Horse racing in the United States and Europe have been separate entities due to the clashes in schedules. The major races in the early stages of the flat racing season in Europe and the United States have overlapped, therefore, there has been little crossover in events such as the Kentucky Derby or the 2000 Guineas. However, the Breeders’ Cup has opened up numerous opportunities for owners and trainers based in the United Kingdom and France to take their prized charges across to the United States and compete for the major crowns.
European Success
Europe’s Champion Juvenile of 2022 is Little Big Bear!https://t.co/VU76XsGMhl pic.twitter.com/OGfbuHZtWx
— British Horseracing Authority (@BHAHorseracing) January 17, 2023
The British Classics are still a vital part of the flat season, with the 2000 Guineas the first on the agenda for Aidan O’Brien, Charlie Appleby, and John Gosden among the other leading trainers. O’Brien has a well-stocked yard primed for a run in the Guineas and his two charges Auguste Rodin and Little Big Bear are the two leading contenders in the racing odds at +275 and +500, respectively, for the event. A victory for O’Brien would set him up nicely for the rest of the campaign, although Gosden and Appleby will also be optimistic of a successful season, with the Breeders’ Cup a perfect way to cap off the term.
The Breeders’ Cup has witnessed many British/Irish victories of late at many of the major events. Four of the last five winners of the Breeders’ Cup Mile have been trained in British or Irish yards, with Appleby winning the last two races with his horses Space Blues and Modern Games. Appleby has also produced back-to-back winners in the Breeders’ Cup Turf with Yibir and Rebel’s Romance over the last two seasons.
He has been even more formidable with three of the last five winners in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. The Breeders’ Cup Turf has long been a favorite of European trainers given its similarity to races on the continent, but the success of British and Irish horses in the Breeders’ Cup Mile will give their American counterparts cause for concern.
Moving Forward
There have not been so many British or Irish wins at the Breeders’ Cup Classic to date, but there will be natural competition for Bob Baffert, Todd Pletcher, John Sadler, and Steve Asmussen regarding their future success in the United States. It may even embolden trainers of the ilk of O’Brien and Appleby to expand their reach earlier in the campaign to target the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes to attempt to bridge the gap to the American Classics.
A Triple Crown victory for a trainer outside of the United States seems to be a long way from fruition, especially because of the different styles of racing. While European races are staged on turf, the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes are both on dirt. However, it might not be long before more British and Irish victories crop up in races earlier in the campaign, especially with the ambition of ownership groups such as Godolphin which are major players across the world, especially in the Middle East.
Trainers in the United States have to be on their mettle to continue producing horses of the highest caliber in order to keep up with these constant developments in the near future.
