Reigning Breeders' Cup Turf champion Magician will return to Santa Anita to seek a repeat in the 1 1/2-mile prize November 1, trainer Aidan O'Brien has told Racing Post.
The Ballydoyle handler went on to outline Breeders' Cup plans for his two-year-old squad, mentioning last-out Weld Park winner Qualify as his intended runner in the Juvenile Fillies Turf, Champagne runner-up War Envoy for the Juvenile Turf and Blenheim hero The Great War for the "Juvenile Dirt."
Compatriot Dermot Weld also confirmed to Racing Post that Mustajeeb is set for the Breeders' Cup Mile. Victorious in the Jersey at Royal Ascot back in June, Sheikh Hamdan's homebred was withdrawn from last Saturday's Queen Elizabeth II on account of the testing ground at the Berkshire venue.
Weld added, however, that Tarfasha was not certain to advance to the Filly & Mare Turf.
Juddmonte homebred Commemorative is bound for the Juvenile Turf, Racing Manager Teddy Grimthorpe told PA Sport. The winner of the October 11 Autumn Stakes was originally penciled in for Saturday's Racing Post Trophy, but the prospect of unsuitably soft going led to a reroute to Santa Anita.
"Commemorative will go to the Breeders' Cup," Grimthorpe said. "We had considered the Racing Post Trophy, but we feel that he'll always be seen to best effect on nice ground and he's unlikely to get that. So because of the ground, and $1 million, he'll go to America for the Juvenile Turf."
Baltic Baroness has been ruled out of consideration for the Filly & Mare Turf, according to a Monday report in Paris Turf. Since her rallying victory in the Prix Vermeille, the Andre Fabre mare has met with a setback.
Also as reported earlier by Paris Turf, L' Amour de Ma Vie is in the mix for the Filly & Mare Turf as well as the Distaff. The Pia Brandt trainee is best known for taking the Balanchine during the Dubai Carnival.
Sunday's E.P. Taylor winner Just the Judge will definitely head to California for a tilt at the Filly & Mare Turf.
"The plan is for her to ship down to California Thursday to prepare for the Breeders Cup," trainer Charlie Hills commented on his website. "It's a tight time frame, but she seems to be thriving on traveling and we just have to hope the race and the traveling doesn't take too much out of her. The team headed by Geoff Snook have done a tremendous job so far, and as one of the most experienced traveling head lads around she's in good hands with him."
Irish highweight Fiesolana has several Breeders' Cup options available according to trainer Willie McCreery. The Flaxman Stables colorbearer is already assured of a berth in the Filly & Mare Turf, secured by taking the Matron on Irish Champions Weekend, but would prefer to get into the Mile.
"She's in great form," commented McCreery. "We're just getting all the travel arrangements ready for a tilt at the Breeders' Cup. The Mile is first choice, but we might not get in it, so we're keeping in both at the minute. The weather over here is quite warm for the time of year, so it's quite good for fillies. She seems happy with herself, so we're going to give it a go. She's likely to fly out Saturday."
Daily Racing Form confirms that Osaila will contest the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Trained by Richard Hannon, the Al Shaqab colorbearer has captured the Princess Margaret and Tattersalls Millions Two-Year-Old Fillies Trophy.
Monday's pre-entry deadline also sparked social media announcements from connections.
Filly & Mare Turf candidate Dayatthespa has also been cross-entered to the Mile, Peter Bradley of Bradley Thoroughbreds tweeted.
Living the Life is cross-entered to both the Filly & Mare Sprint and the Turf Sprint, Hank Nothhaft of HnR Nothhhaft Horse Racing posted on Facebook.