Aidan O’Brien Chases History… and the Whole Family Is Right Behind Him

The Irish maestro will look to break the all-time Breeders’ Cup record for wins—with the fascinating twist that two of his fiercest rivals will be his own sons, Joseph and Donnacha. Leading Aidan O’Brien’s powerhouse team are Minnie Hauk, Precise, and Gstaad, spearheading a world-class delegation

Aidan O’Brien, ever gracious with the media, is dreaming of the record / BREEDERS' CUP

By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special Correspondent for Turf Diario at Del Mar, California, USA)

DEL MAR, California – From his Ballydoyle stronghold, Aidan O’Brien has conquered every corner of the racing world, but this weekend he could add yet another golden chapter to his legend: becoming the all-time leader in Breeders’ Cup victories. The Irish maestro currently shares the record of 20 wins with the great D. Wayne Lukas, and now stands on the brink of history.

Adding a cinematic twist to the pursuit, two of O’Brien’s rivals will be his own sons—Joseph and Donnacha—both already established G1-winning trainers in their own right. True to form, Aidan meets the situation with his trademark wit. “If either of them wins, I hope they’ll invite me to dinner… although, come to think of it, I hope they do anyway,” he joked Thursday morning at Del Mar.

The multiple-time champion will unleash a formidable five-horse team across the Friday turf program, and there’s no shortage of star power. True Love (No Nay Never), recent heroine of the G1 Cheveley Park Stakes, headlines the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint as the likely favorite. Precise (Starspangledbanner), a dual G1 winner in Europe, tackles the G1 Juvenile Fillies Turf, while Gstaad, another son of Starspangledbanner, brings a trio of runner-up finishes at the highest level into the G1 Juvenile Turf.

“We’re very happy to have these horses here; they’ve all traveled well and are in great shape,” said O’Brien, calm and precise as always. “Precise is an exceptional filly—she proved it in the Fillies Mile. The draw wasn’t ideal, but I have full confidence in Christophe Soumillon.”

Saturday’s spotlight, however, will belong to Minnie Hauk, the Frankel filly who came within inches of winning the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and will now face males in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf. “We thought she’d improve against older horses and with a stronger pace, and that’s exactly what she showed in Paris. She was just caught late,” O’Brien said, clearly hopeful of redemption.

At 56, Aidan O’Brien is a towering figure in the modern history of Coolmore, synonymous with the success of owners Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, and Westerberg. Since his first Breeders’ Cup triumph with Johannesburg (Hennessy) in the 2001 Juvenile, the Irishman’s dominance has remained unbroken. His most recent wins came in 2024 with Henri Matisse (Wootton Bassett) and Lake Victoria (Frankel), both on “Future Stars Friday.”

This year’s edition promises high drama. Bob Baffert and Chad Brown, each with 19 Breeders’ Cup victories, are also in striking distance. Baffert fields a 13-strong team led by Nysos (Dirt Mile) and Seismic Beauty (Distaff), while Brown sends out Sierra Leone (Gun Runner), the reigning Classic champion, to defend his title.

Between fathers and sons, legends and heirs, Del Mar is poised for a Breeders’ Cup edition destined for the history books. And if the outcome tips toward Ballydoyle, that family dinner Aidan O’Brien joked about might just taste like glory.