How bad has Aidan O'Brien been in America?

[NTamm1215]

In the wake of the flops by Viscount Nelson and Master of Hounds, I thought it was worth taking a look at how absolutely dreadful Aidan O'Brien has been in America going back to High Chaparral's dead heat in the 2003 Breeders' Cup Turf. During that period O'Brien is 3-67 in the US (4%) with a $0.58 ROI. He is currently winless since 2006 in turf races in the US and winless in dirt races in the US all the way back to Johannesburg's win in the 2001 BC Juvenile. His 3 winners during this stretch were Powerscourt in the 2005 Arlington Million, Aussie Rules in the 2006 Shadwell Turf Mile and Man of Iron in the 2009 BC Marathon.

What's particularly amazing is that his horses keep getting bet relentlessly by the public and it will almost certainly happen in this year's Breeders' Cup.

[randallscott35]

To me he is just generally overrated altogether.

[PatCummings]

Don't forget about the masterful job of having Soldier of Fortune pace press his own rabbit in the 2008 BC Turf.

[randallscott35]

He read his own press clippings.

[jms62]

Originally Posted by PatCummings

Don't forget about the masterful job of having Soldier of Fortune pace press his own rabbit in the 2008 BC Turf.

Couldn't that be more of a case of jockey being a moron?

[Seattleallstar]

The Irish Billionaires/Tabor guys are better leaving their horses here with Simon Callaghan, Drysdale, and Pletcher. At least Arabs in the royal blue colors know well enough to leave their horses with Rick Mettee in New York, and not have them ship all the way back to Europe or Dubai

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Seattleallstar

The Irish Billionaires/Tabor guys are better leaving their horses here with Simon Callaghan, Drysdale, and Pletcher. At least Arabs in the royal blue colors know well enough to leave their horses with Rick Mettee in New York, and not have them ship all the way back to Europe or Dubai

The difference with Coolmore and Godolphin is that outside the BC Classic, Turf, and Mile, you don't really see Coolmore bring out any of their big guns to the States anymore. Certainly horses like Viscount Nelson and Master of Hounds are useless at the top class level over in Europe. Their entrants in the Juvenile Turf races were minor leaguers. Even Powerscourt was a second stringer.

In other instances, some of these shippers seem to be on display for private purchase. O'Brien has won the Canadian International twice in the last decade and both horses (Ballingarry, Joshua Tree) were sold soon after.

O'Brien's record here is atrocious, but it's not completely shocking as it seems like they're throwing crap against the wall intentionally, hoping it will stick.