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INTERNATIONAL DIARY

OCTOBER 3, 2009

by Kellie Reilly

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.


 


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