BREEDERS' CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

October 31, 2025

Christophe Soumillon

Aidan O'Brien

Andy Magnier

Del Mar Fairgrounds

Juvenile Turf

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We're with winning trainer Aidan O'Brien, jockey Christophe Soumillon and Andy Magnier, representing Coolmore.

Q. Aidan, you're the winningest trainer in Breeders' Cup history. Could you talk about the reflect on the accomplishment?

AIDAN O'BRIEN: I'm just so delighted. Obviously everyone knows that we're in just this unbelievably privileged position. To working for the lads that put so much in since we have come to Ballydoyle, all the way, breeding, buying, employing everybody, putting the pedigrees together and letting the horses and asking them and wanting them to come here for everyone to see them race.

We feel so privileged. And like obviously working for such special people, with such special people. And today what could I say. Incredible. Christophe gave him a beautiful ride.

I'm so delighted, so delighted for the lads, really. They're the ones that make it happen day in and day out. Like I say, we feel very privileged to be in the position that we are, really.

Q. Regarding the colt before I go to the other two gentlemen, this horse, it's been a long campaign for him. Started early in the year and now finishing it off, coming to America and winning a race like this. Speak to the accomplishment, being able to hold the form and finish it off in a race like this from the draw he had?

AIDAN O'BRIEN: He's obviously a very good horse. Alex does an incredible job with him at home -- Seamus, John. Patrick rides him out. Rachel rides him in his work. And all the people around him, Kieran and Rory, there's so many people, John. All his people.

There's so many people that I'm not mentioning. They're people that make these days happen. But he's a very special horse. He's big and powerful. We felt, obviously we thought he would have won a couple of Group 1s at this stage. But things just didn't work for him. Little things went against him.

Testimony to him that he kept himself well and thriving and doing. And I think Christophe said he was very together today. He's obviously a very good horse. He's a horse to look forward to for next year.

Q. Christophe, if you could just kind of take us through the trip and what you plan to do going in because of where you were drawn and how it unfolded from there?

CHRISTOPHE SOUMILLON: My job is to ride in the present moment. Seeing how the horse jumps, and from there I knew which horses to follow in the race.

But unfortunately, he jumped up a fraction slow. But I was quite happy to see after a few strides he was able to kick in there and get close from the pace.

But in the first corner, I feel the pace was quite strong, so I didn't want to overgo. And I didn't want to turn too wide too. And he turned actually quite well. And when I came in the back straight, I was hoping, yeah, I would be able to find a better position.

So I just asked him to go forward. And he was traveling so easy, I was cruising the whole time. And I was very, how do you say, comfortable on him. I knew he would probably win when I arrived the last corner because he was turning so well.

He took me a nice blow. And I was seeing everybody around me start to go to action, and I was just cruising with him. And I knew it would be hard to come on my outside from where I was. And when I asked him, too quick on his change, he leads really easily. And I won hands on him so well.

I was a bit upset on his last race because I think I would probably make a mistake to try to cover him. I'm sure he should win one or two more Group 1s this season in Europe. So that will make him one of the best we've seen here.

He was a bit unlucky. I think he's still a quite immature horse. He was playing around going on the start, enjoying his time with the pony. I think he's getting more professional after each run. And I think traveling like here is going to make him a great horse for next season.

Q. Personally, this is your first Breeders' Cup win since Shirocco 20 years ago. How did it feel to get past the podium?

CHRISTOPHE SOUMILLON: I'm really happy. I wish Aidan would have asked me before that to ride for him.

(Laughter)

But when you come and you ride for such an amazing team, when they come with three, four, five, six, ten horses, and you have three or four winning chances, it's always something that every jockey would wish to have in his life.

It's coming late for me, but I still am enjoying it like if I was 20. And I think I couldn't dream of it a few weeks and months ago.

And this morning my breakfast was really light but a bit tough because when I knew Precise would not run and I knew she was probably my biggest chance today, I was like, okay, go positive way now.

I knew Brussel would run a great race. And he's second today. A bit unlucky also with the way he jumped out of the gates. But finally we won the Breeders' Cup today with Gstaad.

And for me the most important I'm going to come back even stronger tomorrow because I think we have three good chances to win together. And, yeah, let's see what's going on. But I'm very happy.

Q. M.B., for your organization, how satisfying has it been to see Christophe step into this role and perform like he has, especially on a day like today?

MICHAEL TABOR: Everybody is very happy to see Christophe. He's one of the best riders in the world. It's a shame Ryan isn't here, as we all know. Christophe gave him a great ride and everything.

And I want to say well done to Kelly Thomas and everyone, because big supporters of ours and have been for a very long time. It's a great result for them.

Q. Christophe, can I ask, you've ridden for so many big trainers all around the world. Is there anything in particular, can you point to one thing that Aidan does differently to everybody else that makes him the record-breaking Breeders' Cup trainer?

CHRISTOPHE SOUMILLON: I think he's the most particular -- there's no place for improvisation. He's doing everything like really professional. And he respects so much his horses and also the people working for him. And I think it's something amazing because everybody's going to give their life for him, and they work so hard with the horses.

And it was the first time for me, I've been in Ballydoyle a few weeks ago and I was really amazed with what I saw. I've been in Japan and Hong Kong and many big stables in the world. But I've never seen something like that. I would wish to be a racehorse there.

To be honest, it's something amazing, and it's giving back to everybody, you can see. His sons today also doing great. I think he's a very passionate person, real horseman. And that learns, I think, a lot by defeat. I think that's, we all, growing up, we try hard every time. You're not going to win every time. When we lose with something we want to make sure it doesn't happen again. And I think that's probably why he's the best ever.

Q. Aidan, I was hoping you could reflect on, you had tied the record with D. Wayne Lukas, who I know you were quite fond off. And, of course, he just passed this year. I was hoping you could reflect on passing a mark that you shared with such a legend of the game. My second part, different question, but while I have the microphone, is goals and thoughts for what might come at 3 for Gstaad?

AIDAN O'BRIEN: D. Wayne, obviously, was -- I can't tell you how big a help he has been to us all the time. Obviously, he trained for John and Sue and Michael and Dorian and Derrick and everybody before we kind of arrived in Ballydoyle.

When we found Giant's Causeway very early in our career, he was such a help. I can't tell you. We came over here and we didn't know anything about American racing.

When we arrived at the Barron (phonetic) with the horse, he was there. He gave us as many people we wanted. He told us everything we wanted to know about from shoeing him, to have the right shoes on him, the right way to take him to the track.

He came down with his own horse and took him to the track himself for us to make sure that we got it all right.

Every year since, he always rings and texts, if we ever had a good day or even a bad day. Very special man. What can I say? We've been always so grateful to him. He never expected anything himself. I think everything he did was for his horses and his owners.

He dreamed a lot. And I think that's where his longevity and his brilliance came from. An incredibly special man, really. And what can I say? He has the power now. Yep, that's the way it is.

So I suppose this horse -- speaking to M.B. there, I think he would probably be a Guineas horse, I think that's what M.B. is thinking of.

And I think if it changes in the spring, then M.B. will discuss it with, I would say, the lads and that means his mom and dad and Derrick and Michael and Dorian and everybody. So that's the way it is. And I would imagine -- they will obviously discuss it with Christophe, and then we'll hopefully come to a plan.

But he is a big, powerful horse. He's getting quicker. We always felt that he would get a mile. And obviously the times he has got beat might end up being good for him because he might not have come here and had this experience.

Yeah, he's a very exciting horse to have. And again like M.B. said, the people who bred them, very special for him. I think he's a brother to a very good horse as well. So delighted for everybody, really.

Q. Aidan, I could be wrong. But after the race, I believe that I overheard Christophe saying that this horse actually might handle the dirt. Is there anything in that between you two? What makes him the type of horse that could handle dirt?

AIDAN O'BRIEN: I think Christophe cantered him across, cantered him down to the start on the dirt, and I think he said it to Michael and M.B. and Derrick.

So, listen, obviously, it might be a big step for him to be trained as a Kentucky Derby horse next year because I think, really, in our part of the world, if you're going to do it, you kind of have to have a few trials.

He's having a tough enough campaign now. He's running all those Group 1s. He had a little bit of upset, had an upset where he missed one of his races, he missed the hinds, and that kind of set him back a bit, so it took a long time to get him back together.

So I would imagine, listen, it's something that the lads could try later on. But I would imagine at the moment he'll be trained as a Guineas horse, see what happened.

But maybe ask Christophe that and M.B. will then tell you what they'll be thinking after that, what he was thinking.

Q. (Inaudible)

CHRISTOPHE SOUMILLON: I'm expecting to do like today, riding good races. If the horses are there ready to win, they're going to win it.

Like we say, 48 hours ago we thought we would win for sure two Grade 1s today. Unfortunately, one of them didn't run. We wanted to run anyway. Good second and a winner. Tomorrow, I think Bedtime Story is the one that nobody really looked at because she's not having a great draw.

But I really liked her performance last time. She did a great season. It's a very open race, so I think she's going to run good. But we're going to need a bit of luck.

With her, I think I can take a little bit of, how do you say, options in the race. Like in winter last time, ran a great race. We are well-drawn.

I'm sure tomorrow is going to give an amazing run and Minnie Hauk, everyone knows she's a big favorite. She's by far, since Zarcava, the best filly I've ridden.

So, yeah, we're not coming here to lose, but we're always respecting our opponents. You never know how things will happen in a race. I need to concentrate. I still have to lose a kilo for her tomorrow, and I'm fine because Gstaad gave me a nice meal for tonight.