International Horse Profile: Brussels

Scouting Report for Brussels

Brussels is still looking for a stakes breakthrough, unlike his Ballydoyle stablemates, but he might prove well suited to the conditions in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. By the much-mourned Wootton Bassett, he’s out of the Shamardal mare Fond Words, who scored her stakes win sprinting over Chantilly’s Polytrack in the Prix Ronde de Nuit. 

Campaigned over further until his most recent start, Brussels was routinely described as babyish in his earlier races. His immaturity, combined with possibly not focusing on the right trip soon enough, implies that he's better than the bare record. 

Brussels won first time out, typically an auspicious sign for a Ballydoyle youngster. Debuting in the six-furlong maiden on Irish 2000 Guineas Day – the same maiden won by O’Brien’s Juvenile Turf winners Unquestionable (2023) and Henri Matisse (2024) – he tracked pacesetting stablemate Kansas and easily bested him. Kansas would eventually place in a couple of stakes, notably the Flying Childers (G2), and the third-placer in the maiden, Learntodiscover, would also finish third in the Round Tower (G3) (to Mission Central). 

Not savvy enough for Royal Ascot, Brussels awaited the July (G2) at Newmarket. He argued a strong pace that set it up for the closers, chief among them Zavateri, the future Vintage (G2) and Vincent O’Brien National (G1) hero. Brussels fared far better than his early sparring partner (who was a tailed-off last) by hanging on for fourth, just missing third on the head-bob. 

O’Brien stretched Brussels out in the 7 1/2-furlong Churchill S. around a left-hand turn at Tipperary, where he was overturned at odds-on. Stalking the pace before striking the front down the lane, he shortened his stride in the final furlong and got mowed down by Thesecretadversary. That gives Brussels collateral form with the Juvenile Turf, since Thesecretadversary was later a belated fifth to Argos in the Summer (G1) at Woodbine. 

Brussels shortened up to 6 1/2 furlongs for the lucrative Weatherbys race at Doncaster, and again he ran a useful race in defeat as the favorite. Toting 130 pounds, he displayed his typically effortless ability to track the pace and loom boldly. But just when it appeared as though he were going to assert, he hit the wall and wound up fourth. Brussels was conceding 15 pounds to the winner, Calendar Girl, who came right back to take the Oh So Sharp (G 3) at Newmarket. 

Brussels trimmed to six furlongs in the Middle Park (G1) and flirted with pulling a 9-1 upset before deferring in second. Held up slightly off the fast tempo, he was traveling better than anyone when gliding to the fore, then got outstayed late. The winner, Godolphin favorite Wise Approach, had been chasing Ballydoyle celebrities Charles Darwin and Gstaad. 

Turning right around for the five-furlong Cornwallis (G3) at Newmarket, Brussels missed by a nose in juvenile course-record time. He readily stalked the Flying Childers heroine, Revival Power, and came around her to make his move. But Godolphin’s 16-1 shot Beckford’s Folly was also rallying on the other side, and he nipped the 9-5 Brussels in :57.51. Aspect Island was a close third, with Revival Power back in fifth. 

My suspicion is that the rising ground may have been just enough to cost Brussels in the tight photo. If five furlongs on a flat track is what he really wants, he’s got it. Now he needs to develop a killer instinct and not get buried from post 1.