Breeders’ Cup: Aidan O’Brien becomes the most successful trainer as his son Donnacha takes a maiden win

Irishman Aidan O’Brien became the most successful trainer in Breeders’ Cup history with Gstaad’s emphatic win in the Juvenile Turf.

Despite a tough broadside in the one-mile race at Del Mar, near San Diego, Gstaad pulled through his rivals as rider Christophe Soumillon timed his late dash superbly.

It marked a record 21st Breeders’ Cup win for O’Brien, who passed the late DeWayne Lucas, as well as a record-extending eighth-place finish in the Juvenile Turf.

“It’s special, Wayne was a special man, which is unbelievable,” O’Brien said.

“Wayne has been a big help to us all the time and when we had the Giant’s Causeway he was a big help. He was there in the barn when we were relatively new here and helped us shoe him and he came down to the track with us on his horse.

“Everything he did was for his horses and his owners. He dreamed a lot and was an incredibly special man.”

While the elder O’Brien, who has 26 wins at the top level this year, sets the all-time championship record, his son Donnacha O’Brien celebrated his first Breeders’ Cup victory.

His first victory came when champion jockey Oisin Murphy rode Ballantina to a resounding upset victory in the $1 million (£760,292) Juvenile Fillies Race.

“This is very special. It’s been great,” Donnacha, 27, said after joining his father and brother Joseph as Breeders’ Cup-winning coach.

“Watching my dad do it year after year, and Joseph getting winners – it’s nice to be on the board.”