Mother Earth Rerouted to Breeders’ Cup
Image:
Description:
Photo: Edward Whitaker/Racing Post
Mother Earth wins the One Thousand Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse
Mother Earth is to be rerouted from running in the AU$7.5 million Golden Eagle in Australia next month to go to the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Del Mar, according to Aidan O'Brien, who revealed the change of plans came about after Santa Barbara picked up a small setback in training.
Santa Barbara, winner of the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1T) and the Beverly D. Stakes (G1T), was on course to run at the Breeders' Cup but Mother Earth is now likely to take her place.
Desperately unlucky in the Coolmore America Justify Matron Stakes (G1) on Irish Champions Weekend, Mother Earth could take in another run in Europe, possibly the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes (G1) at Newmarket next month, before heading to America.
O'Brien explained: "Santa Barbara picked up a little setback so Mother Earth will take in some of the races that Santa Barbara was being aimed at."
He added of this year's QIPCO One Thousand Guineas (G1) winner: "Mother Earth had been due to run in the Golden Eagle, but she'll go to America instead.
"She could have a run beforehand. She's in the Sun Chariot at Newmarket or she could go to Keeneland for the fillies' race. It's possible that she could do both and then on to the Breeders' Cup but we'll take one race at a time."
The future of St Mark's Basilica , the shining light of the flat season, remains undecided. He took his group 1 haul to five with a memorable triumph over Tarnawa in the Irish Champion Stakes (G1) at Leopardstown but a decision on if, more so than where, he runs again has yet to be decided.
O'Brien said: "St Mark's Basilica hasn't gone into full work just yet. He was a little bit sore on where he got the cut so that's why he hasn't gone back into full work.
"Usually, they would be back by now, but he's not. When we went back into full canters with him he was a little bit sore so we had to pull back and go slow so that's where we are with him for the moment."
Luxembourg was also reported to be on course for the Alan Smurfit Memorial Beresford Stakes (G2) at the Curragh on Saturday with O'Brien chasing a 21st win in the race.
O'Brien said: "The plan is for Luxembourg to go for the Beresford. Whatever else joins him in the race, that hasn't been decided yet, but he's the main one and we're very happy with him."