Breeders' Cup Turf: Globe-trotting Piz Badile faces toughest test
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The Irish-bred colt Piz Badile has raced in Britain, France, and Ireland since his career began in the summer of 2021. Plans for the fall and winter call for a true world tour for the two-time minor stakes winner, beginning with the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.
Trainer Donnacha O’Brien, the 25-year-old son of the famous trainer Aidan O’Brien, is hopeful that Piz Badile can race in the Middle East in early 2024, with races in Dubai, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia under consideration.
“We are hoping to go traveling with him,” Donnacha O’Brien said.
Piz Badile will be a longshot in the BC Turf, the richest grass race in the United States. Owned by the Niarchos Family’s Flaxman Stables Ireland, Piz Badile returned from a four-month layoff to win the Diamond Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on the synthetic track at Dundalk Racecourse in Ireland on Sept. 29, prevailing by a neck as the 2-1 favorite.
Piz Badile has won 3 of 9 starts and has started in four Group 1 races. He was second by seven lengths to Westover in the Group 1 Irish Derby in June 2022, and a well-beaten third in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh in Ireland in May.
By the Galileo stallion Ulysses, Piz Badile has never raced on firm turf, but O’Brien said conditions should suit the colt at Santa Anita.
“I think it will be good,” O’Brien said. “The last race was at Dundalk, and it rides like quick and firm ground.”
O’Brien began training in the winter of 2019-20 after a five-year riding career. He was the Irish flat racing champion apprentice in 2016 and won two flat racing champion jockey titles in 2018-19.
O’Brien had two mounts at the 2016 Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita, with his best finish an eighth in the BC Mile on Cougar Mountain, who was trained by his father. In Europe, O’Brien had milestone wins in 2018 with victories in such races as the Irish Derby, English Oaks, and English 2000 Guineas.
The Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita this year will be Donnacha O’Brien’s first trip to the United States as a trainer. He currently has two candidates, including Porta Fortuna in the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf on Nov. 3. Porta Fortuna won the Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Newmarket last month.
In the BC Turf, Donnacha must beat his father, who is expected to have a small group of runners led by Auguste Rodin, winner of three Group 1 races in Britain and Ireland this year, including the English and Irish derbies.
Piz Badile, who tends to race near the front, will run in the richest race of his career in the BC Turf.
“It’s going to be a tough race,” O’Brien said. “He’ll need his considerable best to go close. We’re hopeful it will be a nice start to a winter campaign.”
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