Benvenuto Cellini wins Breeders' Cup Turf as O'Brien matches top-level record

Benvenuto Cellini won the $5m Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland on Saturday, delivering a late victory under Ryan Moore and bringing Aidan O'Brien level with his own annual record of 28 Group One or Grade One wins. The Guardian reported that the colt prevailed by three-quarters of a length, with Map Of Stars second and stablemate Diamond Necklace third in a field of 14.

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Moore had initially been expected to partner Diamond Necklace but changed mounts after Benvenuto Cellini received an inside draw. Diamond Necklace was drawn in stall 12. That decision left Moore aboard the eventual winner, who started as the 3-1 favourite on the local tote despite having been behind his stablemate in the betting earlier in the build-up.

The race required Moore to wait for an opening. Benvenuto Cellini was positioned on the inside rail behind runners approaching the finish, before his jockey moved him out to challenge. Once clear, the colt accelerated past his rivals and took the lead well inside the final furlong. Map Of Stars also finished strongly from the rear, while Tiffany took fourth behind Diamond Necklace.

O'Brien credited Moore's patience and execution after the race, according to The Guardian. The trainer said his jockey had allowed the race to develop before committing to his decisive move. The success matched the total of top-level victories O'Brien achieved in 2017, with the international meeting in Hong Kong in December offering a further opportunity to surpass that figure.

Benvenuto Cellini could be part of that Hong Kong campaign, although a run there remains only a possibility. He is set to stay in training as a four-year-old next season. The Turf result therefore delivered both an immediate milestone for his trainer and a major victory ahead of another season on the track.

The win was the only success for a European stable on Saturday's Breeders' Cup card. Earlier, Notable Speech had finished second to Deterministic in the Mile, while Blue Bolt and Precise were unplaced behind Kathynmarissa in the Filly & Mare Turf. Benvenuto Cellini's victory finally put a European-trained runner on the day's winners' list, in its most valuable turf contest.