Thomas Primed For American Dream

Aidan O'Brien believes the 'unique' attributes of Dylan Thomas will stand him in good stead for the Breeders' Cup Turf, despite his gruelling season.

The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner is a red-hot favourite for the mile-and-a-half showdown and is a best-priced 11-8 with totesport but only 4-5 with Coral.

This will be his ninth race of a campaign which has also seen victories in the likes of the King George and the Irish Champion Stakes.

Dylan Thomas was all out to hold off Youmzain at Longchamp less than a fortnight ago, but O'Brien feels it will not have taken too much out of the tank and waxed lyrical about the capabilities of his four-year-old.

'You never know and you are always hopeful, but I think Dylan Thomas is a unique horse who has run almost every month of the season in Group Ones,' he said.

'I think he has won six Group Ones and been second in a few more. He is a special horse with stamina and speed.

'As he is one of the last Danehills, that makes him extra special. He has a super constitution, is very tough and never loses much weight from his races.

'It seems to be that the harder his races, the better he seems to come out of it and he improves all the time.'

Dylan Thomas, along with the Ballydoyle team's other runners, will travel to Monmouth Park on Tuesday and is not likely to exert himself greatly before October 27.

O'Brien continued: 'He hasn't done much since the Arc but the bits that he has done, we've been very happy with. He might have a canter the morning before, that's all.'

The pre-entry field of 12 for the Turf includes two other European raiders, 2006 winner Red Rocks and Champs Elysees from Andre Fabre.

(C) PA Sport