Horse Profile: Aomori City

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Scouting Report

(Editor's note: Originally published in the 2024 BRISnet Breeders' Cup International Report)

Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby, who has won this race three times, is hard pressed to split Aomori City and Al Qudra. My hunch is that Aomori City may have more upside. Although he comes off a lackluster fourth in the Vincent O’Brien National (G1), he has the right profile to put his best foot forward at Del Mar. Jockey William Buick apparently thinks so too, since he’s opted for him over Al Qudra.

Aomori City was bred in France by Haras de Saint Pair and Ecurie Peregrine (Elisabeth Fabre’s entity that also bred rival Zulu Kingdom). The son of Oasis Dream and a Shamardal mare sold for about $283,000 as an Arqana August yearling. 

Appleby unveiled him in the same Nottingham novice that he used to launch future sprint star Blue Point. Aomori City’s reputation preceded him as he went off as the odds-on favorite. Traveling well in a prominent spot, he struck the front, then had to respond to a challenge, but appeared in snug control by a half-length. Runner-up Intrusively later finished third in the Richmond (G2), albeit in a renewal that hasn’t stood up so well over time. 

Aomori City jumped straight into Group company in the July (G2) at Newmarket, where he settled for third behind Whistlejacket (Juvenile Turf Sprint). In position but outpaced, Aomori City ran as if he already wanted more than six furlongs. 

Duly stepping up to seven in the Vintage (G2) at Glorious Goodwood, Aomori City got a world of education en route to his convincing win. The favorite was in tight on the rail, where he appeared to be jostled, and he then had to maneuver to overcome traffic in the stretch. But Aomori City rose to the occasion to storm to the front.

Runner-up Wolf of Badenoch has since let the form down, but third-placer Cool Hoof Luke reverted in trip to win a good Gimcrack (G2), and sixth Electrolyte likewise rebounded back in trip in the Prix Eclipse (G3). The sense is that Aomori City is better than the bare form implies, considering what he overcame and how handily he won. 

Appleby was already describing how the eventful passage would benefit him in the Breeders’ Cup, revealing that Del Mar was in the possible plans even at that stage. Not in the plan yet was a swing at the Vincent O‘Brien National, and Aomori City ended up being supplemented for the Curragh feature.

Perhaps that change-up puts his fourth-place effort (see Henri Matisse and Seagulls Eleven) in a different light. Coming under pressure earlier than he had in the Vintage from his stalking position, Aomori City didn’t find as much as hoped. 

But if you take his Vintage as a better indicator of his prospects around Del Mar – another sharp track that puts a premium on agility and speed – Aomori City rates a major player.