While 3-year-old filly Diamond Necklace is the 3-1 morning-line favorite in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) Oct. 31 at Keeneland for Aidan O'Brien, the trainer also believes in his other classic winner in the 1 1/2-mile race, Benvenuto Cellini.
Diamond Necklace this year swept the French classics for fillies, taking the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French One Thousand Guineas, G1) in May at ParisLongchamp Racecourse and the Prix de Diane (French Oaks, G1) in June at Chantilly Racecourse. She enters off a third-place finish against older males in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) Oct. 4 at ParisLongchamp.
In the Arc, Diamond Necklace, a daughter of St Mark's Basilica, finished a neck behind Bay City Roller, who also is entered in the Turf. Campaigned by the Coolmore-affiliated owners of Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier, and Westerberg, Diamond Necklace is a four-time group 1 winner.
Benvenuto Cellini, who earlier this season captured the Irish Derby (G1), finished ninth in this year's Arc. Interestingly, O'Brien's first-call rider Ryan Moore will stick with Benvenuto Cellini, his Arc mount, while Christophe Soumillon is back on Diamond Necklace after riding her for the first time in the Arc. Moore had been aboard for her four previous mounts, including three group 1 wins in that stretch.
O'Brien said they've always thought the Breeders' Cup Turf is a great fit for Benvenuto Cellini and added that he ran a better Arc than what shows up on paper.
"He was a bit slow away in France and still ran a very good race. If you go back and look at France, his run is a lot better than you think," O'Brien said. "We've done a good bit with him, so hopefully he'll get away and have a nice position."
Diamond Necklace's effort in the Arc, where Daryz won for a second straight year, provided thrills.
"The filly ran a stormer in the Arc. It was a slowly run Arc, and she did quicken to go for the win, and just got nabbed," O'Brien said. "So listen, it's going to be interesting with her. You're probably going to have to really ride her to get the trip, where with (Benvenuto Cellini), (Moore) can be very forward and straightforward on him.
"Obviously, (Benvenuto Cellini) won the Irish Derby. He had a massive run in the King George, Ryan was very happy and he just thought that he could improve a little bit on the King George, With the Arc then, we're taking it as it is. We know what happened and he came forward again from then."
