Jan Brueghel books Melbourne Cup ticket as Aidan O’Brien’s sole runner

Aidan O’Brien will send unbeaten St Leger hero Jan Brueghel to Flemington as the Ballydoyle handler targets his first success in the Melbourne Cup.

Despite not making his track debut until the last week in May earlier this year, the Galileo colt has tallied four wins on the bounce including two at Group 3 level and one at Group 1.

Sent off as an 11/4 joint-favourite in the St Leger at Doncaster two weeks ago, Jan Brueghel saw off Illinois in the final strides to win by a neck – undeterred by his stronger-travelling stablemate.

The three-year-old is one of six entries from Ballydoyle in the $6 million race alongside the likes of Illinois and Grosvenor Square, but he is expected to be the sole O’Brien runner down under.

As per the best horse racing betting sites, Jan Brueghel has shortened to 10/1 from as big as 16 following the news that he is set to go into quarantine and fight for the $4.4 million top prize.

🏆 JAN BRUEGHEL WINS THE BETFRED ST LEGER STAKES 🏆#ITVRacing | @DoncasterRaces | #BetfredStLeger | @LeveySean pic.twitter.com/qHf3t2DxxK

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) September 14, 2024

O’Brien told the Racing Post:

“At the moment we think Jan Brueghel will be the one who will travel down to Australia. They have to go into quarantine shortly and he’s the one we think we will send.

“He’s come out of the St Leger very well and everything seems fine with him. Everyone is happy.”

With O’Brien’s increased focus on the Breeders’ Cup in November and earlier comments regarding the rigorous veterinary checks required to participate in the race, some were surprised by the decision to field a runner in Melbourne.

It is mandatory for all international horses to complete a CT scan of their distal limbs (lower legs) before jetting off and if the scan presents an issue, vets can request a nuclear scintigraphy.

The 53-year-old explained that it is very difficult for three-year-old horses such as Jan Brueghel to pass the checks because their bones are still maturing since they are not as developed as older horses.

However, the horse looks set for his date with destiny in Australia as he aims to become O’Brien’s first winner of the historic race in his 28-year career as a trainer.

After hitting the crossbar twice with runner-up finishes from Johannes Vermeer in 2017 and Tiger Moth in 2020, the Ballydoyle maestro is ready for another crack at Melbourne Cup glory.

Jan Brueghel opened his account with an eight-length victory in a ten furlong (1m2f) maiden at the Curragh in May before making it two from two at the Kildare track in the Group 3 International Stakes a month later.

He progressed once again at Glorious Goodwood to cosily land the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at 12 furlongs (1m4f) under a game ride from Ryan Moore – and that form was soon franked as second-placed Bellum Justum won the Nashville Derby in Kentucky.

Jan Brueghel holds off Bellum Justum to win the John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes 🤩#ITVRacing | @Goodwood_Races pic.twitter.com/BfARrMRj5Q

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) August 1, 2024

His impressive performance at 14-and-a-half furlongs (1m6½f) in the St Leger only supported the hope that he is the next big thing in the staying division as he prepares to tackle 16 furlongs (2m) for the first time in Australia.

The unbeaten star, who has amassed almost £600,000 in prize money in his short four month career to date, is sure to give a good account of himself on November 5th in the 164th edition of the race.