Aidan O’Brien Plans Mid-Season Break for Los Angeles Ahead of Arc

Aidan O’Brien, renowned horse racing trainer and multiple Classic winner, has announced a strategic mid-season break for his promising middle-distance horse, Los Angeles, as he prepares for an ambitious bid at the prestigious Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in the autumn. Following a disappointing fifth-place finish in the 10-furlong Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 21, where he was the top favorite, O’Brien is looking to revitalize Los Angeles’s performance ahead of future races.

Los Angeles, the previous year’s Irish Derby champion, entered the Royal Ascot meeting with an undefeated streak in two earlier races this season. He was favored to perform well after a commendable victory in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in May 2025. However, he finished a significant seven lengths behind the winner, Ombudsman, prompting O’Brien to reconsider the horse’s race strategy. “He’s going to have a little break now and he’ll come back for an Arc prep and then go to the Arc,” O’Brien stated, emphasizing that the 10-furlong distance was not ideally suited for Los Angeles, who has historically excelled at a mile and a half.

O’Brien further noted, “The 10 furlongs was always going to be a bit tight for him and he’s always been a mile-and-a-half horse. He stayed at 10 as it suited us to stick there for now.” The trainer anticipates that a race such as the Royal Whip at the Curragh on August 16 could serve as a preparatory event leading to the Arc.

In addition to Los Angeles, other notable horses in O’Brien’s training stable are also undergoing strategic adjustments following recent races. For instance, Cercene, who triumphed in the Coronation Stakes, may face a step up in distance as connections consider entering her in the Juddmonte Irish Oaks next month. Joe Murphy, assistant trainer for Cercene, remarked that the filly’s previous races have not aligned with her racing style, suggesting an Irish Oaks entry could be beneficial despite uncertainties regarding her ability to handle longer distances.

Meanwhile, Ruling Court, another horse trained by Charlie Appleby, is also expected to transition to longer distances following a lackluster performance at Royal Ascot. The 2,000 Guineas winner was initially earmarked for a Derby entry but was withdrawn on the day of the race. Appleby indicated that they are contemplating both the Coral-Eclipse and the Grand Prix de Paris as potential next steps, noting, “We’ll see where respective winners from the whole meeting go in respects to where we may head.”

With the Royal Ascot meeting having concluded, the focus for many trainers is shifting towards future races that can set the stage for key autumn competitions, including the Arc, which is slated for October 1, 2025. As trainers like O’Brien and Appleby recalibrate their strategies, the outcomes of these preparations will be critical not only for their horses but also for their reputations in the competitive world of horse racing.

Los Angeles's journey to the Arc will be closely monitored by fans and analysts alike, as his performance in preparation races will be indicative of his readiness to compete at the highest levels of horse racing once again. The horse racing community anticipates whether the mid-season break will reinvigorate Los Angeles and enable him to reclaim the form that once made him a standout competitor on the track.