Porta Fortuna could be aimed at a Guineas trial in the spring following her narrow defeat at the Breeders’ Cup on Saturday.

The daughter of Caravaggio has enjoyed an excellent campaign for trainer Donnacha O’Brien, highlighted by her big-race wins in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Cheveley Park at Newmarket.

Stepping up to a mile for the first time for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, Porta Fortuna was beaten just half a length into second by Hard To Justify and will now be given a well-earned break.

O’Brien said: “She ran very well and we were delighted with her. Obviously she’s had a long season, for her to be holding her form this late in the year shows how brave a filly she is.

“I think she got the trip well, it wasn’t an issue, and we’re going to give her a good break now.

“I’m not sure exactly when she’ll be back out, but we might look at a Guineas trial over seven furlongs to try to get a read on her and see whether we go back sprinting or go back to a mile.

“That would be the thinking for now, but obviously it’s a long way away.”

Aidan O’Brien admitted his disappointment after River Tiber was ruled out of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita.

The Wootton Bassett colt was expected to be a major player in the mile contest after claiming third in the Middle Park Stakes on his most recent run, but River Tiber was scratched on vets’ advice just hours before his intended engagement.

Stablemate Bolshoi Ballet was also taken out of Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Turf and O’Brien was pragmatic in his response.

He told ITV Racing: “He (River Tiber) was being checked all week, he seemed OK and the vets have checked him this morning and weren’t happy with him, so that’s the way it is. Obviously that’s the rules and I suppose there’s no more to say about that.

“We’re visitors here and we’re very grateful to be here, rules are rules and they just weren’t happy with him today.

“Obviously they’re athletes and they don’t pull out the same way every day, like we don’t get out of bed every day the same, and he might have been slightly stiffer today than he was yesterday.

“When you’re training horses that does happen and every athlete in the world will tell you the same, it’s very fractional and I suppose it’s opinion. I suppose there was a different panel of vets checking them all week and just a different vet checked him this morning and he wasn’t happy, so that’s the way it was.

“Obviously when we came here we were happy to abide by whatever rules were going to be set in this state by the Breeders’ Cup.

“We’re disappointed for the lads (owners) really, they put a lot in but that’s that way it is.

“Whatever decision the authorities make in any sport, you just have to stand by it, you don’t always agree with it but somebody has to make the decision, sometimes it will fall for you, sometimes it won’t. With these horses today, it didn’t fall for us.”

Of River Tiber’s future plans, he added: “I’d say he’ll have a break – this obviously would have been his last run and he will be trained for the Classics next year.”

The Ballydoyle handler still won the Juvenile Turf, with Unquestionable taking the prize under Ryan Moore.

O’Brien’s runners were not the only horses scratched, with the Jessica Harrington-trained Givemethebeatboys taken out of the Juvenile Turf Sprint.

The handler admitted the experience could make her think twice about bringing horses to the fixture in the future.

She said: “He has not had a single issue all week – he has been examined at least three times a day, he has been out on the track, he has galloped, he’s done stalls, there are vets on the gallops.

“He went out this morning as usual, did a little trot to come back in and the vets came to have a look at him and they decided he was not entirely level on his off fore.

“I don’t agree with them – I see where they trot our horses up is not a level place, you trot on some mats and then you’re on sand.

“It would definitely (deter me from bringing horses back). I brought out what I thought was a very sound horse, I know they have to be careful but being careful or over the top are two different things.”

Adam West has left no stone unturned in his quest to ensure Live In The Dream plays a starring role in their once-in-a-lifetime shot at Breeders’ Cup glory.

The Epsom-based trainer of course shares his name with the actor most famous for portraying Batman and it is perhaps fitting that Live In The Dream’s blockbuster rise to the top of the sprinting tree reaches its climax a stones throw away from Hollywood in Santa Anita.

Owned by the charismatic Steve and Jolene de’Lemos, the four-year-old started the season with a pair of victories in the handicap ranks before his stock slowly rose throughout the season.

Placed efforts in both the Palace House Stakes and Temple Stakes served notice of Live In The Dream’s potential, but he announced himself as a star of the sprinting ranks with a thrilling all-the-way victory in the Nunthorpe at York – incredibly the first time his handler had saddled a runner in Group One company.

That Knavesmire rout secured Live In The Dream’s ticket to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint and having shown all the right signs during an exploratory visit to Keeneland, the thriving gelding now has the burden of being the big-race favourite for a contest won just the once by a British raider.

“We’re very happy and we’ve come here at the perfect time to get the best of the atmosphere,” said West.

“I think the ground and the track are so important to our horse. In the Palace House it was too stiff and five and a half furlongs at Keeneland didn’t suit him either, but this is ideal. He is all five – one yard further and that’s it! York was always going to be his best chance at home.

“The pressure is on now, I’d rather we were 28-1, but it’s justified given his form. If we were to have any chance it is here.”

Live In The Draw will break from stall five, with defending champion and one of the big dangers Caravel not far away in three.

It is a spot West is delighted to be in as he attempts to put the historic training centre of Epsom back on the world map.

He added: “They have done so well with the track and we were blessed with a cracking draw, with Caravel two down from us who can give us a lead. I didn’t want to be out wide or stuck on the rail.

“Caravel is so tenacious; she’s been brought into this race well. Credit is due, she’s looking like she’s about to hit her best form, so she’s respected with her speed and the way she runs. If we end up going head-to-head with her it could be a real ding-dong battle.

“Epsom has done its time and hopefully we can now focus on getting good horses back there. I hope he can show on Saturday that the job can be done.”

Also happy with Live In The Dream’s position in stall five is his big-race jockey Sean Kirrane who has become an integral part of the story.

Having also tasted Group One glory for the first time at York in the summer he has played a key role in preparing the son of Prince Of Lir for his moment in the Californian sun and is backing his charge to hit the right note when the bell sounds and the gates ping open.

Kirrane said: “I suppose you are in a position where if you do miss half a beat you are able to recover and not get swamped early on booting in from a wide draw. That is one of the positives about being drawn a bit further off the fence.

“The horse shouldn’t miss the kick, he was electric out of the stalls at Keeneland. It was something I didn’t expect, I thought he might be half a step slower away than the American horses but he was right on terms with them and then ultimately a lot quicker than them in the early part of the race.

“We expect him to do the same again and we’re very happy with the draw. There are some useful horses drawn inside him, the likes of Caravel, and he has to get away on terms with them and the Japanese horse outside looks very fast. But we’re happy and the horse goes there in great form.”

The European challenge was dented when Royal Ascot hero Bradsell was scratched from the contest on Wednesday evening, but joining Live In The Dream in the line-up is Aidan O’Brien’s Aesop’s Fables fresh from a welcome return to form in the Prix de l’Abbaye.

The Ballydoyle hopeful was beaten a length in third behind Highfield Princess at ParisLongchamp and the mount of Ryan Moore will once again be wearing the blinkers which sparked him into life in the French capital.

“The time Ryan rode him before the Abbaye he said this guy is stuck in second gear and not doing a stroke, he’s just cruising along,” said O’Brien.

“We put the blinkers on him at home and Seamus (Heffernan) jumped him out of the stalls in blinkers and said he felt a totally different horse. That’s why the blinkers are on him.

“Ryan felt in France that if he had challenged the winner earlier he might have finished even closer and it was a huge run out of him and probably back to the best of his two-year-old form or even above it.

“We’re looking forward to it, he’s drawn out a little bit, but there’s speed on his inside so he will slot in and see what will happen.”

Joining the defending champion Caravel at the heart of the American challenge is Live In The Dream’s Woodford Stakes conqueror Arzak who represents Michael Trombetta, while Philip D’Amato’s Motorious is interesting having improved significantly on what he achieved in Britain when trained by Stuart Williams.

Christophe Clement is double-handed with Roses For Debra and Royal Ascot also ran Big Invasion, with Hideyuki Mori’s Jasper Krone adding a further international flavour to the contest having made the trip over from Japan.

Algiers will miss the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile due to a minor foot issue.

The Dubai World Cup runner-up was one of the leading fancies for his selected race, and was second favourite behind last year’s winner Cody’s Wish.

However, it emerged overnight that Algiers had been scratched and a post on trainers Simon and Ed Crisford’s Gainsborough Thoroughbreds social media account confirmed the news.

It read: “Unfortunately Algiers won’t be able to run in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile. He is going to have to miss a few days training due to a minor foot issue. He will now be prepared for a winter in Dubai.”

The three-year-old Practical Move, another leading fancy for the race, died of a suspected heart attack on Tuesday when returning from exercise on the Santa Anita track.

John Gosden was pleased to be able to get Inspiral and Mostahdaf out on to the Santa Anita track on Tuesday.

Two of the best turf horses in Europe will represent Gosden and his son Thady in the Filly & Mare Turf and the 12-furlong Turf respectively.

Inspiral has won her last two outings in Group One company, while Mostahdaf has been rerouted after the ground turned testing at Ascot on Champions Day.

His victories in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes and Juddmonte International were unquestionably two of the best displays of the season by any horse.

“The horses have been in a dark room with no natural light since they arrived and both Inspiral and Mostahdaf were very pleased to be out,” said Gosden.

“Mostahdaf fancied his pony and thought it was good fun, he will love being a stallion next year.

“He has a good turn of foot and is a good-looking son of Frankel.”

Mostahdaf will be reunited with Jim Crowley due to his retainer with owners Shadwell but Frankie Dettori stepped in for him at York while he was banned. Dettori will be on Inspiral, however.

The Italian recently announced his career will be extending much longer than first anticipated but Gosden is fully behind the switch in plans and raised the idea of the pair teaming up at the Dubai Carnival.

“Frankie learned a lot from the US jockeys in the 1980s when he was here for two or three winters. He was very keen and hungry to learn,” said Gosden.

“I think he’s doing it exactly right. He can ride here four days a week but he will ride for me again, for sure. In fact, I’m getting Lord North ready for Dubai, where he has won three Dubai Turfs. Why not a fourth?”

Ante-post favourite Arcangelo will miss Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic after suffering a setback.

Jena Antonucci’s charge landed the Belmont Stakes in June before doubling his Grade One tally in the Travers at Saratoga two months later.

He has since been kept fresh or this weekend’s showpiece event in California, with connections having hoped he would emulate his sire, Arrogate, who won the Classic in 2016.

However, Arcangelo pulled off a shoe a few days ago and while Antonucci had initially hoped he would recover in time, she has now made the difficult decision to withdraw her stable star.

She told TVG: “He’s honestly doing great, he’s bouncing and thriving and happy in his stall.

“Like we’ve talked about all week, the left-hind shoe he pulled off, he’s not fully resolving and we’re running out of time.

“As we’ve talked about from day one, it will be always be horse first no matter what. Sure, there’s big racing coming up, but spreadsheets and timeframes they don’t really care about.

“We have so many amazing options here for being able to diagnose and figure things out. We’re going to take advantage of that and to be able to do so, we’ve run out of time because obviously you have to sedate horses and do those kind of things.

“We need to do right by him and missing a race is what it’s going to be this time.”

Antonucci added: “It’s not about me, I’ve said that from day one. I’m not going to get emotional, it’s about him and it’s his journey.

“He’s tearing the barn down right now, but I’m not comfortable and if I’m not comfortable then it’s a ‘no’.”

The Classic field had already had two significant withdrawals over the weekend, with Geaux Rocket Ride suffering a serious leg injury while working at Santa Anita on Saturday and Kentucky Derby winner Mage ruled out due to a fever.

Only a late setback will stop Inspiral heading to the Breeders’ Cup as connections are ready to “roll the dice” once again in a bid to end her campaign on a high.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the daughter of Frankel has been a high-class performer since her juvenile days and achieved the enviable feat of Group One victories at two, three and four when defending her Prix Jacques le Marois title in scintillating fashion in the summer.

She backed up that Deauville victory in supreme style when carrying Frankie Dettori to the easiest of victories in Newmarket’s Sun Chariot Stakes and having skipped the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on account of the testing ground at Ascot on British Champions Day, she has now been given the go-ahead for a first taste of action in America.

“It’s all systems go and the plan and we’re all very excited,” said Chris Richardson, managing director of owners Cheveley Park Stud.

“John Gosden seems very happy with her, so at the moment, fingers crossed, if there are no setbacks we’re looking forward to next weekend.

“She couldn’t have done it more easily at Newmarket (last time) and stamped her authority and John is very happy with where she is, so we may as well roll the dice again.”

Inspiral will be racing beyond a mile for the first time in her career when she lines up in the Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

However, buoyed by her going-away Sun Chariot success on the Rowley Mile, connections feel Santa Anita is the perfect spot to test the filly’s stamina reserves.

Richardson added: “The way she finished at Newmarket, she wasn’t stopping and she was well clear in the Sun Chariot.

“I think that gave us reason to think the slightly further trip on that sharper track at Santa Anita would suit her perhaps.

“It’s unknown territory, but depending on the run of the race, we think she will see it out.

“It will give us a few more options for, all being well, if she stays in training if she does stay a bit further.”

A shot at Queen Elizabeth II Stakes retribution or a trip to the Breeders’ Cup are the options for Inspiral having handled the weight of expectation in supreme style in the Virgin Bet Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained four-year-old has always been one of the leading fillies of her generation and arrived at the Rowley Mile at the peak of her powers having dazzled at Deauville in the Prix Jacques le Marois.

Not only was she bidding for a fifth victory at the highest level, but she was also tasked with carrying her regular big-race partner Frankie Dettori to his 500th career victory in the town both Inspiral and her pilot call home.

However, any nerves her Clarehaven training team may have had were soon dispelled as the Cheveley Park Stud standard-bearer delivered a devastating display to turn the Group One feature into a procession.

John Gosden said: “She was in top form today. The ground was quick, and she runs on anything bar the heavy of Goodwood.

“She showed a lot of class today, there is no doubt about it. She travelled well and there was a good pace. Andre Fabre’s dual Group One winner from Deauville (Mqse De Sevigne) was second so it is solid form.

“We missed the Lockinge as she had a muscle spasm problem so by the time we got to Royal Ascot (Queen Anne Stakes) she was only about 80 per cent fit.

“She was only beaten a neck that day and she got a touch tired in the last half a furlong, but she has been faultless since. She had an elaborate piece of work in the Sussex Stakes, but we were clear if she didn’t handle the ground wrap up on her and head to Deauville.

“There was a lot more pressure on today as she is a very good filly, and the ground is quicker than we would expect to find here in the autumn. It is real fast summer ground, but she has run absolutely superbly and I couldn’t be more pleased.”

Attentions now turn to the future with Gosden keen to take stock before nailing his colours to any particular mast.

Possible assignments on Inspiral’s radar include the opportunity to make amends for last year’s British Champions Day disappointment at Ascot in the QEII, a race that takes place on Dettori’s final day in the saddle in Britain.

A visit Stateside for the Breeders’ Cup Mile was also mooted as an option, but the final call will rest with Cheveley Park’s Patricia Thompson.

“Plans, we will see,” continued Gosden. “She is in the QEII and she could be entered at the Breeders’ Cup, but we won’t make a decision for at least a week or two.”

“I always want to see how they are two or three days after the race before making any grandiose plans, let alone plans.

“They would be the two options if she is in good nick. One lady will decide, if she races on, and that is Mrs Thompson. That was only her fourth run this year and she is weighing the heaviest she has ever weighed.”

Auguste Rodin is likely to head straight for the Breeders’ Cup after his impressive return to form in the Irish Champion Stakes.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt put a disappointing King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes run behind him when sent off the 11-4 favourite at Leopardstown under Ryan Moore last Saturday.

The English and Irish Derby winner showed his ability in a quality field to come home half a length ahead of stablemate Luxembourg.

The Breeders’ Cup now beckons at Santa Anita in early November, with the Deep Impact colt likely to set sail for America without another run.

“He’s very good. I was speaking to the boss on the way up and it’s very possible he’ll go straight to America,” O’Brien said.

“He came out of it great and I couldn’t have been happier with him.

“He loves pace and follows pace very easy. When he gets there he doesn’t do much, but that’s the way he’s always been.

“All he wants is a good pace on in front of him and in America you usually get that on fast ground.”

O’Brien was also pleased to see Kyprios return to action on Sunday at the Curragh, where the chestnut returned from nearly a year off the track to finish second in the Irish St Leger.

It was a heartening effort after such a long absence and Champions Day at Ascot in late October is now under consideration for the top-class stayer.

“He came out of the race very good and I’m very happy with him, I’m delighted with him really,” added O’Brien.

“He came out of it brilliant and he’s nearly moving better now than he was before the race, even though we were very happy with his action. He’s definitely gone the right way.

“You’d probably think about Ascot now because you’d give him time to go back, Arc weekend may be too quick.

“At least he could be there now for next year, which is great.”

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