray’s Marble Hill Stakes victor Arizona Blaze are expected to join them for the five-furlong sprint, which has gone to British trainers the last two years.
Aesop’s Fables matched a career-best effort when third in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint and will attempt to go two better against the likes of Bradsell and Big Evs.
He is the sole Irish representative over the minimum trip, while his trainer is five-strong in the pre-entries for the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf.
O’Brien is currently the winning-most trainer at seven wins, the first two provided by High Chaparral and latest coming 12 months ago, courtesy of Auguste Rodin. Bookmakers consider multiple top-flight winner Luxembourg his leading chance this time, closely followed by St Leger runner-up Illinois
Continuous, Wingspan and Content complete Ballydoyle’s quintet, though Content has first preference for the Filly & Mare Turf. Wingspan joins her in the entries for the Filly & Mare Turf, as does Ylang Ylang.
Porta Fortuna, meanwhile, will take on the opposite sex in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile. Donnacha O’Brien’s stable star is generally second-favourite to 2000 Guineas victor Notable Speech, with Christopher Head’s Justify filly Ramatuelle hot on their heels.
Aidan O’Brien’s trio of Diego Velazquez, Henry Longfellow and Mountain feature farther down the betting, along with the currently unselected River Tiber. Last year’s Coventry Stakes winner is two away from making the final cut.