Aidan O'Brien And Coolmore Eye Strong Start At Breeders' Cup In Keenel

Aidan O'Brien And Coolmore Eye Strong Start At Breeders' Cup In Keeneland

A look at the contenders for Aidan O'Brien and Coolmore on day one of the Breeders' Cup from Keeneland.

NationPulse Desk

Oct 29, 2026 · 9:47 PM 2 min read

Key takeaways

Sun Goddess runs in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf at 8.15pm from stall nine.

Libertango is ridden by Flavien Prat in the Juvenile Turf Sprint at 6.55pm from stall three.

Haffner starts in stall four for Aidan O'Brien in the Juvenile Turf at 9.35pm with Christophe Soumillon riding.

Emphatic contests the Juvenile Fillies on dirt at 7.35pm for Brendan Walsh and Tyler Gaffalione.

Hughes runs in the Juvenile for colts at 8.55pm, trained by Bob Baffert after winning the American Pharoah Stakes.

Day One Hopes At Keeneland

The Breeders' Cup gets underway with a strong contingent of young horses for the Coolmore team and trainer Aidan O'Brien.

Juvenile filly SUN GODDESS runs in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf at 8.15pm on Sky Sports Racing. She has raced eight times, winning three Group 1 events including the Phoenix, Moyglare and Cheveley Park Stakes, and her only defeats came on her debut and when second to Libertango in the Group 3 Albany at Royal Ascot. She starts from stall nine.

Francis-Henri Graffard runs Group 1 winner Amusingly, alongside Green Empress, Domestic Agenda, and Johnny Murtagh runner Curracloe.

Turf Action Kicks Off

Friday's action opens with the Juvenile Turf Sprint at 6.55pm.

LIBERTANGO represents George Boughey with Flavien Prat riding, replacing regular jockey Billy Loughnane due to weight limits. She starts in stall three after finishing a length behind Sun Goddess in the Cheveley Park Stakes and winning the Group 2 Lowther at York. Paddy Twomey runner Velozee also lines up.

The Juvenile Turf takes place at 9.35pm. Great Barrier Reef runs for O'Brien from stall 14, while Folsom Blues starts in stall 10 for Joseph O'Brien. Aidan O'Brien runner HAFFNER runs from stall four with Christophe Soumillon in the saddle following a victory in the Royal Lodge.

🚨 Great Barrier Reef could miss the @BreedersCup Juvenile Turf

Aidan O'Brien tells @MCYeeehaaa it's "very possible he could come out" after suffering a stone bruise this week… pic.twitter.com/NJewGbgxdT
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 29, 2026

Dirt Contenders

The Juvenile Fillies runs at 7.35pm, where EMPHATIC lines up for trainer Brendan Walsh and jockey Tyler Gaffalione. The unbeaten daughter of Nyquist won the Grade 1 Alcibiades over the course and distance earlier in the month.

The Juvenile for colts follows at 8.55pm, featuring HUGHES for trainer Bob Baffert. He brings an unbeaten record from four starts, most recently winning the American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita.