INTERNATIONAL DIARY
OCTOBER 3, 2009
Trainer Aidan O’Brien may be feeling like an Austrian general after the
Battle of Austerlitz. No matter the dispositions of his troops, or the intricate
designs of his tactics as he envisions them on the map, his forces are still
getting smashed to pieces by Napoleon, or in this case, SEA THE STARS
(Cape Cross [Ire]). Like the Corsican luring on the Allies in advance of
Austerlitz, Sea the Stars led us into wondering whether he might be in a
precarious position heading into the September 5 Irish Champion S. (Ire-G1).
After all, had he not just scraped home in the Juddmonte International (Eng-G1)
at York?
Like Napoleon in his finest hour, Sea the Stars sprang the trap to perfection
in the Irish Champion. Far from losing his edge, as his life-and-death Juddmonte
struggle may have implied, the John Oxx colt was in fact brimming with energy as
he posted his most dominating victory of the season.
The indications were plain to see early on at Leopardstown. While Sea the
Stars had been uncharacteristically quiet in the opening stages at York, he was
very much into the bridle right out of the gate in the Irish Champion. After
giving Mick Kinane a well-mannered tug, Sea the Stars settled well off the
taxing pace dictated by the Ballydoyle rabbits.
The O’Brien-trained MASTERCRAFTSMAN (Danehill Dancer) tracked his
pacemakers in third for much of the way, gaining on them as they weakened on the
turn. Meanwhile, his stablemate FAME AND GLORY (Montjeu [Ire]), who had
been reserved much farther back — even behind Sea the Stars — tried to get
first run on his archrival. Under a heady Johnny Murtagh ride, Fame and Glory
launched his move early, passing an on-hold Sea the Stars and advancing to join
Mastercraftsman turning for home.
It would have been a brilliant maneuver, if Fame and Glory had the speed to
open up enough of an advantage, and if Sea the Stars were a bit flat.
Unfortunately for Ballydoyle, neither was true. As Fame and Glory seized command
from Mastercraftsman at the top of the stretch, Sea the Stars was smoothly
cantering up behind him, just waiting for Kinane to turn him loose. Fame and
Glory never really got much of a head start. Judging by the way Sea the Stars
took off on cue, it wouldn’t have mattered even if Fame and Glory had been able
build up a couple of lengths’ separation.
Unlike in the Juddmonte, Sea the Stars’ response was immediate, and Fame and
Glory’s doom was sealed. Rapidly striking the front, Sea the Stars did not
bother to hang around for his opponent, but surged clear and won well in hand by
2 1/2 lengths. Also unlike the Juddmonte, where his ears were pinned for some
time past the wire, here they shot up right away, as if to reinforce how easy a
stroll it had been.
Fame and Glory was made to look like a one-paced, 1 1/2-mile horse in this 1
1/4-mile race. But that was only in comparison to the all-conquering winner, for
Fame and Glory was well clear of the rest. Mastercraftsman, who had forced Sea
the Stars to go all out at York, was another 2 1/2 lengths back in third. The
much greater margin of defeat here was partly attributable to the
heck-bent-for-leather pace, but I’m still convinced that Sea the Stars just
wasn’t himself at York. The real Sea the Stars beat Mastercraftsman pointless in
the Irish Champion.
Other than demolishing any speculation regarding his condition at this point
in an arduous campaign, however, the Irish Champion did not tell us anything
terribly new. Since taking the Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-G1) and Derby (Eng-G1),
Sea the Stars has now won three straight contests in the vicinity of 1 1/4 miles
— the Eclipse S. (Eng-G1), the Juddmonte and now the Irish Champion. Judging by
what we saw of him earlier in the season, he was entitled to win these last two.
Perhaps the one intriguing fact to take away from the Irish Champion is that
Sea the Stars flew on the good-to-yielding ground. As his juvenile races
suggested, he can handle some moisture in the ground — maybe not an inordinate
amount, but some give in the ground clearly didn’t inconvenience him here.
Might we have learned something more about Sea the Stars if he had contested
the September 12 St Leger (Eng-G1), where the elusive English Triple Crown was
his for the taking? I doubt it, considering how the world’s oldest classic
actually shaped up. There were no scintillating performances that would have
tested Sea the Stars, and even if he didn’t truly stay the extended 1 3/4-mile
trip, he would probably have won on class alone — exactly like Nijinsky II, the
last English Triple Crown winner, in 1970. And also like Nijinsky, the effort
would have left its mark.
Turning to those who actually took part in the St Leger, Godolphin’s KITE
WOOD (Galileo [Ire]) had every chance to win, and actually held a narrow
lead in the stretch, but he could not fend off the persistent challenge of his
stablemate MASTERY (Sulamani [Ire]), who proved the stronger of the two
in the waning yards. Godolphin’s second string edged away by three-quarters of a
length.
My knee-jerk reaction was that Mastery may end up rating as the least
consequential St Leger winner since Bollin Eric in 2002, but only time will tell
if that verdict is too harsh. Third-place finisher MONITOR CLOSELY (Oasis
Dream [GB]) had convincingly defeated Mastery in the Great Voltigeur S.
(Eng-G2), and back at 12 furlongs, he’s likely to do so again. Sea the Stars’
stablemate MOURAYAN (Alhaarth) was the victim of a terrible trip in the
St Leger and ultimately checked in fifth. With a trouble-free passage, he would
have finished much closer. It’s a shame that O’Brien’s AGE OF AQUARIUS
(Galileo [Ire]) was ruled out by a setback; I suspect that the race would have
set up well for him, he had beaten Mastery in his prior start, and he has no
shortage of stamina in his pedigree.
Having resisted the antiquarian charms of the St Leger, Sea the Stars is in a
stronger position going into Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1). A
victory would make him a legend, on the order of Dancing Brave (1986) and Mill
Reef (1971). Unlike those all-time greats, however, Sea the Stars has not raced
at 1 1/2 miles since the Derby. He swerved the summer’s most significant
inter-generational clash at that distance, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth
S. (Eng-G1), a prize captured by Mill Reef and Dancing Brave on their march
toward the Arc. While Mill Reef and Dancing Brave had already thrashed elite
older horses at Europe’s classic distance, Sea the Stars arrives at Longchamp to
take an examination that is entirely new to him. Of course, he’s aced all of his
tests this season, even the one he had to work the hardest for, and he is quite
simply the best horse, on merit, in the race.
But before prematurely handing him the trophy, it’s worth considering the
obstacles that could stand in his way. The draw is not one of them, as he has
landed a plum spot in post 6. Two other potential obstacles may have already
been cleared. No deluge of rain is expected, so the ground shouldn’t be a
factor. Moreover, Sea the Stars is reportedly in fine form, so it’s possible
that he’s avoided the dreaded end-of-the-season bounce that has cost others
dearly in this race. One can’t know that with metaphysical certainty, though,
and rival rider Kieren Fallon has ruminated in the Racing Post about the
prospects for such a bounce.
An obvious concern is a crowded, 19-horse field, and indeed, Oxx has admitted
as much. On the other hand, Sea the Stars travels so well, and has so many
gears, that one would expect him to be able to extricate himself from traffic
jams. The best horses tend to make their own luck, and he has an expert guide in
Kinane.
The question of the course and distance may pose a more difficult challenge.
The fact that he coped with 1 1/2 miles at Epsom, which is friendly to horses
with his speed and handiness, does not necessarily mean that he will be equally
suited to a truly-run 1 1/2 miles at Longchamp. For some historical perspective
on the matter, let’s turn to the Arc’s official historian, Arthur Fitzgerald. In
his Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, 1965-1982, Fitzgerald assesses the great
Nijinsky, who suffered his first career loss in the Arc:
“On account of the gradients on the course at Epsom, the Derby can be won by
a high-class colt, who does not really stay a mile and a half, but is in reality
a ten or eleven furlong horse. Sir Ivor was a notable example….It is probable
that Longchamp’s mile and a half course is the stiffest and most searching test
of stamina of any major racecourse in Europe. Therefore the 1970 Prix de l’Arc
de Triomphe, for which he started 5 to 2 on favorite, was likely to provide
Nijinsky with the greatest test he had ever faced. Although ostensibly on paper
and in the great majority of people’s minds, the outcome was a mere formality;
there remains a suspicion that some people’s judgment at that time was
mesmerised by the brilliant and explosive bursts of acceleration that Nijinsky
had shown at Newmarket, Epsom and Ascot” (p. 69).
Of course, Nijinsky was also coming off a grueling victory in the St Leger,
but the larger point remains: Are we being similarly mesmerized by Sea the
Stars’ brilliance? Remember that, even after the Derby, Oxx and Kinane suggested
that 10 furlongs was his ideal trip. Perhaps that factored into Oxx’s decision
to skip the King George, although he emphasizes that his primary reason was just
the spacing between races. Still, it was shrewd to tailor his campaign around
10-furlong races, than risk his still-developing reputation over 12 furlongs in
the King George. Now that he is universally hailed as a great horse, this is the
time to pop the distance question.
Win or lose, Sea the Stars is already in the pantheon. He essentially has two
alternative destinations: either he is classed alongside Nijinsky and Sir Ivor
as brilliant champions who failed to add the Arc to their resume, or he joins
Dancing Brave and Mill Reef. Whatever happens on Sunday, Sea the Stars is in
rare company.
If Sea the Stars puts the seal on his golden season, he would also elevate
his dam’s historic profile. Urban Sea (Miswaki), who captured the 1993 Arc,
would become just the second Arc heroine to produce an Arc winner. The first was
Detroit (Fr) (Riverman), the 1980 Arc winner, who produced 1994 Arc hero
Carnegie (Ire).
(Sunday Note: Thanks to a reader for kindly reminding me of Detroit! I
had overlooked her in the original posting of the diary, and have corrected the
preceding paragraph accordingly.)
To highlight how incredible a breeding accomplishment that is for a mare,
consider that only six Arc-winning males have sired Arc winners. Four Arc
winners have progeny to represent them on Sunday — Fame and Glory, a son of
1999 hero Montjeu (Ire); CONDUIT (Ire), by 2003 Arc star Dalakhani;
YOUMZAIN, a son of Sinndar, who won for Oxx in 2000; and BEHESHTAM,
by 1997 champion Peintre Celebre.
Of Sea the Stars’ rivals in the Arc, Oxx has mentioned Fame and Glory as a
principal danger, and it is easy to see why. The Ballydoyle colt would still be
unbeaten, were it not for his misfortune of being foaled the same year as Sea
the Stars. His only losses were his runner-up efforts in the Derby and Irish
Champion, and in between, he was an impressive winner of the Irish Derby
(Ire-G1), where his high-class stamina was fully revealed. The Arc should play
to his ample strengths, and if his archrival has an Achilles’ heel at Longchamp,
Fame and Glory should be well suited to expose it.
Should Fame and Glory find a way to turn the tables, he would elevate the
historic profile of Montjeu, who would join the legendary *Ribot as the only Arc
winner to sire two Arc winners. Ribot’s pair were Molvedo (1961) and *Prince
Royal II (1964), while Montjeu got off the mark with Hurricane Run (Ire) in
2005.
The four-year-old Conduit, who was well beaten into third in the Eclipse, is
also hoping to reverse form with Sea the Stars in this 12-furlong championship.
The Sir Michael Stoute charge will again concede significant weight to his
younger opponents, spotting eight pounds to a superior horse in Sea the Stars.
But as with Fame and Glory, the Arc will provide the stamina test that he
relishes, and in that respect, it is a much more favorable venue for him than
the Eclipse. Conduit has also been prepared with an autumn campaign in mind, so
he was not near his peak for the Eclipse, but Stoute surely has him primed now.
On the other hand, Conduit must buck two important historical trends if he is
to give Stoute his first Arc trophy. First, Conduit has not raced since his
efficient score in the King George in late July, and that path has not been a
successful one leading to the Arc. Indeed, in the last 40 years, only three
horses who last raced in the King George went on to win the Arc — Mill Reef,
Rainbow Quest (promoted via disqualification in 1985) and Lammtarra (1995). The
statistics overwhelmingly favor horses who have had a prep race nearer to the
Arc.
Still more worrisome for Conduit, only one winner of the English St Leger has
ever won the Arc — *Ballymoss, the 1957 St Leger victor who captured the 1958
Arc. As the hero of the 2008 St Leger, Conduit will have to be at least as good
as Ballymoss to turn the double. I would contend that he’d have to be better
than Ballymoss to defeat this cast, which is exceptional, even by the Arc’s
lofty standards.
The six-year-old Youmzain is taking his third swing at the Arc, having
finished runner-up to Dylan Thomas (Ire) and Zarkava for the past two years. The
Mick Channon trainee also had strong form vis-a-vis Rail Link, the 2006 Arc
winner, so he serves as a useful yardstick for the depth of this year’s field.
Youmzain is a wildcard in that he’s capable of huge efforts on occasion, but he
tends to find trouble. If anyone can conjure the best from him, it’s Fallon, who
is predicting a top performance. Youmzain will add blinkers, and he wouldn’t be
the first horse to turn things around with sharper focus.
Note that Youmzain is coming off a one-paced third to GETAWAY (Monsun)
in the September 6 Grosser Preis von Baden (Ger-G1). Youmzain took the same
route to the 2007 Arc, where he improved dramatically off a fourth at
Baden-Baden to nearly upset Dylan Thomas.
Getaway is likewise trying the Arc for the third time. Fourth to Dylan Thomas
and eighth behind Zarkava when trained by Andre Fabre, the German-bred has been
in the form of his life since going back home and joining Jens Hirschberger.
Whether Getaway just needed a change of scenery, or appreciated the relative
class drop, he has scored his first two Group 1 victories this campaign. Getaway
could not have been more authoritative in the Grosser Preis von Baden, drawing
off by a comprehensive three lengths on soft ground. He’s clearly headed in the
right direction, but the six-year-old will need a career-best effort to threaten
Sunday. The last Grosser Preis von Baden winner to take the Arc was Marienbard
(2002); prior to that, the last Arc winner to exit the Baden event was *Star
Appeal (1975), who was fourth at Baden-Baden before garnering a roughly-run Arc.
Modern Arc winners have most often emerged from the respective
course-and-distance trials at Longchamp, which were held on September 13 this
year. In the Prix Foy (Fr-G2), Juddmonte Farms’ homebred SPANISH MOON (El Prado
[Ire]) held on by three-quarters of a length from VISION D’ETAT
(Chichicastenango) in a final time of 2:28 3/5, best of the day’s three Arc
trials. For that reason, Vision d’Etat deserves great credit for quickening
well, and closing fastest of all, just when the serious running started. Trainer
Eric Libaud has been thrilled with his Arc preparations, and Vision d’Etat
merits respect as a winner of eight of 11 lifetime, including last year’s Prix
du Jockey-Club (French Derby) (Fr-G1) and this year’s Prix Ganay (Fr-G1) and
Prince of Wales’s S. (Eng-G1) at Royal Ascot. His lone unplaced finish came in
the 2008 Arc, when he was in the hunt with Zarkava before winding up fifth.
Unfortunately, Spanish Moon was withdrawn from Arc consideration, a
bewildering decision. The Stoute trainee turned in an excellent front-running
performance in the Foy, his first start in more than two months, and he was
entitled to move forward off the effort. Yet Spanish Moon’s connections wanted
to duck Sea the Stars and preferred to look ahead to targets abroad, such as the
Breeders’ Cup, Japan or Hong Kong. Fame and Glory and Conduit also have
Breeders’ Cup ambitions (as might Sea the Stars), but they’re not skipping the
Arc! It’s folly to swerve an otherwise logical target because of one horse.
Spanish Moon was well qualified for the Arc, boasting stronger credentials than
a number of others who are lining up.
The Prix Vermeille (Fr-G1) for distaffers was marred by the intrusion of the
stewards, who disqualified the outright winner DAR RE MI (Singspiel
[Ire]) for an imaginary infraction and promoted STACELITA (Monsun) to the
victory. The officials’ notion that Dar Re Mi interfered with fifth-place
finisher SOBERANIA (Monsun) is farcical, for neither Soberania nor her rider
ever lost momentum, and they were plainly outkicked by the top four finishers.
Dar Re Mi will now head to the Arc on a wave of righteous anger, and
worldwide sympathy, and it would be a fine turn of justice if she were to win.
The John Gosden filly has burst the bubbles of Europe’s most hyped sophomore
fillies this season, having beaten SARISKA (Pivotal) in the Yorkshire Oaks
(Eng-G1) prior to nailing Stacelita approaching the wire in the Vermeille. Dar
Re Mi, who was runner-up to Zarkava in last year’s Vermeille, would pay her old
conqueror a handsome compliment if she goes close here.
On the other hand, I don’t think that we saw the real Stacelita in the
Vermeille, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she were an entirely different
specimen in the Arc, for which she has been supplemented. Unraced since
spread-eagling the field in the Prix de Diane (French Oaks) (Fr-G1) in June,
Stacelita was stepping up to 1 1/2 miles for the first time in the Vermeille,
and the Jean-Claude Rouget filly didn’t show her customary power. This is clear
from third-placer (subsequently elevated to second) PLUMANIA (Anabaa), who was
crushed by Stacelita twice earlier in the year, yet was only 1 1/2 lengths
behind her in the Vermeille. Stacelita adopted her usual, forwardly-placed
tactics, took over from her pacemaker in the stretch, never really kicked away
from the field, and just yielded late to a tough, high-class, race-fit, older
rival in Dar Re Mi.
The Prix Niel (Fr-G2) for sophomores has usually proven to be informative for
the Arc, but perhaps not this time, and not only because it was the slowest of
the three trials. The improving CAVALRYMAN (Halling [GB]), who had
defeated Age of Aquarius and eventual St Leger winner Mastery in the Grand Prix
de Paris (Fr-G1), posted a workmanlike, half-length victory over Beheshtam in
the Niel. It was just the sort of trial that horsemen love, in that the top two
returned from their summer holiday with a fine tune-up that didn’t take a lot
out of them.
This is a world apart from the kind of races that Sea the Stars and Fame and
Glory have contested, however, and both colts would have to show colossal
improvement in the Arc. On the other hand, both are in the hands of masters who
are capable of extracting just that kind of improvement. Godolphin’s Cavalryman
is trained by a record seven-time Arc winner in Fabre, who was not averse to
supplementing him to the Arc. The Aga Khan’s homebred Beheshtam is trained by
Alain de Royer-Dupre, who conditioned Zarkava and Dalakhani. I suspect that
Beheshtam has a bit more progress up his sleeve than Cavalryman. The
late-developing colt has shown more at home than on the racecourse so far, but
he was given a very sympathetic ride in the Niel, and he was finishing well.
Beheshtam is eligible to get the better of Cavalryman in the Arc, especially in
view of Cavalryman’s dreadful 19 post position.
While the Arc is the most compelling race of the weekend, other events will
yield a harvest of Breeders’ Cup clues. Sunday’s Prix de l’Opera (Fr-G1) figures
to produce at least one candidate for the Filly & Mare Turf (G1). Juddmonte’s
Oaks (Eng-G1) runner-up MIDDAY (Oasis Dream [GB]), a convincing winner of
the Nassau S. (Eng-G1) last out, will likely head to Oak Tree if she performs up
to expectations at Longchamp. The Henry Cecil filly will face a few serious
older customers, including Prix Jean Romanet (Fr-G1) queen ALPINE ROSE
(Linamix), who was runner-up to Spanish Moon two back and almost went to the Arc
herself; Godolphin’s LADY MARIAN (Nayef), the defending Opera champion
who missed narrowly to Alpine Rose in the Romanet; the Dermot Weld-trained
CHINESE WHITE (Dalakhani), who extended her winning streak to three in the
September 12 Blandford S. (Ire-G2); and Stoute’s CRYSTAL CAPELLA (Cape
Cross [Ire]), last seen outdueling Dar Re Mi in the Middleton S. (Eng-G3) in
May.
Also on Sunday, the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (Fr-G1) will likely serve
as a launching pad to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint for FLEETING SPIRIT
(Ire) (Invincible Spirit). The Jeremy Noseda filly is using a tried-and-true
path, having finished fifth in last year’s Abbaye and fourth in the Turf Sprint.
Fleeting Spirit is even stronger this season at four, with a victory in the July
Cup (Eng-G1) over males to her credit.
On Saturday at Longchamp, all eyes will be on the superstar GOLDIKOVA
(Ire) (Anabaa) as she looks for her fourth straight score in the Prix de la
Foret (Fr-G1). The Freddie Head filly is cutting back in trip to about seven
furlongs for the first time in her career, but given the loads of pace she has
shown in the Prix Rothschild (Fr-G1) and Prix Jacques le Marois (Fr-G1) this
season, it should not be a problem. Goldikova is sure to book her passage to a
title defense in the Breeders’ Cup Mile (G1).
A few notables are lining up in Saturday’s Prix Dollar (Fr-G2) at nearly 1
1/4 miles, including Weld’s FAMOUS NAME (Dansili [GB]), who was a trifle
unlucky to lose to Vision d’Etat in the 2008 French Derby, and who comes off a
solid second to AQLAAM (Oasis Dream [GB]) in the Prix du Moulin (Fr-G1);
Godolphin’s well-traveled, multiple Group1-placed BALIUS (Mujahid), most
recently successful in the Anatolian S. on the Polytrack at Veliefendi
Racecourse in Istanbul; Group 2 victors PIPEDREAMER (Selkirk), who
returns from a four-month layoff for Gosden, and CITY LEADER (Fasliyev),
who will be making just his second start of the year for Brian Meehan; and
Arlington Million (G1) third STOTSFOLD (GB) (Barathea [Ire]), who exits a
runner-up effort in the Select S. (Eng-G3) at Goodwood.
Saturday’s Sun Chariot S. (Eng-G1) at Newmarket could have Breeders’ Cup
implications, whether for the Mile or Filly & Mare Turf. One Thousand Guineas
(Eng-G1) and Coronation S. (Eng-G1) star GHANAATI (Giant’s Causeway)
reverts to distaff company here after a dull third in the Sussex S. (Eng-G1),
and the Barry Hills filly rates as the one to beat in the mile affair. Among her
opponents are Beverly D. S. (G1) runner-up ALNADANA (Ire) (Danehill
Dancer); HEAVEN SENT (Pivotal), most recently runner-up to RAINBOW VIEW
(Dynaformer) in the Matron S. (Ire-G1); SPACIOUS (Nayef), who along with
Heaven Sent had chased Goldikova earlier in the summer; and the upwardly mobile
STRAWBERRYDAIQUIRI (Dansili [GB]).
Ghanaati’s conqueror in the Sussex, RIP VAN WINKLE (Galileo [Ire]),
recovered from a hoof problem in time to contest the September 26 Queen
Elizabeth II S. (Eng-G1) at Ascot, and the O’Brien colt firmly put his three
rivals in their place. After powering to the front at the top of the stretch,
“Rip” was accosted by the outsider ZACINTO (Dansili [GB]), who drew up to
his girth and briefly threatened to spring an upset. Rip smoothly pulled away
again and crossed the wire a decisive 1 1/4-length winner, with something in
reserve.
Zacinto, highly regarded last year as a juvenile, was racing for only the
third time this season, and the Juddmonte Farms homebred is on the upswing for
Stoute. By drawing 3 1/4 lengths clear of QEII third DELEGATOR (Dansili
[GB]), Zacinto avenged his loss at the hands of Delegator in the Celebration
Mile (Eng-G2) in their prior start. Delegator ran a bit below his best in the
QEII, as did Moulin winner Aqlaam, who faded to finish a distant last of the
quartet. Sadly, the oft-injured Aqlaam exited the race with an injury, and the
Sheikh Hamdan colt will likely be retired.
If Sheikh Hamdan had it to do over again, would he have run Ghanaati instead
of Aqlaam in the QEII? Should Ghanaati win the Sun Chariot handily, it might
fuel further second-guessing about the QEII. She was proven at the QEII course
and distance, after all, and may have performed much better than she did in the
Sussex at Goodwood.
Rip is on course for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), where he will attempt to
emulate Raven’s Pass, who turned the QEII/Classic double last year. O’Brien
could be double-handed in the Classic, for Mastercraftsman pummeled a bunch of
overmatched rivals in Friday’s Diamond S. (Ire-G3) at Dundalk. Making his
Polytrack debut, the gray sophomore rated in a distant third, well adrift of the
two speedy front runners who sprinted to a double-digit lead. Mastercraftsman
asserted his class, closed in on the leaders in the stretch and coasted home
unextended by five lengths. The effortless win must have done wonders for his
psyche, considering that he had been beaten twice recently by Sea the Stars.
Europe’s last top-level race with Breeders’ Cup potential will probably be
the October 17 Champion S. (Eng-G1) at Newmarket. Dual Oaks heroine Sariska, who
passed on Longchamp this weekend because of the lack of rain, is expected to
contest the 1 1/4-mile event. Juddmonte has a few in the mix, including Zacinto;
TWICE OVER (Observatory), who was runner-up to New Approach in the 2008
edition; and DOCTOR FREMANTLE (Sadler’s Wells), who just caught last
year’s Oaks queen, LOOK HERE (Hernando [Fr]), on the line in the
September 18 Arc Trial (Eng-G3) at Newbury.
An up-and-comer who could be supplemented to the Champion is Ghanaati’s older
half-brother, MAWATHEEQ (Danzig), who rolled to a 2 1/4-length victory
over the consistent CAMPANOLOGIST (Kingmambo) in the September 27
Cumberland Lodge S. (Eng-G3) at Ascot. Finishing a sneakily good fourth in his
much-awaited comeback was RED ROCKS (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]). Now back in
the care of Meehan, the 2006 Turf (G1) hero may enter Breeders’ Cup calculations
once again.
Our next edition will recap all of the Arc weekend action, as well as the
Champion.