Benvenuto Cellini roars back to form to win Breeders' Cup Turf

Frankel colt  Benvenuto Cellini produced a devastating turn of foot to land the Gr.1 Breeders’ Cup Turf and claim the near £2 million prize on Saturday at Keeneland.

Taken from www.racingpost.com, 31st October 2026, by Oliver Barnard:

Ryan Moore opted to ride Benvenuto Cellini rather than Diamond Necklace and, regardless of whether weight influenced that decision, he made the right choice as another masterclass in the saddle delivered victory for the colt.

Benvenuto Cellini was slowly away and raced towards the rear before Moore patiently weaved his way through the field in the straight. As a gap appeared, the jockey unleashed his mount, who quickened impressively to take the lead and pull clear of Map Of Stars, with Diamond Necklace third. It marked a notable return to form for Benvenuto Cellini, who had been as big as 7-1 earlier in the week before being sent off the 3-1 favourite.

“Ryan gave him a brilliant ride,” said O’Brien. “We always felt he was a horse for this race, and they went a good gallop, which really suited him. We felt he was very unlucky in the Arc, a lot more unlucky than anyone thought. He was beaten a couple of lengths by the filly [Diamond Necklace] and we thought with a clear run he would have made that up.”

It was a fitting victory for Benvenuto Cellini, whose part-owner Peter Brant bred the colt out of Newspaperofrecord, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in 2018. Brant said: “It's absolutely fantastic. It's such an honour to win this race, a mile and a half on the turf, the Breeders' Cup. Such an important race. I'm lost for words. I just am so proud. I bred this horse with Coolmore, and we have such great partners here.”