This Side Up: Grass Looking Greener on the Other Side

I don't know which is the greater compliment, the one extended across the continent or the one across the ocean. Putting them together, however, the hosts of the GI Belmont Derby Invitational can feel confident they must be doing something right.

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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Santa Barbara to the Test in Pretty Polly

There have been valid excuses for her missing the target so far in 2021, but Sunday's G1 Alwasmiyah Pretty Polly S. at The Curragh offers the ideal opportunity for 'TDN Rising Star' Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) to deliver on her promise. Lacking vital experience when fourth in the G1 1000 Guineas at Newmarket May 2 she was probably undone by a combination of a 12-furlong trip and testing ground when fifth in the June 4 G1 Epsom Oaks. “She clearly ran a hugely promising race for a horse coming off the back of just a maiden win when fourth in the Guineas and that was always going to be a big ask for her over a mile on fast ground in a Classic first time up,” Ryan Moore commented. “It looks like the trip proved beyond her in bad conditions when fifth in the Oaks last time, so this 10-furlong trip could prove her optimum. Hopefully she can take a step forward here, but she is up against some horses of a similar ability and in some cases higher-rated opposition so this is another tough Group 1 assignment for her.”

Santa Barbara takes on a different challenge here, meeting the older fillies and mares headed by the Australia (GB) duo,  Cayenne Pepper (Ire) and Epona Plays (Ire). Cayenne Pepper is back over the course and distance of her four-length success in the G2 Blandford S. in September, where the re-opposing Thundering Nights (Ire) (Night of Thunder {Ire}) was in third. She was fourth on her return in the 10 1/2-furlong G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup on contrasting ground here May 23 and trainer Jessie Harrington believes the more lively conditions will bring out the best in her. “We think she's come forward from the Tattersalls Gold Cup and that she will appreciate the good ground, as she doesn't like it soft,” she said.

Improving at a rate of knots, Epona Plays is one of the country's leading milers following her wins in the G3 Park Express S. at Naas Mar. 28 and G2 Lanwades Stud S. at this venue May 22. She has been over this trip before and won the G3 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies S. over an extended nine furlongs at Gowran Park in September, so she warrants maximum respect while Shale (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) needs to bounce back after a lean spell. She had another Jessie Harrington representative Oodnadatta (Ire) (Australia {GB}) back in third when winning the G1 Moyglare Stud S. over seven furlongs here in September and the ground was against her when 10th in last Friday's G1 Coronation S. at Royal Ascot.

Joseph O'Brien believes that Thundering Nights can build on her narrow second in the June 4 GII New York S. and said, “Thundering Nights has been a brilliant filly for us and was unlucky not to win earlier this month. She was interfered with on the first bend and got a bit further back than ideal. She finished off like a train in the closing stages, but came up a nose short. It was a fantastic run and she has come back from it in great shape. The big aim of bringing her back into training this year was for her to be competitive in Group 1 company and her form entitles her to be in the mix in this race. Conditions will suit and hopefully she'll run a big race.”

In the six-furlong G2 Airlie Stud S., last Wednesday's G2 Queen Mary S. third Cheerupsleepyjean (Fr) (Starspangledbanner {Aus}) backs up quickly having caught the eye when making up ground in that five-furlong contest where the front-runners looked to have an advantage. Aidan O'Brien puts 'TDN Rising Star' Yet (War Front) into the mix after she was 17th in that race, while Joseph O'Brien saddles the May 28 Fairyhouse auction series maiden winner Velocidad (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}).

Stayers get their chance in the G2 Comer Group International Curragh Cup, where Ballydoyle's Passion (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) makes her seasonal bow having signed off in 2020 with a career-best third in the G1 QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares S. at Ascot in October. Last year's G3 Stanerra S. winner and G1 Irish Oaks third is joined by stablemate Amhran Na Bhfiann (Ire) (Galileo {GB}), last year's G1 Epsom Derby third who was 11th after setting the pace in the G1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot last Thursday. In Germany, the G3 Wettstar.de Dortmund Grand Prix sees Stall TMB's May 24 G2 Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen winner Mythico (Fr) (Adlerflug {Ger}) take on the older horses.

Click here for the group fields.

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Friday’s Cazoo Oaks Attracts 14

The 1 1/2-mile £395,000 G1 Cazoo Oaks has drawn a field of 14, including ante-post favourite and 'TDN Rising Star' Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) for Coolmore partners and Aidan O'Brien who will leave from stall four.

Joining the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas fourth from Ballydoyle is G3 Tattersalls Musidora S. heroine Snowfall (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), G3 Kilcarn Stud Flame Of Tara Irish EBF S. victress Divinely (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the Group 3 placed Willow (Ire) (American Pharoah), and La Joconde (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).

Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), runner-up in the G1 QIPCO 1000 Guineas at Newmarket on May 2 for the Sangster family, James Wigan and trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam, drew post seven. One to her inside is Mark Johnston's Dubai Fountain (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), the winner of the Listed Cheshire Oaks on May 5 for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.

Shadwell's listed winner Zeyaadah (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}) is one of three for trainer Roger Varian, the others are Musidora third Teona (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) in the colours of Ali Saeed and the Gredley Family's Save A Forest (Ire) (Kingman {GB}), second to the Archie Watson-trained and Apple Tree Stud-owned Sherbet Lemon (Lemon Drop Kid) in the Listed Novibet Oaks Trial Fillies' S. Third to Sherbet Lemon that day was Qatar Racing's Ocean Road (Ire) (Australia {GB}) who will leave from stall five for Hugo Palmer with Champion Jockey Oisin Murphy in the irons.

Rounding out the field are Mantonbury Stud's Technique (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) from the Martyn Meade yard and supplementary entry Mystery Angel (Ire) (Kodi Bear {Ire}) for Nick Bradley Racing 27 and Partner. The Ben Curtis trainee won the Listed Betfair Pretty Polly S. and was fourth in the Musidora to Snowfall.

Nick Bradley said of his £22,500 supplementary entry, “It looks a stronger race than we'd have liked, but we are where we are. The track will suit and she appears to be in very good form–she's in better form at home than she was going to York.

“She looks overpriced a little bit at the moment, I think. We're hopeful of a good run.”

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Pretty Gorgeous To Miss 1000 As A Dozen Remain

Joseph O'Brien revealed on Friday morning that John Oxley's 'TDN Rising Star' Pretty Gorgeous (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}) will miss Sunday's G1 Qipco 1000 Guineas due to an unsatisfactory scope. The G1 Fillies' Mile winner's absence is a serious blow to the mile Classic, for which 12 fillies were confirmed headed by fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Santa Barbara (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). “It's obviously disappointing and very frustrating for everybody involved, as we were really looking forward to seeing how she would get on in the Guineas,” O'Brien told Racing Post. “However, it's going to be a long season and there are plenty of big races to come later in the year. We were conscious that we had to do the right thing by the filly, but we're still very excited about what she might achieve going forward.”

Santa Barbara, whose sole sighting on a racecourse came when winning a mile median sires series maiden at The Curragh in September, is the mount of Ryan Moore while Frankie Dettori is booked for the fellow Ballydoyle representative Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) who was last seen finishing runner-up in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. Santa Barbara has been drawn in stall one on the outside, with her stablemate in two and Jeff Smith's G1 Cheveley Park S. and G3 Fred Darling S. winner Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never) on the other side in 11. Cheveley Park Stud's Apr. 14 G3 Nell Gwyn S. winner Sacred (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) will exit from stall nine, alongside the filly she beat in that prep, Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) in 10.

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