Dylan Thomas Out of Breeders' Cup; Ouija Board to Skip Champion Stakes

Ballydoyle-trained stars Dylan Thomas and Alexandrova will not compete in the Breeders' Cup World Championships, trainer Aidan O'Brien told the Racing Post Oct. 12. In another development, Ouija Board will pass the Champion Stakes (Eng-I) Oct. 14 and point for the Emirates Airline Breeders'Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT).

"Dylan Thomas didn't run his race in America last weekend on the dirt and may also be feeling the effects of a long season, so we've also decided to leave him at home," O'Brien said. "Alexandrova might also have been feeling the effects of a long season, so we're going to leave her alone for this season, and she won't be traveling to America. We're hopefully going to look forward to next year with her."
The decision to skip the Champion Stakes with Ouija Board was due to the bad weather in England.

"It's rained this morning and there's more rain forecast, and for that reason we're going to wait for America," trainer Ed Dunlop told the Racing Post.

"It's a shame we won't be going to the Champion. We would have loved to have run her one more time in Britain but we have to think of what's best for the mare. She'll now go straight to the Breeders Cup and Frankie Dettori will more than likely ride her if he's available.'