Breeders' Cup: O'Brien withdraws three pre-entered horses
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Aidan O’Brien pared down his Breeders’ Cup team on Friday, withdrawing three pre-entered horses, most notably Paddington, who would have been among the favorites in the BC Mile but instead has been retired to stud.
Overseas betting markets barely budged when pre-entries were revealed this week and Paddington somewhat surprisingly was among them. O’Brien’s decision not to ship was far from a shock, as Padidngton never had been considered a strong candidate to come to the Breeders’ Cup and on Oct. 21 was beaten 35 lengths in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. The race was run over sodden, difficult ground, but Paddington this past summer had won the Group 1 Sussex over a very laboring Goodwood course.
O’Brien also withdrew Johannes Brahms, who was entered in the Juvenile Turf and the Juvenile but won’t run in either race. O’Brien still has Unquestionable, Mountain Bear, and River Tiber in the Juvenile Turf, a formidable team.
O’Brien withdrew Pearls and Rubies from the Juvenile Turf Sprint, where he still has Cherry Blossom.
Brightwork and Dreamfyre, who were selected to start in the oversubscribed Juvenile Turf Sprint, and Crown Imperial, the second alternate starter, have first preference in other races. So, with Pearls and Rubies now out, the alternates who could get into the race are Amidst Waves, Starlust, Shards, and Hedwig.
O’Brien wasn’t the only overseas defection Thursday. Godolphin and trainer Charlie Appleby removed Legend of Time from the Juvenile Turf, reducing their already limited participation in this Breeders’ Cup. The two Juvenile Turf defections mean two alternates, Stay Hot and Grand Mo the First, can get into the race.
As for Paddington, he is being retired to Coolmore Stud following his QE II dud, his first race since a third-place finish Aug. 23 at York in the 1 5/16-mile International. Paddington did win the Eclipse Stakes over 1 1/4 miles but probably was more a miler at heart.
Coming quickly to hand early this season, Paddington knocked out four straight Group 1s, the Irish 2000 Guineas and the Sussex bookending the Eclipse and the St. James’s Palace at Royal Ascot.
Paddington, whose career mark stands at 10-7-0-1, is by Siyouni out of Modern Eagle, by Montjeu. You can breed a mare to him this winter, but you won’t get to see him race at Santa Anita.
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