Henri Matisse Storms Home In Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf

Aidan O’Brien matched D Wayne Lukas’s record number of Breeders’ Cup wins when Henri Matisse (2c Wootton Bassett – Immortal Verse, by Pivotal) flew home in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar.

The dual Group 2 winner was held up at the back of the field by Ryan Moore and raced wide to challenge in the straight. Running on strongly, he powered past his rivals to lead close home by a neck on the line.

“It was very easy today,” Moore reported. “I said to Aidan beforehand I felt he was by far the best horse in the race. He just travelled into it and I was wide on the bend, but he took me there very comfortably. He won without even knowing he was in the race.”

“He's a beautiful horse and he's getting better every week,” O’Brien added, while on matching D Wayne Lukas’s record, he said: “It's incredible. We all know what a special man Wayne is and it's an honour to be anywhere close to his record.”

The win also enhances a record-breaking season for Wootton Bassett, whose 10 Group-winning juveniles include Group 1 winners. His latest top-flight winner is owned by Coolmore partners with Merriebelle Stud Farm.