O’Brien eyes Breeders’ Cup win with Intricately

AFTER making his own searing mark on the Breeders' Cup, Joseph O’Brien is ready to keep the faith in his younger brother Donnacha and give the teenager his biggest day in the saddle aboard Intricately in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita next Friday.

The former champion jockey sent out out the homebred to cause a 25-1 shock in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh last month for a maiden Group 1 win on the Flat as a trainer, with his 18-year-old brother Donnacha on board.

Joseph was just 18 years when piloting St Nicholas Abbey to win at the Breeders' Cup in 2011 for his father Aidan, who will be in opposition on Friday with Hydrangea, Roly Poly and Promise To be True, and is ready to keep the fruitful family partnership intact with Donnacha, who will be three months younger for his first taste of the US highlight.

O'Brien, whose first Breeders' Cup runner is 4-1 favourite for the Grade 1 over a mile, said: "It was a fantastic thrill to be able to give him his first Group 1 win in the Moyglare Stakes at the Curragh.

"Donnacha has had a great season and has just got better and better all year. He's been riding very well and I wouldn't want anyone else on her."

The budding trainer believes Intricately has much of what is required for her date with the Santa Anita turf next week.

The 23-year-old said: "The Breeders' Cup is special and I enjoyed one of the best moments of my career in the saddle when St Nicholas Abbey won the Breeders' Cup Turf, for sure.

"Intricately is in great form. Our biggest dangers look likeliest to come from the European runners. Obviously, Dad has a strong hand –with Hydrangea, Roly Poly and Promise To Be True – and I thought Spain Burg was very good when she won at Newmarket."