A Song And A Dance At Saratoga

Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) delivered his second Grade I in the Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer S. at Saratoga on Saturday (video). Successful in the GI Belmont Derby two years previously, the 5-year-old entire won for Aidan O'Brien.

Bred by Lynch-Bages and Rhinestone Bloodstock, the son of Alta Anna (Fr) (Anabaa) is a full-brother to G2 Sandown Classic and G3 Irish St. Leger Trial hero Southern France (Ire), who was also third in the G1 Irish St Leger.

The great Galileo was the stallion linchpin for many years at Coolmore Stud in Ireland and Bolshoi Ballet is one of 99 Grade/Group 1 winners for the deceased son of Sadler's Wells. In the U.S., 64 of his 175 runners (36%) have won, with 27 of them (15%) winning stakes. An outstanding 15 scored at the highest level (8.6%), including three-time top-level winner Cape Blanco (Ire).

Honourable Mention

Grade II winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Carl Spackler (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) continued to pad his resume with a 3 1/2-length score in the GIII Saranac S. at Saratoga for e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and trainer Chad Brown on Friday (video). The son of graded stakes winner Zindaya first featured in Making Waves in February.

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It was more or less a straight line out of the gates before Channel Maker (English Channel), making a sixth straight appearance in the race, kicked on beneath Manny Franco to make the running in advance of Stone Age (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), last year's GI Breeders' Cup Turf runner-up making his first start for Chad Brown. John Velazquez, tabbed by Team Ballydoyle, settled Bolshoi Ballet inside in the second flight of horses and enjoyed a comfortable passage with cover following Channel Maker wherever he went.

There were few changes to the running order through six furlongs in 1:15.93, but Flavien Prat decisively sent Stone Age into the lead fully five-eighths of a mile from home. Determined not to let the chalk get too far in front, Velazquez slipped Bolshoi Ballet a bit of rein and took the race to Stone Age, counting on Bolshoi Ballet to prove the superior stayer. Stone Age battled on best he could, but Bolshoi Ballet gave him the slip in upper stretch and kicked home a comfortable winner.

“We had a great trip. Great trip,” the winning jockey commented. “The trainer told me to come out of the gate running, get him as close as you can, but give him a little break for the first half of the race. After there, the last half of the race, make sure I keep him busy. That's the way it worked out.”

Fourth in the GI Saratoga Derby and sixth in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf in 2021, Bolshoi Ballet was fourth in a single appearance at four in the Listed Churchill S. at Lingfield. Third in the Listed Vintage Crop S. over a mile and six furlongs at Navan Apr. 22, he filled the same spot in Newbury's G3 Al Rayyan S. at 12 panels May 20. A good second in the Listed Wolferton S. at Royal Ascot June 20, the bay was beaten over 21 lengths in sixth as a 125-1 chance when last seen in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. back at Ascot July 29.

Pedigree Notes:

One of 99 Group 1/Grade I winners worldwide for the immortal Galileo, Bolshoi Ballet is not only kin to the good stayer Southern France, but also to What Say You (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whose daughter Editor At Large (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) carried the colors of Peter Brant to a third-place effort in the 2020 GII Miss Grillo S. at Belmont Park.

Alta Anna is a half-sister to French Group 3 winner and G1 Prix de Diane third Abbatiale (Fr) (Kaldoun {Fr}), the dam of four-time Group 3 winner Bewitched (Ire) (Dansili {GB}), and is also responsible for the maiden 3-year-old filly Gulf Pearl (Ire) (No Nay Never) and a weanling colt by Camelot (GB).

Saturday, Saratoga race Course
RESORTS WORLD CASINO SWORD DANCER S.-GI, $750,000, Saratoga, 8-26, 3yo/up, 1 1/2mT, 2:29.29, yl.
1–BOLSHOI BALLET (IRE), 120, h, 5, by Galileo (Ire)
                1st Dam: Alta Anna (Fr), by Anabaa
                2nd Dam: Anna Edes (Fr), by Fabulous Dancer
                3rd Dam: Abbey (Fr), by Jim French
'TDN Rising Star'. O-Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith; B-Lynch-Bages & Rhinestone Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan P. O'Brien; J-John R. Velazquez. $412,500. Lifetime Record: MGSW-Ire, GSP-Eng, 17-5-1-3, $1,333,959. *Full to Southern France (Ire), GSW-Aus, GSW & G1SP-Ire, G1SP-Eng, $645,262. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Soldier Rising (GB), 120, g, 5, Frankel (GB)–Sahrawi (Ger), by Pivotal (GB). (240,000gns RNA Ylg '19 TATOCT). O-Madaket Stables LLC, Michael Dubb, Bailey, Morris, Wonder Stables and Michael J. Caruso; B-Dayton Investments Ltd. (GB); T-Christophe Clement. $150,000.
3–Pioneering Spirit, 120, g, 4, American Pharoah–Foundation Spirit, by Giant's Causeway. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($50,000 RNA Ylg '20 KEESEP; 100,000gns 2yo '21 TATBRE). O-A. Bianco Holding Limited; B-International Equities Holding, Inc. (KY); T-Linda Rice. $90,000.
Margins: 4HF, 5HF, 1. Odds: 5.50, 2.45, 4.00.
Also Ran: Daunt, Stone Age (Ire), Channel Maker. Scratched: Verstappen.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The foreign invader #3 Bolshoi Ballet takes the G1 Sword Dancer for trainer Aiden O' Brien with @ljlmvel aboard!

#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/GAJmGsBsBq

— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) August 26, 2023

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Riding a two-race winning streak after taking Epsom's Blue Riband last month and the Irish equivalent for the Coolmore partners, Auguste Rodin beat stable-mate Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}) in the latter. He will aim to emulate former Coolmore kingpin Galileo (Ire) with a victory in the King George after winning two Derbys.

“He's on that programme, and so far, everything is going well [for the King George],” O'Brien told the Nick Luck Daily podcast on Wednesday,

The aforementioned Adelaide River enters off another strong second-place effort in the G1 Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp on June 14. He is joined by Group 1-winning older horses Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}), Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}), and Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), while the G2 Huxley S. hero and Group 1-placed Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) is another possible runner.

“Luxembourg is a very strong possible at the moment,” O'Brien continued. “Point Lonsdale is a strong possible at the moment. Broome, like I said, he could go [for the King George], and probably will go to Goodwood for the two miles [G1 Goodwood Cup S. on Aug. 1]. Bolshoi Ballet is a very strong possible. And then, obviously, Auguste Rodin and Adelaide River, we'd have to see how he [Adelaide River] came out of the race [G1 Grand Prix de Paris] and give him a little bit of time to see before we make any decision about him.”

O'Brien also provided an update on likely G1 Sussex S. runner Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), who will potentially represent the Coolmore partners in the G1 Cox Plate in the autumn.

He said, “Everything went well since [the Eclipse], and is at the moment. He's on that plan and that programme [for the Sussex] at the moment.”

The Coolmore partners also have five of the nine fillies currently entered in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks. G3 Cheshire Oaks heroine and G1 Oaks runner-up Savethelastdance (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), G2 Ribblesdale S. victress Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Be Happy (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) were pleasing the Rosegreen handler particularly. He also has listed winner Library (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and winner Lambada (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) signed on.

“I suppose, we have three very strong fillies in there,” O'Brien added. “Obviously, the filly [Savethelastdance] from Chester we think is very well. This has always been her programme. And then the filly [Warm Heart] who won at Ascot. We weren't sure that stepping up the a mile and a half would suit her, but it obviously improved her.

“Another filly called Be Happy which we have always thought a lot of, [is in the race]. She was withdrawn at the last minute from the Oaks and we had her ready to run again, and she got an infection in her foot. The last three weeks everything has been very good with her. The plan is that is where she is going now at the moment, as well.”

Pair Of Contenders Pleasing Connections In Latest King George Works

Saeed Suhail's 2022 Derby winner Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) also remains in contention for the Ascot showpiece. Off for over a year with an ankle injury, the 4-year-old ran second in the G3 Brigadier Gerard S. at Sandown earlier this season. Another minor setback kept the Sir Michael Stoute trainee out of Royal Ascot and a run in the G1 Prince of Wales's S., but he pleased his connections in a work at Newmarket on Wednesday morning.

Suhail's racing manager, Bruce Raymond, said, “He worked this morning and Ryan [Moore] rode him. Michael was very pleased with him and I think there is a good chance he will go to Ascot.

“He worked nicely. It was a pleasing gallop. I can't say he is certain for the race, but everyone was very happy with him. There's a good chance he will go to Ascot.”

Already a winner of the King George in 2022, two-time Group 1 scorer Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) also remains among the entries. He decisively won the G2 Hardwicke S. at Royal Ascot in June for co-trainers William Muir and Chris Grassick in the colours of the La Pyle Partnership.

“He just did want we wanted and we were delighted with him,” said Muir of the 6-year-old's Newbury gallop.

“It was not a serious, hard gallop, it was just a day out really. He goes to Newbury, has a warm-up little canter and then covers the distance, that's all. He did great. We're keeping our fingers crossed and we're in good shape. Fingers crossed we'll be there at Ascot.”

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One thing is for sure and that is that Inspiral needs to jump from the stalls a lot faster than she did when dropping the baton in the QEII here in October. Frankel, who also became prone to delivering that slow-breaking party trick late in his career, is on his way to becoming a pre-eminent presence here in his second career. That said, he still has work to do to catch Royal Ascot's true ruler in Dubawi (Ire) whose multiple winners almost every year come over all distances. Sheikh Mohammed's emperor sire is currently staying ahead of his Juddmonte nemesis, so it is fitting that their paths cross instantly in 2023. Godolphin's Modern Games (Ire), whose professionalism and straightforward nature has seen him jump from Charlie Appleby's third-choice miler a year ago to leading light, shades favouritism for the Queen Anne as this is written.

Frankel's influence on the meeting that witnessed one of his incredulous displays continues all week, with the opening fixture's G1 St James's Palace S. hosting his high-achieving son Chaldean (GB), another Dettori posting. There is a touch of The Rock about Juddmonte's no-fuss Dewhurst and 2000 Guineas winner and the way he is going he could end up another Kingsclere legend. First, he has to suppress the Curragh Classic winner Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), the season's stealth bomber. A key component of Team Ballydoyle's opening salvo, which is perhaps a touch light for them, he has to overcome a wide draw as well as a Newmarket Classic winner as he bids for edition number nine for Aidan O'Brien.

Galileo's influence, so longstanding here, is sadly confined on Tuesday to one of the yard's second division performers in Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) in the Listed Wolferton S., a kind of Princes of Wales's S. consolation prize. If his omnipotence has diminished with his reduced representation, then the opportunity is there for a new Coolmore figurehead to emerge. Wootton Bassett (GB) is doing just that at present and his son River Tiber (Ire) heads into a battle of the TDN Rising Stars in the G2 Coventry S. With George Boughey's Asadna (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}). The latter's scintillating time trial at Ripon put him into another dimension where his age group is concerned and recent Royal Ascots have proven how crucial the study of individual sectional time performances have been ahead of these tests.

Despite the Asadna effect, River Tiber has some of the best in the business already excited. As Ryan Moore discussed the operation's new 2-year-old sensation in his betfair blog, it felt almost like a warning. “Confidence is not a word I would use with so many similarly-unexposed promising two-year-olds in here, but I'll just say he is in very good shape for this,” he stated, which could translate as “watch which way he goes”.

Where the premier Royal Ascot sprints are concerned, 2023 marks a special anniversary with it being 20 years since the hemisphere-breaching revolution set in motion by Choisir (Aus). Prior to that moment, the idea of a strong Australasian, North American and Asian presence at this meeting was a flight of fancy, not the perennial certainty it is now. A barometer of how much respect overseas sprinters generate was evident again twelve months ago as Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) and Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) dominated the market for the G1 King's Stand S.

This year's renewal, which seems one for the fillies and mares, is not nearly so pre-destined for export with the Boadicea-like Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) standing firm. Not since Britain celebrated the likes of Habibti (Ire) in the 1980s has a sprinting mare captured the imagination as she did during her golden summer in 2022 and her task is to ward off the chief Antipodean challenger Coolangatta (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}) here. United with Nature Strip's rider James McDonald, having gone the tried-and-trusted Lightning route, she is Australia's apparent flag-bearer. Then there is the seriously-fast TDN Rising Star Dramatised (Ire) (Showcasing {GB}), who tries to do a “Lady Aurelia” for the Northern Hemisphere 3-year-old generation.

With all the subplots to a day at Royal Ascot, burning questions remain ahead of Tuesday's action. Will Irad Ortiz Jr be able to impose himself this year after a forgettable intro in 2022? Wesley Ward's Keeneland dynamo Fandom (GB) (Showcasing {GB})–the first horse to be double-entered this week having been confirmed for Wednesday's Listed Windsor Castle S.–and established sprinter Twilight Gleaming (Ire) (National Defense {GB}) can possibly help get him more into the Ascot groove. Can Amo Racing break their Royal meeting duck? The juvenile Bucanero Fuerte (GB), another Wootton Bassett owned in partnership with Giselle De Aguiar, is their first representative of the week in the Coventry. Can the pair of TDN Rising Stars Cicero's Gift (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) and Mostabshir (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) defy the inexperience gap and make their mark in the St James's Palace? Can Willie Mullins tighten his grip on the staying handicaps with the dual-purpose stars Bring On The Night (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB})? The latter is undoubtedly the classiest hurdler that his trainer has brought here and could conceivably have won Thursday's Gold Cup. Ryan Moore is on both supposed “good things” and a double on top of any earlier successes could see him stake an early claim for a landmark 10th leading rider title. With such firepower this week, what can stop him? Ah, yes. Frankie.

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Taking time to wind up, the 5-2 second favourite arrived with strength in the final 100 yards as the past TDN Rising Stars Israr (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) and Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) duked it out. At the line, she had edged it by a short head from the Shadwell runner, with Ballydoyle's Bolshoi Ballet continuing his return to old form a head away in third. “She hasn't really thrived all Spring–she got upset when we were trying to fit the tongue-tie beforehand and wasn't having that, so I was concerned that we were in a hole,” Beckett said. “She was a little fresh and still a little green in behind horses, so she's a pretty special filly to have done that. She made up a lot of ground in the last 100 yards–when she stayed as well as she did in the Leger on only her third start and with her pedigree, I'd have no real concerns about where we go. The Gold Cup is a possibility–we'll see nearer the time. That entry was how we felt about her beforehand and we still do.”

Introduced only in late July in a Wolverhampton novice, Haskoy has gone where her talent allows the whole way and it was significant that her trainer moved so fast with her following that seven-length debut win. Impressing Ryan Moore and just about everybody else in the Galtres, the bay was supplemented to the St Leger and ran the proverbial blinder only to lose out to Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) before being stripped of second by the officials having crossed the path of Giavellotto (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).

Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was fifth in the Leger, had already done enough to suggest that the form was solid but it was Friday's G2 Yorkshire Cup that confirmed we are dealing with a strong renewal of the oldest Classic. More so, it looks an edition stacked with the kind of “Cup” horses that the British public have come to love once more. Only one filly has won the Gold Cup since Dr Vincent O'Brien's Gladness in 1958 and that was The Queen's Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}), so it is particularly exciting that Haskoy is a leading challenger in this year's contest.

Pedigree Notes
It was on this card six years ago that the dam Natavia (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), a rare purchase at that phase for the operation when a 600,000gns Book 1 graduate, powered into the Oaks picture when dominating the Listed Haras de Bouquetot Fillies' Trial. Although she was last in that Classic and failed to win again, the memory of that performance remains vibrant and Haskoy is a significant first foal. Kin to the G1 Sun Chariot S. heroine Spinning Queen (GB) (Spinning World) and to the dam of the GIII Jimmy Durante S. scorer Tezzaray (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}), she is a granddaughter of the important broodmare Lady Blackfoot (Ire) (Prince Tenderfoot).

Under that third dam are the likes of the GII  Budweiser International hero Alrassaam (GB) (Zafonic) and the GI Hollywood Derby-winning fellow sire Labeeb (GB) (Lear Fan) as well as the latter's GII Arlington H. and GII San Luis Obispo H.-winning full-brother Fanmore who was also runner-up in the GI Arlington Million and GI Hollywood Gold Cup. Natavia also has the 2-year-old filly Silver Sixpence (GB) (Kingman {GB}), a yearling daughter of Siyouni (Fr) and colt foal by Too Darn Hot (GB).

Saturday, Newbury, Britain
AL RAYYAN S. (REGISTERED AS THE ASTON PARK S.)-G3, £100,000, Newbury, 5-20, 4yo/up, 12fT, 2:32.33, gd.
1–HASKOY (GB), 125, f, 4, by Golden Horn (GB)
                1st Dam: Natavia (GB) (SW-Eng), by Nathaniel (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Our Queen of Kings (GB), by Arazi
                3rd Dam: Lady Blackfoot (Ire), by Prince Tenderfoot
1ST GROUP WIN. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms (East) Ltd (GB); T-Ralph Beckett; J-Frankie Dettori. £56,710. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, $193,029. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Israr (GB), 128, c, 4, Muhaarar (GB)–Taghrooda (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. O/B-Shadwell Estate Company Limited (GB); T-John & Thady Gosden. £21,500.
3–Bolshoi Ballet (Ire), 128, h, 5, Galileo (Ire)–Alta Anna (Fr), by Anabaa. O-Mrs J Magnier/M Tabor/D Smith/Westerberg; B-Lynch-Bages & Rhinestone Bloodstock (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. £10,760.
Margins: SHD, HD, 1 3/4. Odds: 2.50, 7.00, 10.00.
Also Ran: Yibir (GB), Kemari (GB), Old Harrovian (GB), Gaassee (Ire).

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Shadwell's G3 Strensall S. hero Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) has earned an automatic berth in the race for trainer Owen Burrows, and he returned to take Saturday's G3 Darley S. at Newmarket. Other entries of note include the Group 1 winners Sisfahan (Fr) (Isfahan {Ger}), who won the German Derby for Henk Grewe and GI Belmont Derby hero Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is one of three for the Aidan O'Brien/Coolmore partners axis. William Haggas has a pair set to start, including G2 Prix Eugene Adam victor My Prospero (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}).

Shaikh Salman bin Rashed al Khalifa, Executive Director of the Bahrain Turf Club, said, “We are very happy with the quality of horses entered for this year's renewal of the G3 Bahrain International Trophy. Some of the best trainers from around the world have once again supported the race.

“Last year was the first time the race was run with Group 3 status, and it saw three high-class horses fight out the finish. With the race now a key date in the international racing calendar, we firmly believe that the race will continue to progress through the grades with our ultimate goal to have Bahrain host its first international Group 1 race.”

For the full list of entries, please go to the Bahrain Turf Club website.

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O-Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg; B-Lynch Bages & Rhinestone Bloodstock (Ire; T-Aidan O'Brien.

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This race has now obtained such stature that the most exciting turf sophomore in the land has had to join the recent defections from the Bob Baffert barn in order to take part–even though Du Jour (Temple City) represents a partnership comprising Debbie Lanni and Baffert's own wife, Jill. With Baffert suspended by NYRA, the significance of this colt's transfer to Bill Mott won't be lost on anyone locally. Very few, however, will be aware of quite how seriously the maturing East Coast turf program is being taken by the most powerful stable in Europe.

It is barely a month since 'TDN Rising Stars' Bolshoi Ballet (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) arrived at Epsom as reputedly the premier 3-year-olds of their sex at Ballydoyle. In the event, both proved disappointing and others in the yard have meanwhile advanced through the ranks. Nonetheless both retain a credibility that will focus much European attention on their performances on Saturday–just as NYRA hoped, when inaugurating the Belmont Derby and Oaks in 2014, and the Turf Triple a couple of years ago.

The kudos vested in any colt that starts at such short odds for the Derby can certainly survive a single performance (not least over such an idiosyncratic track) that transparently fell short of his rehearsals. Indeed, it is often better to run unequivocally below form than to settle for the kind of supporting role that might expose a horse's limitations. But the stakes for Bolshoi Ballet are clearly high.

Santa Barbara, for her part, began her campaign under an awful burden of expectation for a filly that had contested a single maiden. In the meantime her remarkable dam had produced a second consecutive Breeders' Cup winner, and Santa Barbara was clearly reckoned to be cut from similar cloth to Order Of Australia (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Iridessa (Ire) (Ruler Of The World {Ire}). Making her favorite for Classics on only her second and third starts proved too extravagant, though she was beaten only a neck by a much more seasoned rival in another Group 1 since Epsom. Shipping here, with just 10 days between races, suggests that Santa Barbara is now really being put through the boot camp after her leisured adolescence.

To hope for two such important reputations to be renewed here is a tribute to the way these races have bedded down since their launch, shortly after the arrival of Martin Panza at NYRA.

Heritage is the lifeblood of our sport, and around the world we've all seen it discarded by marketing folk without cultural antennae, clumsily conflating tradition with stagnation. And not every innovation in New York's historic race program is going to work this well. Plenty of people, for instance, grieve the absorption of the GI Hill 'n' Dale Metropolitan H. into a mega-card capped by the GI Belmont S.; while donating the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup to Saratoga feels like Robin Hood robbing the poor and giving to the rich. But this regeneration of the turf program was an exceptionally far-sighted response to a growing need.

Everyone in our business talks a good game about turf racing. Racetracks are doing their bit, not just at the apex but through the pyramid. But the American bloodstock industry is not responding where it counts, at ringside. The commercial market's terror of turf stallions is a massive problem. Even proven ones are undervalued and newer ones, however eligible, tend to be dismissed with contempt. As a result, we have a roaring trade in European imports–and nowadays not just proven runners but also yearlings–to farm inflating U.S. purses.

I'm always complaining about the obtuseness of European breeders about dirt blood, but it's a two-way street and cynical, fast-buck trading across the freshman sire window is no way to build a sustainable breed. Let's not forget that turf tends to be a less punishing surface; nor that the welfare of each individual racehorse is increasingly entwined with the viability of our whole sport.

That was the key message drawn this week by colleague Dan Ross in an outstanding two-part interview with the reliably uninhibited Dr. Rick Arthur, who has just retired as California's equine medical director (Click here for Part 1, here for Part 2). It seems to me that too many horsemen employ vets as a pharmaceutical bag-of-tricks, in effect as a means of pushing the margins of regulation. Vets should enter the barn for one reason, and one reason only: to protect the horses housed there.

Baffert, inevitably, featured in several questions and Dr. Arthur indicated a fairly candid distaste for his aggressive works, not least when emulated by others with lesser stock. The world certainly looks a different place since Baffert saddled not only Medina Spirit in the Derby but also Du Jour on the undercard.

Several powerful owners have meanwhile removed horses from his care, but we should not put words in their mouths and Baffert's prohibition from NYRA tracks is doubtless a pragmatic consideration for some, regardless of any other disquiet they may have. To see Du Jour join the exodus to fulfil his potential reminds us that this whole drama is not just playing out in headlines and courtrooms. Human lives are being lived by human beings, out of that limelight but never out of that shadow. At some point, over a coffee or a glass of wine, a husband and a wife and a friend have addressed a dilemma on the margins of the professional and the personal. Du Jour's granddam, remember, is a half-sister to Ghostzapper and City Zip: there's a place at stud in play here.

But then it only looks essential for Du Jour to run at Belmont because NYRA recognized that their turf program needed an overhaul. Doing that has, in turn, incentivized the breeding industry to behave in a fashion that will better serve the welfare of the Thoroughbred. That's the ultimate imperative, after all. And, guess what, it's the same one that requires those who push the boundaries to be policed and punished.

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“He was very sore this morning,” said trainer Aidan O'Brien. “We played back the videos of the race. At the top of the hill he had it, so he obviously got it in the first 150 yards. Usually with a horse if that happens late in a race it doesn't affect them much because their blood is up, but this happened very early so it suggests it was a good reason for a disappointing run. It was just off the tendon at the back. The lads thought seven to 10 days is when we should be able to do something again with him.”

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