| Age | Starts | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Earnings | |
| 3 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | $2,326,504 |
|
| 4 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 0 | $4,116,100 |
|
At 3: 1– Budweiser Irish Derby (G1), Bailey's Irish Champion S. (G1), Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial S. (G2), 3– Vodafone Epsom Derby (G1)
At 4: 1– Prix Ganay (G1), Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere (G1), Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion S. (G1), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. (G1), Ascon Rohcon Alleged S., 2– Prince of Wales's S. (G1), Tattersalls Gold Cup (G1), Juddmonte International S. (G1)
Won Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere (Fr-G1) on Oct. 7 at Longchamp
Last year, after winning the Bailey's Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-G1) at Leopardstown by a neck over Ouija Board (GB), Dylan Thomas (Ire) came to the United States for his first try on dirt in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). It was, as trainer Aidan O'Brien confirmed, a prep for the Breeder's Cup Classic (G1).
After Dylan Thomas finished 32 1/4-lengths back of winner Bernardini in the Gold Cup, the Danehill colt was promptly shipped back to Ireland.
"Dylan Thomas didn't run his race in America last weekend on the dirt and may also be feeling the effects of a long season, so we've also decided to leave him at home," O'Brien said a few days after the Gold Cup.
This year again finds Dylan Thomas in the winner's circle at Leopardstown after a powerful move to win the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-G1) by 1 1/2-lengths.
"I have to say he's the best horse I've ever ridden,” jockey Kieren Fallon said. “He didn't have his ground [when second in the Juddmonte International Stakes (Eng-G1) on August 21] at York last time but he had it this time and showed how good he is.
"I thought it looked a very good race with a dual Guineas winner [Finsceal Beo] and a Breeders' Cup [Turf (G1)] winner [Red Rocks (Ire)] in there. He was pricking his ears at the line."
O'Brien is enjoying a fantastic season in Great Britain, France, and Ireland, and the trainer stressed the importance of the Irish Champion Stakes.
“It is often fast ground over a mile-and-a-quarter, and I would say it is probably the most important race for stallions in Europe,” O’Brien said. “We always thought he wants fast ground and a solid run race, and when he gets that he is nearly unbeatable.”
While the Irish Champion is certainly an important race, one of the world's most prestigious events is the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere (Fr-G1) at Longchamp, and Dylan Thomas firmly established his reputation as one of Europe's top turf performers with his Arc triumph on October 7.
O'Brien had been considering the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf prior to the Irish Champion, and the Arc victory solidified his plans.
"He is one of those really good Danehills, and we will now prepare him for the Breeders' Cup Turf race," O'Brien said after the Arc. "As Danehill is no longer around, it would be no surprise if Dylan Thomas was retired to stud next year."