Septimus: not seen in action since the Melbourne Cup in November 2008
PICTURE: Martin LynchO'Brien outlines Breeders' Cup plans
WITH the Breeders' Cup creeping ever closer, Ballydoyle trainer Aidan O'Brien has outlined his provisional plans for the two-day Santa Anita spectacular in November.
Last year's Irish St Leger winner Septimus, who has been saved for an autumn campaign, is being lined up for the Breeders' Cup Marathon, O'Brien revealed to At The Races on Tuesday.
He said: "We might look at the Marathon for Septimus if everything is well with him."
Providing O'Brien sticks to his plan of running one of his leading three-year-olds in Saturday's QueenElizabeth II Stakes, Rip Van Winkle and Mastercraftsman could lock horns for the first time since the Stanjames.com 2,000 Guineas in the Breeders' Cup Classic as the trainer bids to go one better after the John Gosden-trained Raven's Pass beat Henrythenavigator into second last year.
"It's up in the air, but we will be looking at the Classic for Rip Van Winkle if he goes to Ascot on Saturday and is okay afterwards. Mastercraftsman will be considered also."
For the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, O'Brien nominated recent DFS Champagne Stakes runner-up Viscount Nelson as a possible at this stage.
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