THE two most powerful stables in Ryedale are to be represented in the world-famous Breeders’ Cup Series in Keeneland this weekend.

Birchwood, trained by Richard Fahey, has made the trip to the USA to contest the $1million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Friday, while Mondialiste, trained by David O’Meara, will be in action on Saturday in the $2m Breeders’ Cup Mile.

Mondialiste has been accompanied across the Atlantic by Fearghal Davies, a former jump jockey attached to the O’Meara yard, who was also with him when the five-year-old memorably won the Grade 1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile in Canada last month.

That thrilling success, in which he came from last to first under Fergal Lynch to win by a half a length and claim a purse of more than £330,000, earned his win-and-you’re-in ticket to the prestigious Breeders’ Cup Mile.

“He performed well when we took him to Canada,” says O’Meara, who is hoping for more of the same in Keeneland from Mondialiste, a French recruit to the Nawton yard this season, who finished second to Gabrial in the Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster’s opening meeting, and who has made significant strides since.

His latest victory came hot on the heels of a wide-margin Listed success at Pontefract and a gutsy Group 3 in the Strensall Stakes at York’s Ebor Festival in August.

“Last year’s Woodbine Mile winner Trade Storm went on to finish third in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, so it looks a reasonable ‘trial’,” said O’Meara.

Danny Tudhope is set to be reunited with Mondialste at Keeneland for his first-ever Breeders’ Cup mount.

James Doyle will be aboard Birchwood, bought in mid-season by Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation, and a horse the jockey has come to know pretty well.

Doyle was aboard him for his retaining owners when Birchwood won the Group 1 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket’s July Festival and also when he finished third to the brilliant Air Force Blue in the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh last month.

Sandwiched between those two races, William Buick rode Birchwood into fifth place in the Group 2 Vintage Stake at Goodwood, beaten by only two lengths and looking most unlucky after being squeezed out as the race hotted up inside the final quarter-mile.

Fahey has been pleased with the two-year-old’s preparation and reports that he has settled in well since flying out last weekend, accompanied by Alyson Deniel, and with no less a travelling companion that Derby, Dante, Eclipe and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Golden Horn.

“Godolphin are a very professional team with bags of experience of competing on the international stage and they have made my life very easy in organising this trip,” said Fahey.

“Birchwood is a very good, strong colt. There has to be a question mark about whether he’ll stay the trip of a mile, stepping up for the first time, but around two turns, he’d have every chance of doing so. He’s in very good form.”

It’s exciting stuff, and a real feather in the cap of Ryedale racing to have not one but two runners at such a hugely prestigious international meeting.