Weekly Wrap With Chris McGrath for May 31

With the possible exception of electoral hustings, no competitive environment teaches the neutral observer quite such wholesome habits of scepticism as the racetrack. If something looks too good to be true, then often that is exactly what it will turn out to be. Looking at his 10-length success in the G1 Prix d'Ispahan, then, you had to wonder whether A Shin Hikari (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) profited from the kind of optimal cocktail of circumstances that produced similarly freakish margins when, for instance, Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) won the G1 1000 Guineas by nine lengths in 2012; or Well Armed (Tiznow) romped by 14 in the 2009 G1 Dubai World Cup?

The obvious difference, in those cases, was that both winners arrived with a rap-sheet that made their transformation accountable only through unique contingencies of time and place. Homecoming Queen had raced 11 times as a juvenile, winning twice; Well Armed was a good-ole-boy, hard-knockin' gelding, beaten eight lengths into third at 66-1 the previous year. A Shin Hikari, in contrast, had already disclosed a bewildering physical capacity in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Cup.

Watching that race unfold last December, many of us rebuked his jockey for a suicidal pace: no horse could conceivably go so hard, against so deep a field, and see the race out. We applauded Ryan Moore, on a day when he repeatedly resembled the world's number one rider, for keeping his own mount so far from the furnace. Sure enough, in the straight Moore closed from 10th to second–even as two horses tailed off at the rear weaved into fourth and fifth–only to find that A Shin Hikari was somehow going to hold out. Here, plainly, was a horse capable of writing his own rules.

Now, it is clearly no coincidence that so many of these eye-watering performances are manufactured from the front–as was the case, indeed, with Homecoming Queen and Well Armed. Moreover, his rider so prized the lead at Sha Tin only because Al Shin Hikari had reacted irascibly when unable to dominate on his previous start. At Chantilly, however, he consented to race handily without taking over until the straight, and the way he switched leads just short of the post suggested him to be nowhere near the bottom of the barrel.

It would be prudent, as ever, to assume that the race scenario was a fairly flattering one: if no French dawdle, it evidently provided a platform for a decisive manoeuvre in testing conditions. Maybe somebody can stoke the cooling embers of A Shin Hikari's temperament at Ascot, and test what he might still have in reserve for that stiff finish. For the moment, however, seeing really is believing.

And There's Plenty More Where He Came From…

Connections of A Shin Hikari seem reconciled that they could not stretch out his fuse to satisfy Japan's craving for a first G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, but his sire has a very credible alternative in Makahiki (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Having cut down last season's champion juvenile in his trial, Makahiki allowed the winner first run in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) in which sons of Deep Impact filled the podium. The same three colts again dominated the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) on Sunday, but this time Makahiki's jockey was able to thread a passage at the perfect moment.

On the face of it, the colt was all out at the post. But while the 18-strong field was strung out at halfway, a stampede of stretch finishers suggested that the tempo may have been uneven and Makahiki's acceleration, when so many others were also playing their hand, had outstanding zest. With his cosmopolitan, outcross pedigree, combining the prepotent Deep Impact with a South American family, it would certainly make a lot of sense to put Makahiki in the international shop window at Longchamp in October.

Crisford Looks More Than Ready…

One trusts that Simon Crisford's apparent determination to keep his head down and let his horses do the talking sooner reflects a lack of egotism–one of many appealing personal assets long familiar in his previous role–rather than any misplaced sense that Mahmood Al Zarooni's betrayal of a team ethic in any way harmed the former Godolphin manager's own reputation. Certainly anyone credulous enough to talk of a Godolphin “revival”, under its new management, has failed to register an expansion in the brand so radical that comparisons are pointless.

It is instructive that his courageous decision to start training has prompted such fidelity from the Maktoums. And perhaps he has found his breakthrough colt in Mokarris (More Than Ready), a 220,000-guinea Shadwell purchase at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale. The Mocklershill graduate showed corresponding proficiency on his debut at Haydock on Friday, needing only a hand-ride to assert in a faster time than the other division. Though fitted with a crossed noseband, he settled and quickened so professionally that he looks unlikely to do much harm, even in the very best company, to his trainer's outstanding one-in-four strike-rate.

Tin Has Golden Lustre…

One of the developing themes for Ascot this year is the depth of emerging talent among indigenous sprinters, albeit those who encounter 'TDN Rising Star' Vancouver (Aus) (Medaglio d'Oro) may still need to be on their mettle. Unfortunately the Australian champion juvenile, who has apparently lived up to his billing since entering his temporary lodgings at Ballydoyle, was unable to test the water as intended at The Curragh last weekend because of a cloudy blood picture. A leap of faith will duly be demanded in the G1 Golden Jubilee S., whereas The Tin Man (GB) (Equiano {Fr}) was able to blow away the cobwebs in a listed race at Windsor last Monday after suffering an interrupted preparation of his own.

Fast-tracked from handicaps to Group 1 company, The Tin Man ran a fine fourth to Muhaarar (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) at Ascot last autumn despite proving a little naive in his commitment of raw pace. James Fanshawe, his consummate trainer, believes that this lightly raced colt will respond better if ridden with more restraint, and that certainly seemed to be the case in a very strong race for the grade on his comeback.

So strong, in fact, that it may pay to expect significant improvement from the fourth, a son of the same sire and himself making his first start since finishing lame behind Muhaarar (his then stablemate) at Ascot. Strath Burn (GB) has always worked like a colt of elite calibre, but took a while to put it together on the track last season –ultimately foiled only in a photo for a Group 1 at Haydock in September–and could once again improve with racing this time round.

Motor Mouth…

Those of us who mourned the downgrading of the historic Gran Premio di Milano to Group 2 status will be hoping that Dylan Mouth (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) can restore distinction to a roll of honour previously decorated not just by Nearco but by so many of the other champions bred by Federico Tesio.

True, the other jockeys on Sunday were far too obliging in ceding their returning compatriot, Frankie Dettori, the softest of leads. But the way Dylan Mouth opened up to go away by over five lengths–replicating his success when the race retained Group 1 status last year–renewed faith that two dismal runs to date in Britain sooner reflect a specific antipathy to Ascot than a more generic incompetence.