Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore record Breeders’ Cup double with Victoria Road and Meditate

Victoria Road snatched success in the final strides of a dramatic Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained colt cut through a busy field in the home straight, surging forward at the same time as Charlie Appleby’s Silver Knott battled out from a boxed-in spot on the inside rail.

Silver Knott appeared to have grabbed the glory as he edged in front once he found space, but Victoria Road was flying down the outside.

The two horses tussled in dying strides of the one-mile race, with the naked eye barely able to pick out Victoria Road and Ryan Moore crossing the line first in the tightest of finishes.

The winner was a 558-100 shot on the US Tote, returning a UK and Ireland industry price of 5-1.

Moore said: “My horse was in a nice spot and then the pace steadied down the back and there was a lot of traffic. There wasn’t much racing room but there was a gap and he got through.

“I thought the other horse was coming to get me, but on the line I thought he had won. The outrider said it was close, but I thought we were the winners.

“He’s a hardy horse who has travelled well.

“He’s out of a very fast mare but will be more of three-year-old than a two-year-old. He has a good mind and a good action and was very comfortable on that tight track.”

O’Brien: “We thought he was precocious but we were disappointed he kept getting beat.

“He’s by Saxon Warrior and at Chantilly he took his time and came from a long way back to win.

“I think he could be a French Derby horse for next season.”

Earlier on the card, Meditate (41-20F US Tote, 15-8F industry price) was a dominant winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf for the O’Brien-Moore axis.

Settled at the rear of the field, she was patiently ridden from a relatively wide draw in stall 10.

After the final bend, Moore asked the filly to go up a gear and she answered readily, sweeping past the leaders to breeze to a facile win.

O’Brien confirmed the 1000 Guineas is uppermost in his mind after the daughter of No Nay Never successfully stepped up to a mile for the first time.

He said: “The last twice she was beaten at the Curragh and Newmarket, she encountered bad ground in Ireland and then I think the other race came a bit quick for her, so there were genuine excuses.

“After that in her training, I gave her every excuse not to come here but she kept passing all the tests.

“We were thinking of bringing a filly called Never Ending Story over for this race but Michael (Tabor, part-owner) felt this was the right race for Meditate.

“Ryan rode her to get the trip and I will now train her for the Guineas. Ryan said he would rider her more patiently which is exactly what he did and she looked very high class.

“She’s by No Nay Never who is a big influence on speed, but with the No Nay Nevers, we were a little bit worried they all might end up being sprinters, while mindful that they could stay further.

“Looking at this filly today, she’s a good mover has a good mind and relaxes very well.”

Pleasant Passage and Cairo Consort filled the minor placings, with the Richard Fahey-trained Midnight Mile coming home fourth.

Mischief Magic (69-10 US Tote, 5-1 industry price) swept in with a late run to land the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by William Buick, Mischief Magic was boxed in on the rail turning for home.

However, the colt was threaded through the leaders to lunge in the final yards.

Showing an impressive turn of foot, the bay streaked past Karl Burke’s Dramatised to prevail in a British one-two, with Private Creed third and the Richard Hannon-trained Persian Force back in fourth.

Buick said: “He really enjoyed coming off the turn, he’s a closer and I expected him to come from off the pace.

“He’s worked into the race and it opened up for us. He was always going to do enough. When I set him alight, he switched his legs and he just flew.

“He’s a very straightforward horse to ride and he was very tough today.”

Mischief Magic was last seen finishing fourth to the now-retired Blackbeard in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket in September and Appleby felt that had been a good prep outing.

The Godolphin trainer said: “Going into the Middle Park, we were always mindful that it was a stepping stone to this race and that he was pitching with the best colts in the UK.

“The plan was for him to sit a bit closer but after missing the break, Will let him find his legs and it was a great ride.

“He’s such a willing horse and it’s also great that he’s a homebred.

“He will have the winter off and with his scope, I can see him developing into a contender for the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.”

Wonder Wheel (13-2 US Tote, 5-1 industry price) was a convincing winner of the NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione for trainer Mark Casse, the two-year-old hugged the rail and rounded the final bend behind the leading duo.

Angled out by her rider on the home straight, the filly then quickened away from her rivals and strode on to an easy victory from Leave No Trace.

Forte (5-1 US Tote, 5-1 industry price) battled to a tough success in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

Ridden by Irad Ortiz jnr, the colt broke well from the stalls and travelled quietly in the first half of the race.

Taking a wide line around the final bend, the bay locked horns with the race leaders, Cave Rock and National Treasure, and ground out an impressive win for trainer Todd Pletcher.