BREEDERS' CUP WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

November 1, 2024

Colin Keane

Mr. Hulin

Ger Lyons

Del Mar Fairgrounds

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll begin with our first Breeders' Cup of this Breeders' Cup at Del Mar.

We have on the podium jockey Colin Keane. Your second Breeders' Cup win. Just take us through the trip on Magnum Force from start to finish.

COLIN KEANE: Obviously we had a good draw. We were aiming to be forward. There's a lot of pace low and wide for the first furlough and a half, it was a little rough up front. We kind of accepted it and set off a little bit.

My horse, he's a horse with a natural pace. Likes a quick round. And at home he was trained around the bend. That was never an issue. But when we turned in, the pace collapsed. We got room when we needed, and he quickened up smartly.

THE MODERATOR: Seemed like right at the right time it opened up, and you had a decision to go to the rail, or what made that decision?

COLIN KEANE: I wasn't sure at the cut-away which way the horse was going to go. The horse on my outside was after falling away, so I committed to that route, and thankfully it worked.

Q. It's a big weekend for you. Are you flying back to pick up your champion jockey trophy on Sunday? What's your sort of whirlwind next few hours, days, and then going back to the Curragh on Sunday?

COLIN KEANE: Fly home tonight at 7:00. We get in tomorrow evening, and we're in the Curragh then on Sunday morning. We have six races at the Curragh and thankfully being crowned champion jockey again for the season.

THE MODERATOR: Now joining us on the podium, congratulations. You're representing Sheikh.

MR. HULIN: I'm (indiscernible) Hulin. My surnname is Hulin.

THE MODERATOR: The trainer has joined us as well. Ger Lyons, congratulations. Magnum Force. We were talking to Colin, fantastic effort. Ger, starting with you, the ground, so different here, coming from Europe. Take us through why you felt this race would suit Magnum Force.

GER LYONS: It was just a good feeling. When they went by the line in Doncaster, I said them three are going to be knocking heads together for next year or two as top sprinters in Europe.

I said definitely the second is going to go to the Breeders' Cup. Don't know about the winner. But I said if they are going and I don't travel, I'll be sick, because my horse had a late start to the season. He's a proper two-year-old. He's thriving. Great temperament for the job. Wants fast ground. Comes off a fast pace. He's rock-solid made for the race. All we had to find out was he good enough, and we found out.

THE MODERATOR: Certainly did find that out. If you can say, representing Sheikh Abdulla, just what this means to all the team to bring a horse like this over and win a Breeders' Cup race.

MR. HULIN: It's a dream coming true. Thank you so much to Ger, Colin, and the whole team. They did a fantastic job. It's amazing. It's a homebred, the mare was for Sheikh Abdulla, planning, the mating, everything, it was all his brainchild. It's amazing to be able to see horse from start to finish, winning home colors, winning the Breeders' Cup. Thanks so much to Ger the whole team and everybody.

Q. Mr. Keane said that the horse was familiar with turns. Do you have a turning gallop or something around your yard, or do you take him to a race course? What's the deal there?

GER LYONS: My track that I train on at home would be similar to your turf track, except all-weather chippings. A very prominent owner once took horses off me because he said no man can train winners on a circle track like that. So I think we've trained enough winners to prove that he can.

When you're out with me, you're out. No, listen, once you light that man up, the job is easy. I can't tell you all enough, he's the most understated man. He doesn't shout. He's humble. But he's the most underrated champion jockey on Planet Earth. He's come over here. He's won two Breeders' Cups and still nobody knows about him.

A little bit like his trainer in that the two of us like to stay at home on our farm, walk our dogs, mind our own business.

But when he comes out and he gets the right ammunition, he can deliver. He's proven that more than once. I personally would love to see him on the big stage more. Unfortunately, I can't feed him with that ammo to do that.

I did today, but I need the world to wake up to him.

Q. Colin, when Ger is saying that about you, it must be lovely to hear because you earn your compliments with Ger. How did it feel crossing the line? Did it feel like the greatest moment of your life?

COLIN KEANE: Yeah, definitely. I wouldn't be in the position I am without that man, giving us the first job as an apprentice.

A lot of people would say, including myself, thought he was mad. We wouldn't be here without him. So just glad we can repay him.

Q. How many years ago would that have been?

GER LYONS: Ten.

Q. (Question about the Oaks and the Guineas.)

GER LYONS: We were robbed. On my CV, we won the Guineas and the Oaks in the one month in COVID. It's fantastic, I'm down as a Classic winning trainer, the dual Classic-winning trainer. That's fantastic. That's the reason we do the job.

But we won the Oaks and the Guineas standing on our own on the stand with no buzz. I'll take it, don't get me wrong, but then you come here and you get that. That's what's sportsmen want. We work hard. We have more losing days than we have winning days. And just to get that buzz, money can't buy that.

Q. Colin, on that, because you rode him, when Tarnawa won, was there still --

COLIN KEANE: During COVID as well.

Q. What was that whole experience like?

COLIN KEANE: Different level. Different level.

Q. You can remember about Tarnawa, what was --

COLIN KEANE: It was still a brilliant day, but the atmosphere was nothing compared to that today.

THE MODERATOR: What's next for Magnum Force?

GER LYONS: He'll go home. Hopefully we'll get him home safe and sound, we let him down and the sky's the limit next year because it was all about next year. We came here to teach him how to sprint. We have a horse at home called My Mate Alfie.

I said let's teach him how to sprint. He's been phenomenal. You have to learn how to sprint, and this kid is getting better, better, better.

So, fast ground, five furlongs, I don't know where it leads him, but we've won a Breeders' Cup. So I presume we've just semi made a stallion. So we're going to go enjoy him.