Minnie Hauk won the Yorkshire Oaks at York. (Breandán Ó hUallacháin Photo)
Frankel filly goes against the boys in the Turf
Breeders’ Cup Closer Look
Aidan O’Brien seeks a record-extending eighth victory in the $5 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) on Saturday with Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s superstar 3-year-old filly, Minnie Hauk (IRE), an eye-catching daughter of Frankel named for the famed mezzo-soprano opera singer of the same moniker.
Belting it out this year, the emblazoned bay reeled off consecutive wins in the Cheshire Oaks (Listed), Epsom Oaks (G1) and Irish Oaks (G1) against sophomore fillies before smashing the Yorkshire Oaks (G1) against older fillies. Sent off as the 5-2 favorite in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1), she took the lead turning for home and was caught in the final strides by The Aga Khan’s Daryz (FR)—her first run against open company She seeks to earn back the spotlight when she breaks from post 8 of 14 as the 8-5 morning-line favorite under Christophe Soumillon.
“She did everything right in the Arc,” O’Brien said. “She has a little habit all the time, she used to wait a little bit and when she would go there, she wouldn’t win by very far. We didn’t know how good she was until she stepped up into an older race and that’s what she did. Obviously, Christophe said that Mickael (Barzalona, aboard Daryz) tracked him all the way and just literally just got him on the line. Mickael gave an incredible ride and Christophe gave an unbelievable ride and that’s just the way it is. She wasn’t supposed to win the Arc this year and that’s just the way it was.
“She came out of the Arc very well, so everyone seems very happy with her since,” O’Brien continued. “It was always a possibility that she would come here because she loves fast ground, she’s quick, she stays and she’s tactical, so the lads agreed to let her come. I’m looking forward to it. For us to have her here and to wait and see what she’s going to do. It’s great expectations and it’s something really to look forward to.”
Sold for $1,955,860 at the 2023 Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, Minnie Hauk is a half-sister to the talented Juddmonte color-bearer Tilsit, with dam Multilingual being a half-sister to star sire Kingman. Delivering on the racecourse in direct proportion to her pedigree promise, she looks to become the second sophomore filly to take the Turf for her connections following Found (IRE) in 2015.
Star filly MINNIE HAUK is the 8/5 morning line favorite for the @Longines #BreedersCup Turf! pic.twitter.com/QyfSyvylUB
— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) October 30, 2025
Soumillon rides her for the second time on Saturday, surely looking for a bit of redemption.
“Christophe has always ridden for us for a long time when he became free,” O’Brien explained. “He’s a brilliant rider and unbelievably talented, as well as a great judge of pace and great judge of a horse. He has a lot of finesse and is very charismatic. Truly a great rider. When he goes out there and rides those races, he wants to win. She usually breaks well and Christophe will decide what to do with her.”
Minnie Hauk enters the Turf rated 123—1 pound higher than chief rival Rebel’s Romance and 5 pounds better than Found was coming into the same race. Found entered the Turf off a second in the Champion Stakes (G1).
“She has looked well and happy since arriving and everyone seems happy with her, which is important,” O’Brien concluded. “She is similar to Found, yes, in that she’s a very good filly, obviously, and just beaten on the square in her race before.”
