Breeders' Cup next big target for Dylan Thomas

Leopardstown Report: Dylan Thomas looks set to try and succeed where the likes of Galileo, Hawk Wing and Giant's Causeway all failed and try and translate the class that won him Saturday's Baileys Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown to the Breeders' Cup dirt of Churchill Downs in Kentucky.

Even in the immediate aftermath of the weekend's thriller, where Dylan Thomas fought back to edge the top filly Ouija Board by a head, Aidan O'Brien needed little encouragement to nominate the Breeders' Cup Classic in early November as a possible end of season target.

"I would love to try the dirt with him. He has won the most important 10-furlong race in Europe, so why not?" asked the champion trainer.

Such enthusiasm was hardly surprising. Ever since Giant's Causeway agonisingly came up short against Tiznow at Churchill Downs six years ago, O'Brien has not hesitated to throw the cream of his Ballydoyle stable at the commercial and prestigious holy grail which a Classic victory would represent.

Never mind the fact that Galileo and Hawk Wing turned their noses up at the dirt in their faces, or that Oratorio last year couldn't cope with the different discipline at all, the Coolmore team are obviously determined to end the sorry record of the 100 to 1 outsider Arcangues being the only European-trained Classic winner in Breeders' Cup history.

Yesterday, O'Brien reported of Dylan Thomas: "He looks to have come out of the race well. He seems fine and has had a bit of a stroll."

After Saturday's display of dogged resolution, Dylan Thomas was entitled to a cushy morning but there will be nothing leisurely about what could face him against the cream of America's dirt specialists. That looks like his target after Hurricane Run's narrow defeat in yesterday's Prix Foy, which looked enough to earn the Arc hero a shot at retaining his title.

Officially, on what he has achieved so far, especially in the Irish Derby, and at the weekend, Dylan Thomas doesn't obviously look to have what it takes to succeed where both Galileo and Hawk Wing failed, but Kieren Fallon is convinced that may be a serious under-estimation.

"The feel he gave me in the Irish Derby was electric whereas this was more workmanlike. But he is a very good colt who is getting better and better," said the jockey, who returned to a tumultuous reception on Saturday.

Ouija Board looked to have her three-year-old rival beaten cold outside the furlong pole on Saturday having dispensed of Alexander Goldrun's challenge and taken at least a neck lead. Significantly, however, Fallon never reached for a backhand whip strike and taps down the shoulder were all Dylan Thomas needed to fight back up the inner.

"It looked like she was going to win but she has just been out-battled," said Ouija Board's trainer Ed Dunlop while Alexander Goldrun's trainer Jim Bolger nominated the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp over the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe weekend as a possible next target.

Ouija Board's jockey, Jamie Spencer, had better luck in the other Group One contest, the Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes, on Red Evie who completed her progress from handicaps to the top level with a short-head defeat of Peeress. The Michael Bell-trained winner will be aimed at the Sun Chariot Stakes and Bell said: "We had been thinking of the QEII in America but now she has proved she can win at Group One level over here, we will go to Newmarket."

Earlier Fallon and O'Brien also picked up the Group Three Bruce Betting Kilternan Stakes when Frost Giant made his first start since May's 2,000 Guineas a winning one.