AIDAN O’Brien is readying his galaxy of stars for some of the world’s biggest fixtures this autumn, with the record-breaking trainer expressing his satisfaction with Auguste Rodin ahead of his tilt at next month’s $4 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita.

The Ballydoyle team have already racked up 15 Group 1 or Grade 1 winners globally this year, and O’Brien this week spoke to The Irish Field on running plans for his ‘A’ listers as they gear up for a massive period of international flat racing.

Despite a potential issue with flying being mooted, the legendary trainer revealed that Auguste Rodin will not travel to the US any earlier than the rest of the stable’s Breeders’ Cup team, with connections hoping he will be comfortable arriving in California on the week of what could be his final start.

The Coolmore blue-blood’s two disappointing defeats in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and King George at Ascot came when travelling by air, whereas he journeyed to Britain via boat when winning the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster and Derby at Epsom.

O’Brien told The Irish Field: “The Breeders’ Cup is the plan for Auguste Rodin, we’re happy with him. I think we’re looking at travelling him over there at the usual time we go over with our horses to America. They tend to have a few days over there that week after they arrive anyway.

“We’re also looking at running Bolshoi Ballet in the Breeders’ Cup Turf too after his win over there a few weeks ago [in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Stakes at Saratoga].”

On whether this would be 5/2 favourite Auguste Rodin’s final start, O’Brien added: “We always decide on things race-by-race, really. It’s very possible this could be but I’m not sure at the moment.”

Paddington plans

O’Brien’s other outstanding three-year-old colt of the season, Paddington, is said to be firmly on track for a scintillating clash with Dermot Weld-trained superstar Tahiyra in the Qipco-backed Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on British Champions Day at Ascot (October 21st).

The Siyouni colt had been on a sensational roll, winning seven starts on the trot, prior to a third-placed effort behind Mostahdaf and Nashwa in the Juddmonte International at York over an extended 10 furlongs.

Bookmakers make Paddington the 15/8 favourite as he reverts to a mile and looks set to lock horns with Tahiyra (11/4) for the first time.

O’Brien said of the clash: “We always say that the more competitive the races are, the better it is for everyone so we’re looking forward to it.

“This race is the plan with Paddington. We know he’s very comfortable at a mile.”

Irish Champions Festival scorer Adelaide River will not be joining Paddington at Ascot this month, as connections work back from a campaign next year, but Kyprios remains set for a crack at the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup on the same card - out to deny Trueshan a fourth consecutive win in the race.

Kyprios aim

It was Kyprios’ first start since a serious injury when runner-up to Eldar Eldarov in a four-runner edition of the Irish St Leger last month, and he is the general 6/4 favourite to lower the colours of last weekend’s Prix du Cadran hero (5/2).

“We were delighted with how Kyprios came out of his first run back at the Curragh,” said O’Brien.

“We felt it was a very good run from him, given where he has come from this year. The plan has been to go to Ascot and to step him back up to two miles. It’s possible that Emily Dickinson will join him in the same race.”

On his Qipco Champion Stakes team, O’Brien added: “Luxembourg would look the main one for us at the moment. He’s a very consistent horse and ran another good race [when second to Auguste Rodin] in the Irish Champion.

“Continuous has an entry in the race and we’ll see how he is. Like all the others, he’ll have entries in the other big races over a mile and a half for the rest of the year too. We want to give him a bit more time before deciding on where we go next. We were very happy with his Arc run [when fifth]; they probably just went a bit slow but he finished off well.”

International sale

Broadhurst, a dramatic, fast-finishing premier handicap winner at the Irish Champions Festival, is currently among the leading fancies for the Balmoral Handicap on the same card at Ascot, but O’Brien revealed he will not be lining up after being sold to connections in Hong Kong.

One filly set to notch up more air miles this autumn is Warm Heart, who added to her Ribblesdale Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks heroics when winning the Prix Vermeille at ParisLongchamp last month.

O’Brien said: “Warm Heart will head to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf, all being well. Everything seems to be well with her. It’s been a really good season with her so far.”

The Ballydoyle team’s excellent crop of two-year-olds has been a standout feature of the 2023 campaign so far, and there could yet be more Group 1 riches to come before the year is out.

O’Brien said: “The plan at the moment is for City Of Troy to head to the Dewhurst at Newmarket [on October 14th], and we’re looking at the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster [on October 28th] with Diego Velazquez.

“It’s possible that we might leave it at that with Henry Longfellow for the year [after his win in the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes]. Opera Singer won’t be going for the Fillies’ Mile [on October 13th] but it’s very possible she could go to America for the Breeders’ Cup. We’ll see how she is over the next while.”