Brussels
Brussels is a horse still finding his way at three years old, though his early promise suggests he has more to offer. The
A P O'Brien yard, which has sent out 125 winners already this season, saddled him for his debut and has kept faith despite a modest recent run. His career record stands at one win from 11 races—that victory came at The Curragh on 24 May 2025, but he has not won since, a drought now stretching 14 months. In his last six races he has picked up three places, finishing second, fourth and sixth, the form of a horse flashing glimpses of ability without quite putting it together.
Based on TrackLab's AI analysis
Owner
Mrs J Magnier,M Tabor,D Smith,Westerberg
📊 Key Numbers
Career statistics for this horse
36.4%
Place rate (top 3)
avg ~30%
🏁 Next Race
Sat 5 Sep
Haydock
About 6 furlongs · Soft, spongy ground · 29 runners
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🔍 Full Analysis
TrackLab's AI-generated assessment based on career data and recent form
Last season, as a two-year-old, Brussels showed real promise in top-class company. He finished second in two of the year's best races for young horses—the Middle Park and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint—which marked him as a serious prospect. This year O'Brien has him aimed at the sprint programme, with the Commonwealth Cup as a target, but the results have not yet followed. In his three attempts at the highest level of racing, Brussels is yet to trouble the judge. O'Brien has noted that he is a big, strong horse who improves with racing and experience, and that he wanted better ground conditions to show his speed properly. The trainer's comments suggest patience: Brussels is still young, still maturing, and the plan appears to be giving him time to develop rather than rushing him. There is enough encouragement here to believe that his single win will not be his last, but for now he remains a work in progress.
⚡ Strengths & Risks
What the data says works for and against this horse
✓ What works in their favour
✔ Excellent record on good ground: 1 wins from 3 starts (33%)
⚠ What to watch out for
⚠ Poor record on good_to_firm ground: 0 wins from 6 starts
🎯 Where This Horse Thrives
Performance broken down by ground, distance, class, and track type
🌧 Ground Conditions
Good to soft (some give)
Unknown
Good to firm (drying out)
Avoids
🏅 Competition Level
Class 2 (high-level)
Unknown
🏟 Track Shape
Right-handed, long straights
Loves
Right-handed, hilly
Unknown
Left-handed, long straights
Avoids
📅 Recent Runs
The last 10 races, most recent first
31 Jul
12th
Goodwood
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Firm · 15 runners
18 Jul
5th
The Curragh
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Firm · 10 runners
19 Jun
19th
Ascot
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Firm · 22 runners
23 May
4th
Haydock Park
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Soft · 8 runners
1 May
6th
Ascot
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Firm · 8 runners
10 Oct
2nd
Newmarket
5f – 6½f · Good · 11 runners
27 Sep
2nd
Newmarket
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Firm · 9 runners
11 Sep
4th
Doncaster
7f – 1m · Good_To_Soft · 22 runners
8 Aug
2nd
Tipperary
7f – 1m · Good · 6 runners
10 Jul
4th
Newmarket
5f – 6½f · Good_To_Firm · 6 runners
🏇 Jockey Partnerships
Every jockey who has ridden this horse, sorted by rides together
🏟 Track Record
Win rate at each course this horse has visited
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|
| Newmarket Galloping |
3 |
2 seconds, 1 other |
10 Oct |
0% |
| The Curragh Galloping |
2 |
1 win, 1 other |
18 Jul |
50% |
| Ascot Galloping |
2 |
2 other |
19 Jun |
0% |
| Haydock Park Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
23 May |
0% |
| Goodwood Undulating |
1 |
1 other |
31 Jul |
0% |
| Tipperary Galloping |
1 |
1 second |
8 Aug |
0% |
| Doncaster Galloping |
1 |
1 other |
11 Sep |
0% |