Breeders' Cup calling for 'powerful' Puerto Rico after Aidan O'Brien and Christophe Soumillon double up in Lagardere

Aidan O'Brien and Christophe Soumillon completed the juvenile Group 1 double on Arc day as Puerto Rico dominated the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere from the front, holding Nighttime and Rayif at bay for a two-and-a-half-length success. 

This was a tenth Lagardere to go with O'Brien's six wins in the fillies' Prix Marcel Boussac, although it was only the second time the Ballydoyle trainer had won both on the same card, 20 years after Rumplestiltskin and Horatio Nelson doubled up. 

Soumillon said he was indebted to a conversation with the injured Ryan Moore on Saturday for his decision to take the initiative. The chasers never looked like catching Puerto Rico after he plunged to the inside at the 'open stretch' cutaway rail. 

The winning rider said: "Ryan said he thought the ground would be a big help to him and for me to ride him confidently, and it was the same with Aidan before the race. There’s nothing hard, we ride for the horses.

"He jumped the gates really well and I took him to the front and he was really relaxed. He was hanging out for a while but in the straight when I took him to the rail he picked up really well and I felt nobody was following me."

Puerto Rico is a son of the late Wootton Bassett, winner of this race for Richard Fahey in 2010 and also the sire of last year's Lagardere scorer Camille Pissarro. He took six runs to break his maiden, although O'Brien typically blamed himself for the shaky start to the colt's career.

"I was probably running him over a little bit too short because he was showing us loads of speed," said O'Brien. "He ran over six furlongs up until Doncaster. That was his first run over seven and he won. The horse that was third to him that day [Cape Orator] won yesterday, so the form got very strong overnight.

"Christophe gave him a beautiful ride. He’s a lovely, big, powerful, mature horse with loads of speed."

Asked whether Puerto Rico might join the squad on the way to Del Mar, O'Brien added: "The lads were thinking of the Breeders’ Cup and they asked about ground, but Christophe said ground and trip would be no problem. I’d say he definitely could be one for the Juvenile Turf."

Puerto Rico wins the Prix Jean-Luc LagardereCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

As with the Marcel Boussac 35 minutes earlier, the Coolmore winner was chased home by a Christopher Head-trained runner for Wertheimer et Frere, with connections looking forward to stepping Nighttime up in trip next year.

"He's a colt who looks very obviously like he'll enjoy running over further next season, so for him to run that well today was a huge bonus," said Head. "We've been beaten again by one of Aidan's very good horses.

"This horse can only grow and strengthen over the winter and he'll be trained for the Prix du Jockey Club via the Poule d'Essai, and he's more evidence of the legacy we've been left by Wootton Bassett."

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