Aidan O'Brien hails 'incredible filly' Tuesday as Breeders' Cup star is retired

Aidan O'Brien has paid tribute to Oaks heroine and "incredible filly" Tuesday after it was revealed the star three-year-old has been retired following a dazzling win in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf this month.

The daughter of Galileo and dual Group 1 winner Lillie Langtry pulled off the admirable feat of landing this year's Cazoo Oaks on the day of her third birthday – unusually young for a filly operating at the highest level during the early stages of the season.

Representing owners Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg, she also finished second to Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Alpinista in the Yorkshire Oaks, claimed second behind Homeless Songs in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and was third to Cachet in 1,000 Guineas at Newmarket.

Exquisitely well bred as a sister to dual Classic winner Minding, as well as Irish 1,000 Guineas scorer Empress Josephine, Tuesday now looks set for a date with American Triple Crown winner Justify at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky.

Aidan O'Brien on Tuesday: 'She'll be staying in America and I think the plan is for her to be covered by Justify'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"She's been an incredible filly to do what she's done all through this year," said O'Brien.

"She was young and that's why we had to be very tender with her after the Guineas. We just leaned on her for her last run and we saw the result. She was very good. She'll be staying in America and I think the plan is for her to be covered by Justify."

O'Brien added: "It was special to see what she did in the Oaks considering she was so young, and she had only just run in the Guineas. We're all really looking forward to seeing what Justify's offspring can do next year."

O'Brien plans Hong Kong raid

The Ballydoyle maestro is planning on sending four of his other Breeders' Cup representatives to next month's Longines Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin, including a three-pronged attack on the Hong Kong Vase.

O'Brien is already the 1m4f contest's most successful trainer with three wins courtesy of Highland Reel (2015 and 2017) and Mogul (2020), and Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up Stone Age may prove his best chance of strengthening that record.

Stone Age: likely to be seen in the Hong Kong Vase next monthCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"We were delighted with Stone Age's run at Keeneland and we think he's progressing," said O'Brien.

"He seems to have come out of that well and we're looking forward to running him. We think this should suit him in terms of the track and trip. Hopefully there's more to come from him."

Broome, a respectable sixth in the Breeders' Cup Turf, and Bolshoi Ballet, who finished an unthreatening fourth in Listed company at Lingfield on his recent return from a 335-day absence, are also in contention for the Vase.

O'Brien said: "Broome finished out his race very well at Keeneland. He broke well but was a little slow for the first few steps, which meant he ended up further back, but he ran on well.

"We thought Bolshoi Ballet would improve a lot for his run at Lingfield the other day. We wanted to get a run into him before he went [to Hong Kong], and we were very happy with what he did. Hopefully the trip will suit him."

Meditate: one of three winners at this year's Breeders' Cup for Aidan O'BrienCredit: Edward Whitaker

Order Of Australia, who has been campaigned exclusively at 7f or 1m since causing a 40-1 upset in the 2020 Breeders' Cup Mile, is set to return to 1m2f for a tilt at the Hong Kong Cup.

O'Brien said: "We're thinking of stepping him up to a mile and a quarter and hopefully that will suit him."

Reflecting on his brilliant Breeders' Cup hat-trick, O'Brien added: "We were delighted with what the horses did. Ryan gave them great rides and they all seem to be fine since. The plan is for Meditate to be trained for the 1,000 Guineas.

"A lot can happen between now and the spring but we're thinking about starting Victoria Road back as a French Guineas or French Derby type of horse."

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