“He’s a big powerful horse who is getting quicker”

Aidan O'Brien surpassed D. Wayne Lukas' record as the all-time leading trainer at the Breeders' Cup when Gstaad produced a power-packed finish under Christophe Soumillon to land the Juvenile Turf at Del Mar.

The son of Starspangledbanner would have to overcome gate fourteen if he was going to provide Aidan O'Brien with yet another Breeders' Cup triumph and following a sluggish beginning, those that had took the even-money might have been left wondering if it was meant to be.

However, under an ice-cool Soumillon, who was content to bide his time in the early stages of the contest as Amo Racing's Outfielder and Hey Nay Nay set a strong pace up front, Gstaad began to make progress in the backstraight, moving into a challenging position in the middle of the pack.

As those at the head of affairs dropped away tamely, Gstaad cruised up travelling powerfully round the final bend and once given the office by Soumillon, he quickened clear in taking style, putting distance between himself and his rivals to score cosily from the closing Stark Contrast.

"Wayne Lukas was a very special man. I can't tell you how big of a help he has been to us all the time," said O'Brien.

"When we found Giant's Causeway early in our career, he was such a help, we came over here and didn't know anything about American racing, he told us everything we wanted to know. He came down and took him to the track himself to make sure we got everything correct.

"He would always ring and text if we had a good or bad day. He was a very special man, and we've always been grateful for him. An incredibly special man and what can I say, he has the power now."

Gstaad was winning for the first time since his success in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot earlier in the season having filled the runner-up spot in the Prix Morny, National Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes.

Paddy Power cut the winner to 8/1 favourite (from 12s) for the 2000 Guineas next season, with O'Brien, who is now just two Group 1 victories away this season from equalling his own record, and connections keen to head down the Classic route.

He added: "I think he'll probably be a Guineas horse and if it changes in the spring, MV (Magnier) will discuss it with the lads.

"He's a big powerful horse who is getting quicker. We always felt he would get a mile and obviously the times he got beat might have been could for him, because he might not have come here to have this experience.

"He's a very exciting horse to have and he's a brother to a very good horse as well."

In the aftermath of the contest Christophe Soumillon revealed that he felt Gstaad could potentially handle racing on the dirt, although Aidan O'Brien's sole focus remains firmly on the Guineas at this stage.

"Christophe cantered the horse down to the start on the dirt and then said it to Michael (Tabor), MV (Magnier) and Derrick (Smith).

"Obviously it might be a big step for him to be trained as a Kentucky Derby horse next year because I think really, if you're going to do it, you have to have a few trials, and he's had a tough enough campaign.

"He ran in all those Group 1's and he had an upset where he missed the Heinz (Phoenix Stakes) which set him back a bit.

"It's something that the lads could try but at the moment he'll be trained as a Guineas horse."