Breeders' Cup Drama: Aidan O'Brien Offers Key Update as Three Major Horses are Scratched

Table of Contents

• News on European Hopes at Breeders’ Cup
• Precise Withdrawn
• Arizona Blaze Scratched
• Military Code Non-Runner
• Responsible Gambling

BIG European hopes were dashed on Friday morning at the Breeders’ Cup as several prominent contenders were withdrawn.

First, Aidan O’Brien’s exceptional two-year-old and the favored contender for the Juvenile Fillies, Precise, was ruled out due to an infection, just hours before she was set to compete at Del Mar.

Precise was a major Breeders’ Cup favorite for Aidan O’Brien but was unexpectedly scratched after coughingCredit: PA

Following that setback, it was announced that Arizona Blaze, a strong contender for the Turf Sprint on Saturday, had also been scratched.

Charlie Appleby was also compelled to declare Military Code as a non-runner ahead of tonight’s Juvenile Turf Sprint.

The last-minute withdrawal of Precise is particularly disappointing for O’Brien, who is pursuing his record of 28 Group 1 winners in a single year.

If everything had gone as planned, she would have been a formidable opponent, but her absence has left the race wide open.

O’Brien commented: “She coughed once on Thursday morning, but that’s not unusual. It could have just been a bit of straw or something similar.

“However, she coughed eight or ten times this morning, so we had her scoped and found phlegm in her throat.

“We sent her blood samples to the lab for testing, and she has an infection. It appears she has picked up a little bug, and her temperature has started to rise.

“It’s likely nothing serious, and she will be perfectly fine, but she obviously won’t be racing.

“Such things can always occur when traveling. There’s always a risk, but she will be back to normal soon.”

Kia Joorabchian will be disappointed by the loss of Arizona Blaze from Saturday’s Turf Sprint, as he was viewed as the horse to beat on paper.

Earlier this week, the Breeders’ Cup Classic lost its star contender when Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty was ruled out due to a fever.

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