Weekly Wrap for Oct. 17

Put up the money and the horses will come, everyone knows that. And they will come, above all, when the British climate proves so indulgent of a provocation as reckless as staging your most valuable raceday in the middle of October.

QIPCO Champions' Day was favoured by clement weather and remarkably neutral going for the time of year. Perhaps even more importantly, however, this time the whole jamboree was rendered less contentious by an interval of three weeks, rather than two, to the Breeders' Cup.

Needless to say, these twin boons find me only marginally less grumpy. At root Champions' Day remains a bribe by marketing men to professional horsemen, to discourage them from advertising horses' genetic wares to an international marketplace with a change of both opposition and racing environment. Thanks to cheerleading scripted by the Ministry of Truth, and of course a fabulous sponsorship windfall, the big horses all rolled up in obedient support of a more insular agenda.

Sure enough, the season's putative climax simply reiterated the fact–established in a deeper field at Leopardstown a month previously–that Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has too much of a kick over 10f for 'TDN Rising Star' Found (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). To that extent, in this division, we learned as little as we did from watching Solow (GB) (Singspiel {Ire) or Muhaarar (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in theirs the same day last year.

The fact is that if you insist on keeping the local herd together, the pecking order will generally be altered by one of only three things: a seasonal change to extreme going; particular individuals running low on fuel, at the end of a long season; and latecomers to the party, following illness or injury, like Shalaa (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) and Jack Hobbs (GB) (Halling).

Even without its international raiders, remember, the Breeders' Cup already has a marketing cogency as a unifying bout for horses hitherto operating on different coasts of a continent. And Ascot, equally, already hosts precisely the kind of cosmopolitan showpiece sought for Champions' Day–in June. After that, the proper time to shake out the European herd, as a prelude to possible new frontiers, is the end of the summer.

We saw as much in the same Leopardstown race where Almanzor and Found were followed home by Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). That filly did at least establish something new on Saturday, when reverting to a mile in open company for the G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. Of course, such an opportunity was no less a virtue of the race when it had its proper place in the calendar, a month previously. By the same token, very possibly Almanzor might always have been one of those horses targeted at the G1 Champion S., in its Newmarket incarnation.

Having said all which, it would be churlish to pretend that you would ever have assembled the same field of sprinters for the old Diadem S., as a Group 2; or to deny that the stayers and middle-distance fillies have profited from their new autumn options. This was a day of sustained and authentic Group 1 sport–too successful now, you fear, for anyone to have the courage to separate those elements that work well; those that can work better; and those that insidiously undermine the fulfilment of Europe's best Thoroughbreds.

Newmarket's Golden Autumn…

But to horse! To horse! It is the animals, after all, that captivate us all, wherever we stand on the broader context. And the performances of Almanzor and Minding trademarked a season dominated by two outposts apparently immured against the health issues undermining several major training centres.

Newmarket has finished the season well, however, here as on Arc day. James Fanshawe's three runners at both meetings, all at Group 1 level, returned figures of 112. Once again, we are left to wonder whether this is sufficient for some of the biggest spenders at the yearling sales to repent of their myopia. Fashion, mind you, cuts both ways. If the wrong people are in fashion, then at least that improves the chances of someone like James beating the more expensive horses housed elsewhere. Sure enough, those giant operations that drew a blank on Saturday could only gaze enviously at the syndicate members who own The Tin Man (GB) (Equiano {Fr}).

Nor has the man who wore their silks exactly been in vogue, Tom Queally in fact professing more satisfaction in this success than any in his career. No need for anyone to mention the F word (he partnered Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) to two wins at this fixture), but this seemed a pointed and poignant register of his struggles since.

If any rider seems eligible to profit from the undoubted room at the top–as measured so worthily by the new champion, Jim Crowley–it is Martin Harley, but old Sheikhzayedroad (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) has arguably contributed disproportionately to his season's returns. Their latest success together reiterated Harley's tactical alertness, while enabling another Newmarket yard to match both Pegasus and Clarehaven Stables with a win and podium on the day.

David Simcock is entitled to wonder whether Lightning Spear (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) might have fared even better than third in the QEII had he not been marooned away from the main action for most of the race. It has taken this horse a while to build on his debut for the yard, at the royal meeting, but everything seems to be clicking now. With his relish for fast ground, he should surely be looking to Santa Anita and Hong Kong.

Fahey And Iffraaj Do Each Other Proud…

Defeat by a seven-times Group 1 winner made little dent in the credentials of Ribchester (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) as one of the training masterpieces of 2016. After a singularly discouraging start to his campaign, when looking a difficult customer in France, he has thrived relentlessly–even as Galileo Gold (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}), to name just one example, has become less professional as the season wore on. (Though it must be said that the latter was presented in glistening condition on Saturday, no less than before the G1 2000 Guineas.)

Given the relative number of baskets available for their Group 1 eggs, still more credit goes to Richard Fahey for the promptness and warmth of his congratulations to Aidan O'Brien after the race. Instead of Galileo, he must make do with Iffraaj (GB) (Zafonic)–sire not only of Ribchester, but also of Wootton Bassett, the £46,000 Doncaster yearling whose earlier success for the stable gave him the opportunity to go off and sire Almanzor.

Moreover Fahey had very nearly pulled a rabbit out of his hat by fitting cheekpieces on Growl (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), 50-1 runner-up to The Tin Man. Behind them, incidentally, Librisa Breeze (GB) (Mount Nelson {GB}) merits a footnote after likewise confirming an essential eligibility for this distance and grade despite finishing only sixth. A stunning handicap win over 7f on his previous start had confirmed how well he can quicken when switched off, but this time he found himself tracking one or two of several unexpected flops in the race. That left him too much ground to recover, but he certainly had no problem going the pace, having raced beyond 10f for his previous trainer. Even at 90,000 guineas, he was very well found by his new connections at the Horses-in-Training sale last autumn and there could well be more to come.

Grounds for Perseverance…

The preponderance of fillies has been a curious feature of what may yet prove a record-breaking year for Ballydoyle. Given the retirement of The Gurkha (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and the delayed fulfilment of 'TDN Rising Star' Idaho (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), among its 3-year-old colts the stable still relied on US Army Ranger (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to flesh out a lingering air of feasibility on Saturday.

On the face of it he was disappointing, but he and Midterm (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) could yet piece things back together next year. Both failed to settle tracking the half-hearted early pace, and were duly unable to match the finish of rivals who had raced with more maturity. Midterm actually regained a bit of late momentum, more or less under his own steam, and is obviously in especially good hands to do well at four.

For an G1 Irish Derby winner, Jack Hobbs was not terribly well served by his pacemaker. Produced in superb shape for his first start since suffering a pelvic injury in the spring, he would have been readily excused if too fresh when caught wide and back. As it was, he proved commendably tractable–only to hesitate visibly as they quickened in front of him. That looked a real crossroads moment, but he responded very generously thereafter to what looked a pretty hard race in the circumstances. It looks a smart move to give Jack Hobbs time to regroup, because he could still make up for lost time next year.