It appeared Irish eyes have been smiling at Del Mar the morning of Nov. 3.
Whereas Aidan O’Brien, referred to as the Grasp of Ballydoyle, watched frontside as his Breeders’ Cup horses galloped previous, Dermot Weld, 21 instances a champion coach in Eire, was a backstretch railbird as his cost Tarnawa was on track.
The dynamic training duo will be rivals Nov. 6 when Tarnawa defends her title in the $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1T). The Shamardal mare, owned by His Highness the Aga Khan, won the race last year at Keeneland.
“She’s dealt with her touring extraordinarily properly. We’re very glad together with her,” Weld mentioned. “I do know it is quickly after the Arc, however she’s coaching good. She’s in very good order. I’m very pleased with the best way she traveled.”
Tarnawa trains Nov. 2 at Del Mar
Tarnawa ran second within the Arc, formally the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), at ParisLongchamp Oct. 3. The race was simply her third begin of the yr since final yr’s Breeders’ Cup, following a win within the Aug. 5 Grant Thornton Ballyroan Stakes (G3) at Leopardstown and a runner-up end within the Sept. 11 Irish Champion Stakes (G1) there.
Tarnawa’s Del Mar look shouldn’t be the primary for a Weld-trained runner. Mrs. A. J. F. O’Reilly’s Theoretically finished second in the Del Mar Oaks (G1T) in 2000 for Weld at the seaside track.
Though Theoretically was a half-length short of victory, Weld is no stranger to victories in the U.S., or anywhere. A two-time winner of Australia’s prestigious Melbourne Cup (G1), Weld has notched 12 North American graded stakes victories, including Go and Go’s historic score in the 1990 Belmont Stakes (G1). Among the horses defeated by Go and Go was Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Unbridled, who finished fourth.
WATCH: Weld Reflects on Go and Go’s 1990 Belmont Stakes Win, Tarnawa’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Repeat Bid
“It was a really big day, one thing I considered for a very long time,” Weld recalled Wednesday. “He was the suitable horse to deliver to win the race. He put up an exquisite efficiency.”
He appears to have introduced the suitable horse to Del Mar this yr. In capturing the race final yr, Tarnawa handed seven rivals within the remaining quarter-mile below jockey Colin Keane, who returns for the experience on Saturday.
Second to her final yr was the O’Brien-trained Magical , giving females the exacta.
This year, O’Brien will try to beat her with males. Having opted to run Love in the Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf (G1T), O’Brien has two 5-year-old horses left in the body of the 14-horse field for the Turf: Broome and Japan . Bolshoi Ballet and Mogul are alternates for O’Brien that could draw into the 1 1/2-mile race with scratches.
“The colts were four group 1 winners, and this was the best chance of getting them in,” O’Brien said Nov. 2 of the decision to run Love in the Filly & Mare Turf.
Aidan O’Brien trainees canter in succession at Del Mar
O’Brien’s runners are owned by Coolmore-affiliated connections, such as Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier, and Derrick Smith.
While Tarnawa is Weld’s lone Breeders’ Cup starter, O’Brien has other opportunities during the two-day event.
Besides Love in the Filly & Mare Turf, Glounthaune starts for him Nov. 5 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T), and Mother Earth goes in the FanDuel Breeders’ Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T).
“We hope they run well, really,” O’Brien said before mentioning the fine form of Mother Earth this season.
O’Brien swept the 1-2-3 finishes in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile, topped by a longshot victory from Order of Australia . The latter will miss the race this year following a recent career-ending injury.
O’Brien is a 13-time Breeders’ Cup winner from 156 starters with more than $26.6 million in purse earnings. Weld won his first Breeders’ Cup race last year with Tarnawa, his 17th starter.
