Animal Kingdom adapts as Triple Crown evolves

(REUTERS)

The drought stretches back to 1978, when Affirmed became the 11th US Triple Crown winner. In the meantime, the thirst for a 12th has become so acute that some have sacrilegiously proposed extending the intervals between the three legs, out of consideration for the modern American thoroughbred – a creature whose genes have been diluted by drugs, and an obsession with speed. Fortunately, the present crop is still measured against the standards set, and met, by its greatest ancestors. So it is, then, a bare fortnight after winning the 137th Kentucky Derby, Animal Kingdom will drop back in distance for the Preakness Stakes on Saturday. And, if successful, he will generate three weeks of hype and hope before undertaking (by local standards) a ruthless test of stamina in the Belmont.

Unless and until he proves equal to the challenge, it would be premature to read too much into his unusual antecedents. Were he to do so, however, perhaps conservatives in the American industry might be moved to look afresh at those turf pedigrees and synthetic tracks they deplore as inimical to their own, cherished dirt racing culture.

Animal Kingdom is trained on a European-style estate in Maryland – just 40 miles up the road from Pimlico, home of the Preakness – and had never run on dirt before he went to Churchill Downs. His bloodlines are extremely cosmopolitan: his sire was foaled in Brazil, his dam in Germany. As it happens, his trainer was himself born in England, albeit Graham Motion emigrated with his family as an adolescent.

It is possible that the Derby was run in a fashion calculated to suit not only this colt, but the Ballydoyle raider, Master Of Hounds, who excelled in fifth. But it is worth noting that last year Paddy O'Prado came third before winning the Secretariat Stakes, on turf, in Chicago. Conceivably the disparities in racing surface – historically considered all but insurmountable – are being narrowed by the fact that the Triple Crown races demand more stamina than you tend to find in modern dirt pedigrees.

Aside from the prerequisite of sheer class, a Triple Crown colt must be adaptable and robust. And while Motion is resisting all talk of the Belmont, for now, at least Animal Kingdom seems to have absorbed the Derby well. Photographs of the colt out in his paddock show a rich glow in his copper coat.

"He's just run the biggest race of his life [but] so far, from what I've seen, the horse is absolutely fine," Motion says. "I'm impressed with how he's handled everything. His weight is good. He's eating good. He's moving well. I couldn't be happier with how he looks right now, to be honest. I think he's an extraordinary animal. He won with his ears pricked, and galloped out strongly. That's pretty remarkable after a race like the Derby. There didn't seem like there was that frenetic pace and craziness in the race this year. Everybody kind of had a good trip. You know, maybe he didn't have quite as hard a race as he could have done in previous years."

As usual, the Preakness will match various Derby protagonists with some fresh faces, including that of Flashpoint. His trainer, Wesley Ward, caused a sensation at Royal Ascot two years ago when winning with two juvenile howitzers on consecutive days. And while most other top American trainers were in Louisville for the Derby, Ward spent much of the week in France, where he saddled three two-year-olds to win at Chantilly. They will be shipping over for Ascot next month, where Ward intends to be represented in all the juvenile races.

On the home front, the trials at Goodwood today will be guaranteed closer attention than in recent years after producing Snow Fairy and Rewilding 12 months ago. It would be astonishing, however, if the Investec Oaks winner and Derby third were lurking in these fields.

Turf account

Chris McGrath's Nap

Epsom Salts (3.45 Goodwood) Unlucky second in this last year, off a 6lb higher mark. That run confirmed his relish for switchback courses.

Next best

Coax (2.35 Goodwood) One or two of these have not looked terribly wholehearted and the way he battled to get home over an inadequate trip last time augurs well for this.

One to watch

Racy (Kevin Ryan) Clearly had problems when with Sir Michael Stoute but resumed his career in encouraging fashion in a sprint handicap at York last week, meeting traffic on his way through and doing well to manage third.

Where the money's going

Havant is 11-2 from 7-1 with William Hill for the Investec Oaks; Delegator is 8-1 from 10-1 for the Golden Jubilee.