O'Brien Hopeful Circus Maximus Lays Mile Ghost to Rest

Aidan O'Brien's dozen Breeders' Cup winners don't include a victory in the TVG Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) but Circus Maximus could be poised to right that wrong under Ryan Moore at Santa Anita Park. 

Ironically, it is the only race at the meeting any other Irish trainer has won, Vincent O'Brien and John Oxx mastering it in 1990 and 1995 with Royal Academy and Ridgewood Pearl. 

It was also the race in which O'Brien suffered one of his most galling defeats, with Rock of Gibraltar failing narrowly to reel in the Niarchos family's Domedriver at Arlington International Race Course in 2002 after coming from the clouds.

Circus Maximus, in post 9, sports the distinctive Niarchos silks this time, so it would be a fitting way for O'Brien to conquer the race.

After running commendably in the Investec Derby (G1), the Galileo colt reverted to a mile for the St. James's Palace Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot, winning with a little more authority from King of Comedy than the neck margin suggests.

He found Too Darn Hot a little too hot in the Qatar Sussex Stakes (G1) before failing to excel over 1 1/4-miles behind Japan in the Juddmonte International (G1). Back to this trip in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (G1), he duly regained the winning thread, albeit in controversial manner after veering across the track, taking the nose runner-up Romanised with him. 

A third group 1 triumph could see him finish the season as the leading 3-year-old in the world at this distance. 

"When we switched him back in trip he came alive," O'Brien said. "He is lazy at home and doesn't show an awful lot but he is much quicker when you run him.

"He is drawn out a little bit and he has handled fast ground when we have run him on it. We're very happy with him but he has had a busy season."

Fillies Spearhead Home Defence

The market suggests there is little to choose between the two American fillies Got Stormy and Uni. Got Stormy tends to run consistently well at this level, just failing to hold on when denied by El Tormenta in the Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1T) in September. 

"I thought her Woodbine Mile was good," said trainer Mark Casse, who has won two of the last four Mile renewals.

"She's a true miler. She can get a little farther if the turf is really hard, but the turf had some give to it and a mile turf race at Woodbine is not like a mile anywhere else.

"One of her strong suits is her ability to quicken and it's not as effective on that long stretch. She will be much more effective at Santa Anita."

Uni, who represents the potent Chad Brown-Joel Rosario axis, was a few lengths behind Got Stormy when third in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course in August, when she was conceding two pounds.

She likes to come from behind and subsequently won a second mile grade 1 confined to fillies and mares when taking the First Lady Stakes at Keeneland, although the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) was being considered.

"With her running style, I'm not sure it would be a good idea," said Brown, who will also saddle the 2018 St. James's Palace Stakes (G1) winner Without Parole.

"At a mile, I think she's better, especially with pace in front of her."  

British Runners Have Something to Find

David O'Meara's first Breeders' Cup runner, Mondialiste, ran a blinder to be second to Casse's Tepin in 2015. O'Meara takes a two-pronged approach this time, with Lord Glitters and Suedois both having something to find.

Lord Glitters landed a famous Queen Anne (G1) success in the summer but hasn't built on that since, while Suedois finished strongly when three-quarters of a length back in third in the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1T) at Keeneland. 

"He has been a great servant and was fourth in this in 2017," said Joe Foley of Suedois on behalf of co-owner Clipper Logistics.

"Even though he is 8 he seems to have maintained his form and has been a shade unlucky a few times, including when he was third in the Shadwell Turf from a wide draw. He has a good draw, so we are hoping for a nice run."

Like O'Meara, Richard Fahey has sent Space Traveller over from a Yorkshire base. When getting up late in the Clipper Logistics Boomerang Solonaway Stakes (G2) at Leopardstown, Space Traveller had Suedois back in fourth. The Jersey Stakes (G3) winner might still be on the upgrade. 

"It's nice to be drawn low," Fahey said of Danny Tudhope's mount, who drew post 3. "He needs to find eight or nine pounds but the fast ground will really suit him. He's in great form." 

Billy Lee, who rode Space Traveller at Leopardstown, is on Ken Condon's new acquisition Trais Fluors, acquired for €370,000 (US$406,210) by Robert Ng at Arqana a month ago.

"We're just getting to know him but he seems to have traveled over well," Condon said of his first Stateside runner. "He looks a tough, consistent horse and looks very solid."