The O’Brien family celebrated a remarkable start to the 2025 Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, securing two wins on the opening day. Aidan O’Brien took sole control of the record for Breeders’ Cup victories at the meeting with 21 following Gstaad’s easy triumph in the Juvenile Turf. Earlier in the day, his son Donnacha O’Brien earned his first Breeders’ Cup win with Balantina in the Juvenile Fillies Turf. Christophe Soumillon rode Gstaad from a challenging stall 14 position and positioned the 6-5 favourite three wide early in the race. The horse steadily advanced down the outside and surged ahead at the top of the stretch for a comfortable win. The victory gave Aidan O’Brien one more than American legend D. Wayne Lukas, who has 20 Breeders’ Cup wins. Several European contenders withdrew before Friday’s card. Aidan O’Brien’s Precise, the favourite for the Juvenile Fillies Turf, and Military Code, a leading pick for the Juvenile Turf Sprint, were both ruled out. In Precise’s absence, Donnacha O’Brien enjoyed his breakthrough as Oisin Murphy guided Balantina through a tight pack on the home turn to secure a strong win. Balantina marked only Murphy’s second Breeders’ Cup win. Murphy, who faced a turbulent year including a car crash and drink-driving conviction, has also emerged as Britain’s champion jockey for a fifth time. He praised Balantina’s adaptability and athleticism, saying she handled the track as if it were made for her. “To be honest, she took to the track very well,” Murphy said. “Donnacha was very upbeat about her morning training. This is my seventh Group One win this year, many on bigger-priced horses.” Donnacha reflected on his childhood memories of the Breeders’ Cup. “We’ve been coming here a long time, since we were babies,” he said. “To watch Dad do it year in and year out, and Joseph getting winners, it’s nice to be on the board myself.” The European team faced disappointment in the opening turf race, the Juvenile Turf Sprint, as Cy Fair broke well from the stalls and held off Aidan O’Brien’s Brussels, who lost several lengths at the start. On the dirt track, Ted Noffey, the odds-on favourite, won the Juvenile by one length, while John Sadler’s Super Corredora claimed the Juvenile Fillies title. The first day of the 2025 Breeders’ Cup showcased European dominance on the turf with the O’Brien family at the centre of the action. Their success highlights Aidan O’Brien’s unparalleled record at the event and signals a promising start for Donnacha’s career in elite racing.