MENDELSSOHN COMPOSED FOR CLASSIC TASK
MENDELSSOHN is “toughening up” for his Breeders’ Cup Classic challenge at Churchill Downs next Saturday.
Although the Aidan O’Brien-trained colt marked his dirt debut with an impressive victory in the UAE Derby at Meydan last March, he trailed in a distant last of 20 in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs five weeks later.
However, O’Brien (right) believes that placed efforts on his last three outings on the surface show that Mendelssohn is making progress against battlehardened American rivals.
“He’s toughening up he’s growing up,” the Ballydoyle trainer said ahead of next Saturday’s $6million highlight, for which Mendelssohn is a 10-1 shot.
“He has had experience, everything is good with him so far, and we have to be very happy with him, so it will be interesting.” O’Brien admitted European trainers will always be at a disadvantage to their North American adversaries on a dirt surface. “We are training here and going over, so we have to try and learn what works and what doesn’t work.”
The Ballydoyle Breeders’ Cup raiding party will travel to Kentucky today, with Magical, a winner at Ascot nine days ago, set to clash with dual Arc de Triomphe heroine Enable in the Turf.