Gstaad, a town in southern Switzerland, is described as a popular destination amongst high society and the international jet set. In 2025, Gstaad, the 2-year-old colt bred in England, was a popular horse amongst bettors and raced productively, if not always successfully, on the international stage. After narrow defeats as the favorite in Group 1 stakes in France, Ireland, and England, Gstaad scored his breakthrough victory in Southern California, taking the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Oct. 31 at Del Mar. It was a victory that landed Gstaad a spot as a finalist for the Eclipse Award in the 2-year-old male division. True, Gstaad was expected to win the Juvenile Turf, but it wasn’t as easy as many pundits expected. Part of that was due to having to overcome the outside post in a 14-horse field and a bit of a slow start under jockey Christophe Soumillon. After settling nicely down the backstretch, Gstaad rallied with acceleration while widest of all in the stretch. He outfinished rail-rallying 58-1 longshot Stark Contrast to win by three-quarters of a length. :: Full list of 2025 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories Gstaad not only gave trainer Aidan O’Brien his record-extending eighth victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, he gave O’Brien his 21st Breeders’ Cup victory, which broke a tie for most wins in the 42-year-old series with D. Wayne Lukas, who died four months earlier. “He is a very special horse,” O’Brien said in an interview following the Breeders’ Cup. “He’s big and powerful. Obviously, we thought he would have won a couple Group 1s at this stage. Things just didn’t work out – little things went against him. It’s a testament to him. He kept himself well, kept himself thriving and doing.” Gstaad, bred by Maywood Stud, is a son of Starspangledbanner and was purchased for $596,488 as a weanling at the Tattersalls December 2023 sale. He was bought and campaigned by the Coolmore connections of Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Magnier, and Michael Tabor. Gstaad is a half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Vandeek. Gstaad began his career in the spring and won his first starts, including the Group 2 Coventry Stakes in June at Royal Ascot, a race he won by three lengths in a field of 20. Gstaad then came up just short in three Group 1 stakes, losing the Prix Morny by a neck at Deauville, the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at The Curragh, and the Dewhurst by three-quarters of a length at Newmarket. “I was a bit upset on his last race because I think I would probably make a mistake to try to cover him,” said Soumillon, who picked up the colt midseason when regular rider Ryan Moore was injured. “I’m sure he should have won one or two more Group 1s this season in Europe. So that will make him one of the best we’ve seen here.” In 2026, Gstaad will likely be aimed at the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in May, a race O’Brien has won a record 10 times. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.