Weekly Wrap: Breeders' Cup Musings

Highland Reel | Horsephotos

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More often than not, racehorses discard the trite storylines we have prepared for them and come up with a script of their own–sometimes disappointing us, often puzzling us, occasionally sending us into unexpected raptures. But there's no doubt we do like them to oblige us, on the biggest stages of all, by delivering our proposed narratives to the syllable. And that's what happened on Saturday, when Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) and California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) matched our high-noon, binary agenda with one of the great showdowns ever witnessed in one of the Turf's most storied and beautiful settings.

For those of us fortunate enough to be present, as the duellists flared against the dusk gathering in the pleats of the mountains, things really couldn't have played out any better. For this witness, however, the sense of privilege was tempered by two regrets–each reflecting a collective failure of imagination among fellow Europeans.

First of all, I felt renewed embarrassment over the arrogant misapprehensions we imported to the debate here over synthetic tracks. When Raven's Pass (Elusive Quality) won the 2008 Classic here, he did so on a surface that unequivocally played to the strengths of turf horses. As we counted our winnings, we condescendingly urged Americans to celebrate a happy integration of our racing cultures. And then, when the experiment was abandoned, we rebuked them for the pursuit of vested interests at the expense of the bigger picture.

Those charges should now be turned round 180 degrees. Just try to picture Saturday's race on a synthetic circuit. It's inconceivable that it would have preserved the faintest resemblance to what we saw. (Perhaps it might even have been won by Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}).) Any European who watched Arrogate run down Chrome must gratefully acknowledge that his class, rhythm, speed and grit are the result of generations of expert, selective breeding. And that racing on dirt has a validity, heritage and character absolutely reconcilable, by proper management, with those welfare issues we harnessed to an attempted European colonisation.

My second regret is that we have responded to the triumph of the American “conservatives,” as we called them, with a sulky retrenchment of our own. Once again, Europe did not muster a single dirt runner at the Breeders' Cup. Predictably, the only camp prepared to consider the option had been Ballydoyle, where the Classic was earnestly considered for 'TDN Rising Star' Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). And nobody would dream of reproaching her owners for ultimately deciding not to expose so generous a servant, at this stage of her career, to a challenge at once so radical and so unsparing. After all, they have regularly taken a punt with some of their very best horses–persevering even with bloodlines that seem inimical to the surface, as when Galileo (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) himself had such an unhappy experience; and even after the grotesque misfortune that claimed George Washington (Ire) (Danehill).

Putting aside a narrow defeat against Raven's Pass, on the synthetic, the closest they have come to winning the race has been with American blood: with Giant's Causeway (Storm Cat) and Declaration Of War (War Front). But that is not enough to justify everyone else in their woeful timidity. Whatever has happened to the audacity and enterprise that sustained the likes of Sheikh Albadou (Green Desert) or Sakhee (Bahri)? The former's dam was a half-sister to winners of the Ascot Gold Cup and Yorkshire Cup; the latter, beaten only by that big ole snout on Tiznow (Cee's Tizzy), was out of a G2 Ribblesdale S. winner by Sadler's Wells.

People used to recognise that a dirt run was a bet-to-nothing. Defeat wouldn't take a cent off your stud fee. Victory would be a game-changer. We can leave the horses to come up with the script, but we do need to be more adventurous with the casting.

All in the Timing…

So that's a general “must-try-harder” on the end-of-term report for Europe's raiders at the Breeders' Cup. As for their performance on the grass, the overall verdict would be “satisfactory.” As usual, the wins of Queen's Trust (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) must be set off against one or two deep disappointments. But let's start with the pair at the top of the class.

Highland Reel has really had to earn his stripes, and it's hard to remember another horse compiling such a CV to so little acclaim. Nor have his owners received much credit for allowing Found to prevent Highland Reel being advertised as winner of the Arc as well as the King George and Breeders' Cup Turf.

In running the two together again, they certainly played a very smart hand. Had it turned down that Seamus Heffernan was going too hard, then Found might well have led those cutting him down. As it was, my enjoyment of a spectacular ride was somewhat diluted by the fury of the guy next to me in the stand, who had evidently backed Flintshire (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and began a crescendo of abuse for Javier Castellano even from the far turn. I thought this gentleman, unlike Heffernan, had gone far too soon to sustain his effort but in both volume and crudity he proved a very thorough stayer.

In complete contrast with Highland Reel, Queen's Trust only put her nose in front on the line, the margin a good deal more precarious than could be presumed from Frankie Dettori's celebrations. Coming here was a reliably astute call from Sir Michael Stoute, bearing in mind the relative emphasis on speed compared with the winner's defeat behind Seventh Heaven (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) at York. She was last off the bridle that day, only to flatten out as they slogged up that long straight. As such, Seventh Heaven ran every bit as well, in fourth, as did Found in closing for third behind Highland Reel. She could yet emulate some of Found's work in open company next year.

Miles Better Than That…

Having implored European trainers to show greater adventure, I was suitably disappointed that Henry Candy was not better rewarded for showing that spirit in abundance with Limato (Ire) (Tagula {Ire}) in the Mile. He had really embraced this challenge, and looked right to have done so when Limato used his sprint speed to gun from a wide draw and sit handy on the first turn. Nor did he have any problem rounding that bend, the first time he had done anything along those lines in a race. It was a different story on the home turn, however, and he palpably flinched when coming under pressure in the straight. Possibly that moment of vivid awkwardness was a clue to some inner discomfort, because he did not show any of his usual gusto thereafter.

Even so, he finished ahead of Alice Springs (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whose turn of foot had promised to be ideally served by such a hectic race. Though she looked in imposing order beforehand, she may very well have been low on fuel after a very demanding season. This was her eighth consecutive Group 1 start since a reappearance spin on Apr. 10, and the springs are perfectly entitled to have run dry.

'Bomber' Commands Respect…

The virtues of a sire who transcended the turf-dirt divide could yet be amplified by Not This Time (Giant's Causeway), who proceeds towards Churchill Downs in May, as the horse to beat after a superb run in the Juvenile. He pulled seven and a half lengths clear of the third when all but reeling in the winner, who had kicked away. These two drew out such a high standard of form that the owners of his sire might be quietly relieved that a setback spared them any temptation to bring over Caravaggio (Scat Daddy).

As it was, they confined their youngsters to the customary raid on the grass races. In the event, the home defence turned out to be exceptionally strong in the colts' race, where Oscar Performance (Kitten's Joy) and Good Samaritan (Harlan's Holiday) showed rare ability–respectively at the beginning and end of the race–in dealing with a wide draw. Lancaster Bomber (War Front) duly deserves much credit in dividing that pair, the three well clear, especially after getting caught on the fence from stall one and nearly clipping heels in the back stretch. You would hope it is just lingering greenness that prevents him really putting his head down, because he clearly has plenty of ability.

Obviously his stable is helping to make his sire a real crossover, in terms of surfaces, as well as a valuable outcross, in terms of blood. Lancaster Bomber has been a revelation since getting onto fast ground, and here gave another boost to the G1 Dewhurst form of his stablemate Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), following Group 1 wins for Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) and Rivet (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).

Though Lancaster Bomber is a half-brother to Excelebration (Ire) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}), he does not quite radiate pure miling speed, so much as keep bounding along. It's an awfully long way off, of course, but maybe he'll be back in California when the series moves on to Del Mar next year–and conceivably he is one European horse that might try the main track. If he does happen to do so, then let's hope that he will not be alone.

 

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