Aidan O'Brien Shocks Breeders' Cup Roster with Four Major Defections

Minnie Hauk, Lambourn, Gstaad, and Constitution River have been scratched from their respective entries at Keeneland, sparking significant movement among the emergency starters. In addition, Phileas Fog, one of the pre-entered contenders for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), has also been withdrawn on a day marked by a wave of high-profile defections

LEXINGTON, Kentucky (Special for Turf Diario).— Just one week before the start of the Breeders' Cup, the European contingent suffered a major blow. Aidan O'Brien has withdrawn four of his horses from the entry lists for the series set to take place on October 30 and 31 at Keeneland, including Minnie Hauk (Frankel), recent winner of the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (G1), and Gstaad (Starspangledbanner), victor of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) in 2025.

The defections were confirmed on Thursday morning, October 22, by Breeders' Cup officials, triggering a ripple effect across the entry lists for several events and allowing multiple eligible also-eligibles to draw into the main fields.

The most eye-opening withdrawal is that of Minnie Hauk, the Frankel filly who had captured the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (G1) at Ascot just five days prior, confirming her status among Europe's elite turf females.

Her name was initially featured among the pre-entered field for the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) over 2400 meters, where she was slated to take on the males.

Also missing out is Lambourn (Australia), winner of the 2025 Epsom Derby (G1) and this season's Huxley Stakes(G2). The Ballydoyle representative had been listed as an alternate for the same event, but will ultimately not make the trip to Kentucky.

These two defections join the earlier withdrawal of Ombudsman, the formidable son of Night of Thunder coming off a sensational triumph in the Champion Stakes (G1) at Ascot.

Trainer John Gosden had given serious consideration to sending him to Keeneland, but ultimately opted against the trip, deeming the turnaround and long-distance transport too demanding following his recent exertion. The Japan Cupnow looms as a potential target for his final career start.

Two New Names Draw Into the Turf

The combination of these withdrawals directly altered the lineup for the Breeders' Cup Turf. Johanna Walsh (Sea the Stars), trained by Joseph O'Brien, and Far Bridge (English Channel), under the care of Miguel Clement, both gained entry into the main body of the field. Meanwhile, El Cordobes (Frankel) moved up to top position on the also-eligible list, awaiting any further scratches.

The Breeders' Cup Turf is traditionally a race dominated by European contenders, and the absence of several key figures significantly reshapes the competitive landscape over the 2400-meter trip at Keeneland.

Gstaad and Constitution River Out of the Mile

The other two scratches announced by Aidan O'Brien apply to the Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) on the grass.

One of them is particularly notable: Gstaad, winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) last season, will not attempt to add another title to his record in the series. Joining him on the sidelines is Constitution River (Wootton Bassett), a two-time G1 winner and another cornerstone candidate for Ballydoyle.

Unlike Lambourn, both were ranked inside the top 14 preference list for the Mile, meaning their official withdrawals opened up direct starting spots for horses waiting on the outside.

The beneficiaries were Japanese runner Ask Ikigomi (Lord Kanaloa), coming off a runner-up effort in the NHK Mile(G1), and Puerto Rico (Wootton Bassett), also trained by Aidan O'Brien and a two-time G1 winner.

Thus, while Ballydoyle loses two major stars, the stable retains strong representation in the race through Puerto Rico.

Phileas Fog Withdrawn from the Classic

Thursday's updates were not limited to the Aidan O'Brien roster. Officials also confirmed the scratch of Phileas Fog(Astern) from the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), the flagship event of the program carrying $7 million in purses.

It represents another impactful modification to a field gathering many of the world's finest dirt performers.

Additional scratches across the card include Al Hudaiba (Dark Angel) from the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1); Net Par (Pavel) from the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1); and Ten Bob Tony (Night of Thunder), who was pre-entered in the Mile.

The list is completed by Drazinda (Sioux Nation) and Nabati (Night of Thunder), both scratched from the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G1).

In total, the day produced ten official defections, four hailing from the powerhouse barn of Aidan O'Brien.

The news arrives at a crucial juncture as international contingents finalize travel plans, trainers put the finishing touches on final breezes, and jockey assignments are locked in across the 14 championship races.

While the absence of Minnie Hauk and Gstaad removes significant star power, it has opened the door for contenders like Johanna Walsh, Far Bridge, Ask Ikigomi, and Puerto Rico to step onto the sport's grandest international stage.