Breeders' Cup Turf winning rider Heffernan has long ties with O'Brien

ARCADIA, Calif. - Well-known in Europe, Irish jockey Seamus Heffernan introduced himself to American racing fans on Saturday aboard Highland Reel in the $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita.

Heffernan was impossible to ignore, essentially stealing the race at 1 1/2 miles on the pacesetter Highland Reel, who led by as many as seven lengths and won by 1 3/4 lengths over the New York star Flintshire.

For Heffernan, the ride on Highland Reel was his first win in a Breeders’ Cup race, an event he rode for the first time in 2015. It was far from his first top-level success.

Heffernan, 44, has been closely allied with Aidan O’Brien, the trainer of Highland Reel, for 20 years. Heffernan often rides key workouts for O’Brien, and has mounts for the stable in England, France, and especially Ireland. There are enough leading runners in O’Brien’s world-class barn for Heffernan to stay active, and earn a reputation as a top-class rider.

“I’ve been there a long time, and I went there as a second jockey,” he said after Highland Reel’s win. “I get very, very well looked after. More recently, my name is coming out of the hat for the rides, and I’m happy with my position.

“There’s no pressure. I’m never really on the first string, though the first and third string can be equal, never mind the second string.”

For O’Brien, Heffernan has won such races as the 2012 English Oaks on Was, two runnings of the Irish Derby on Soldier of Fortune in 2007 and Frozen Fire in 2008, and three runnings of the Irish 1000 Guineas. On the other hand, Heffernan was aboard the O’Brien-trained Idaho, when the colt fell as a heavy favorite in the stretch of the English St. Leger at Doncaster in September. Neither Heffernan nor Idaho was hurt.

In Ireland this year, Heffernan finished third in the jockey standings during the flat season, with 57 wins, good enough for third behind Pat Smullen and Colin Keane.

Highland Reel has won 7 of 19 starts and earned $7,300,647.

Heffernan had ridden Highland Reel five times before the BC Turf, including an easy win in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park in August 2015, the jockey’s first American win. Earlier this year, Heffernan was aboard Highland Reel for a second in the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York in August and a second to Found in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Chantilly on Oct. 2.

After that race, O’Brien and Derrick Smith, Michael Tabor, and Sue Magnier, the owners of Highland Reel, began planning for the Breeders’ Cup. Heffernan gained the mount when first-string rider Ryan Moore was given the mount on Found. Found was third in the BC Turf.

“Nobody knows the big horses better than Seamus,” O’Brien said. “He’s an absolute master of his craft. He rides the majority of the horses’ work, so he would have been partners with this horse all the time. Nobody deserves it more than Seamus.

“Every single year, he’s gotten better. He’s still getting better. So, I think in about 10 years’ time, he might stop improving,” O’Brien said.

The line drew a laugh from a crowd at a post-race press conference.

Heffernan and O’Brien are into their third decade as a partnership, a time that spans O’Brien transition from a mixed flat and steeplechase stable to his rise to the top of flat racing through the world. For this year, their seasons are winding down, with a possible trip to Hong Kong with Highland Reel in December.

Highland Reel will stay in training next year, Tabor said on Saturday. If Heffernan is aboard, fans will know the rider.