O’Brien, the Colts, and the Fillies: Europe’s Brigade Sets Its Sights on Conquering Del Mar
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Precise, Gstaad, and True Love give Coolmore a powerful trio of contenders in the 2-year-old turf races at the Breeders’ Cup
By Diego H. Mitagstein (Special Correspondent for Turf Diario at Del Mar, California, USA)
DEL MAR, California – When the curtain rises on the 2025 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, one name will once again echo through every barn and paddock: Aidan O’Brien. The Irish maestro, already with 20 wins at the World Championships, returns with an elite lineup of turf juveniles—powerful, polished, and capable of pushing that record even higher.
In the GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, O’Brien finds himself in a familiar position—armed with the best horse and the worst draw. His leading hope, Gstaad (Starspangledbanner {Aus}), will break from post 14, the same unlucky number drawn by his Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) favorite Precise (Starspangledbanner). Gstaad’s season has been one of brilliance tinged with frustration: a stylish victory in the G3 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot followed by three consecutive runner-up finishes in Group 1 company—the Prix Morny, Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, and Dewhurst Stakes—each defeat coming by narrow margins. Relentless and courageous, he’ll look to close his 2-year-old campaign with the reward he deserves.
The home team, however, won’t make it easy. Hey Nay Ney (No Nay Never), trained by John Sadler, carries the California flag after sharp wins at Monmouth and Del Mar, showcasing both speed and composure. Outfielder(Speightstown), a well-traveled Wesley Ward trainee, and unbeaten Bottas (Vekoma), conditioned by Miguel Clement, round out a domestic contingent strong enough to test the Europeans.
If the Juvenile Turf promises fireworks, the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T) offers its mirror image—a clash of continents featuring the best of the best. Once again, O’Brien leads the European charge with Precise, a dual Group 1 winner hailed by Timeform as Europe’s top juvenile filly. Victorious in both the Moyglare Stud Stakes and the Fillies’ Mile, the bay arrives as the firm favorite despite drawing post 13. “She’s a special filly—the kind that makes hard things look easy,” O’Brien said before shipping out.
Her most intriguing rival might be Queen of Hawaii (Kingman {GB}), trained by Joseph O’Brien and bred from the same family as Line of Duty (Galileo), who captured the Juvenile Turf in 2018. Steadily improving with every start, she looks ready to peak on the big stage. Adding international flair, Japan sends Switch in Love (Contrail), a naturally fast filly with an elite pedigree, while the American hope Imaginationthelady (Not This Time), heroine of the GII Jessamine Stakes, will try to keep the trophy on home soil.
The GI Juvenile Turf Sprint completes the European assault, a race they’ve dominated for three straight years and aim to control again. O’Brien’s trio is formidable: True Love (No Nay Never), multiple group winner and G1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine; Brussels (Wootton Bassett {GB}), a consistent stakes performer; and Mission Central (No Nay Never), coming in fresh off his G3 Round Tower Stakes victory.
America’s sprinters, though, refuse to yield. Schwarzenegger (Not This Time), trained by Wesley Ward, earned his spot with a decisive score in the Indian Summer Stakes (L). “He’s fast—really fast,” Ward grinned. “He doesn’t wait for invitations.”
Three races, countless stories—and one constant: the commanding presence of Ballydoyle across every division. With Precise, Gstaad, True Love, and their stablemates, Aidan O’Brien once again stands center stage, poised to write another chapter in his unending saga. At a Del Mar painted in gold and blue, the future of world racing runs once more through his hands.
