Breeders' Cup Turf Winners Full of Interesting Stories

This year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf was an invasion of Europeans, both on the equine and jockey front with a European horse winning once again.

But a unique story goes with both the horse and rider seen in the Winner’s Circle. In 2009, this year’s Turf winner, St. Nicholas Abbey, was touted as one of the best two-year-olds in Europe.

The Montjeu colt won all three of his starts on the track that year and many in the racing industry were excited to see what he would do a year later.

A disappointing sixth place finish in the only start of his sophomore year, followed by almost a year’s absence, had some wondering where the horse had been for what may have been his best possible season.

“He sustained an injury.  We just kept him off for the rest of the year," said Coolmore's Derrick Smith.  "The following year—it's been a while since he showed the brilliance of the post.  We knew it was there.  Everything came together today.  He's always been a brilliant horse.  We always had immense confidence in him."

The colt did come back in 2011 for seven starts (including the Breeders’ Cup) and finished off the board just once with three stakes wins to his credit, showing some of his previous brilliance.

It’s not known what will be done with the Turf winner next year yet, but racing him isn’t out of reach.

“It's very simple.  We're going to fly home the next couple of days, see how he is, and we'll make decisions from there,” M.V. Magnier said.

St Nicholas Abbey’s comeback story is one that may be talked about for quite a while. However, his jockey Joseph O’Brien was the one getting the most attention after the Turf win.

O’Brien, the son of the horse’s trainer Aidan O’Brien, secured himself in the Breeders’ Cup record book not only for being the tallest jockey to win a race in the World Championship event, but also the youngest.

At 18 years and 161 days old, the younger O’Brien is a new name to American racing, though has been involved in European racing for over two years. O’Brien won his first race in May 2009 and pulled off his first Group One win earlier this year.

While some may think that the jockey was only on the horse due to his connection to the trainer, it was the owners that ultimately made the decision on the jockey.

“Joseph has unbelievable natural talent,” Smith said. “He's a natural horseman.  He's very well-bred for the job and he's never disappointed us.  He just gets better and better.”

However, while Joseph O’Brien is a natural at riding, nature may soon make it impossible for him to race ride on the flat as his 5’ 11" frame fills out.

“I'll keep riding for as long as possible,” O’Brien said.  “Obviously, I can't control my height and weight.  I'll try to control it as long as possible and take it from there.”

For the son of one of the kings of racing, jump riding may be in his future in addition to training his own string. His immediate racing goal seems to be focused around one horse upon which the Coolmore group is high.

Two-year-old undefeated Camelot is being aimed at the European classics next year. If Joseph can keep his weight down, it looks like he may be on the horse.

When asked if he would make a comment about O’Brien’s weight and putting him on the horse next year, M.V. Magnier only had four words.

“Let's hope he does.”

The Turf may not have been the most exciting race of the weekend for fans, but it definitely had the most interesting story line.