Aidan O'Brien becomes most successful Breeders' Cup trainer as Gstaad strikes in Grade 1 Juvenile Turf

Aidan O'Brien became the most successful trainer at the Breeders' Cup when Gstaad overcame a slow start to finish strongly and land the Grade 1 Juvenile Turf.

The Ballydoyle master had been tied on 20 victories apiece with the late D. Wayne Lukas, but Gstaad's first victory since winning the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in June has moved O'Brien clear at the top.

"It's special," said O'Brien, whose son Donnacha saddled his first winner at the meeting with Balantina in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. "Wayne was such a special man and I can't tell you how helpful he was to us throughout my whole career. He used to ring all the time and he was an unbelievably special man.

"I'm so delighted for all the lads. They put in so much, day in, day out. They let the horses run, they don't protect them. They let them run for everyone to enjoy and there's so many people involved. The lads breed the horses, they buy the horses, and they turn up and they want to see them race." 

• No Aidan O'Brien, no problem as son Donnacha lands first Breeders' Cup victory in Juvenile Fillies Turf

It was an eight top-level victory for Christophe Soumillon since he stepped into the fold after Ryan Moore's injury earlier in the year, and the winning jockey praised the quality Gstaad possesses.

Soumillon said: "I didn't do anything really, I think the horse is just good. He's been a little bit unlucky in Europe on his last few starts, we should've won one of them. He jumped a bit slow today, but he was travelling very well in the first part of the race.

"When I saw there was a gap in the back straight to try to go forward and let him sit behind the pace, I made the move and I was cruising the whole way. I knew when I came out of the turn that I'd win.

"It's very rare to see amazing horses winning a Breeders' Cup hands and heels like that. 

Soumillon missed the 2020 Breeders' Cup due to testing positive for Covid-19, and had to watch his two rides both win at the meeting, so he was delighted to return to the winners' enclosure at Del Mar.

Gstaad (Christophe Soumillon) wins the Juvenile Turf for Aidan O'Brien, who becomes the winningmost trainer at the Breeders' CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

He said: "Things in life make you stronger, especially in defeat. When Aidan told me Precise wasn't going to run, it gave me a sour taste in my mouth, but what can you do? I have a sweet taste now."

O'Brien's victory took him to 26 for top-level wins this year. He now needs two to equal his previous best tally and three to surpass it.

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