Weekly Wrap With Chris McGrath for June 6

The 237th G1 Investec Derby delivered everything you could sensibly have hoped, reducing a bewildering array of colts with high potential to an elite corps of high achievers. In drawing five lengths clear, the first three have gone a long way towards separating themselves from the other middle-distance colts of their generation. By the same token, however, Epsom remained a learning experience for them all–and, as such, not necessarily a definitive gauge of their relative standings by the end of the year.

First, second and fourth, after all, had arrived with an aggregate of three runs outside maiden company, in 2016; and just one start, between them, in 2015. With his sturdy physique, Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) had obviously developed considerably in the eight-week break he had enjoyed since his trial, much the longest in the field, and plainly relished both a yielding surface and the premium on stamina. But the chances are that no colt will take a bigger step forward for the whole Investec Derby experience than the runner-up.

Both US Army Ranger (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and his rider have received a degree of flak for the way they handled the race, but each deserves exculpation. Presumably Ryan Moore would rather not have been stone last rounding for home, but an instinct towards restraint–shared by Dettori, among others, and absolutely vindicated by the exhaustion of those who raced close to the pace–had unfortunately been exaggerated by his mount's lingering inexperience through the early stages.

This was always going to be a potential issue, an open year having guaranteed a still more hectic racing environment than usual. If they had to lose out, then, connections could not be more gratified by the way US Army Ranger vindicated a billing that still owed more to his promise at home than to two inconclusive excursions in public. The way he careered down the outside, after being switched for a run, left no doubt that this is an authentic Group 1 colt.

It was perfectly pardonable for such a monster charge to take its toll late, and he duly lurched down the camber after getting to the winner's quarters. Some have got it into their heads to take a dimmer view of this late roll, but a personal hunch is that US Army Ranger–given sufficient opportunity to absorb this very tough lesson–will produce something pretty spectacular next time.

Still Hidden Gems in Idaho…

Curiously enough, the most seasoned colt in the first four could yet match the improvement everyone will anticipate in the others. Defeated in four consecutive group races, 'TDN Rising Star' Idaho (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) yet again gave the impression that he can do better still. As when he met the winner in the G3 Ballysax S., he made a really dashing move halfway down the Epsom straight. At Leopardstown, he had briefly gone clear before floundering in heavy going and Harzand wore him down. This time, having again gone on the attack with real gusto, Idaho left the impression that his fuel was sooner used up by a severe test at the longer distance–nonetheless opening up a big gap on the fourth.

Tall and long-striding, he handled the track better than some of us had feared, but the likelihood remains that a breakout performance will come on a more conventional track; certainly on faster going, which his brother Highland Reel (Ire) so adores; and conceivably back at 10 furlongs as well. True, he got going too late at that trip in the G3 Derrinstown Trial, but he did not get the run of a curious race that day and the bottom line is that not one of his rivals at Epsom matched the zest he was showing two out. His free-sweating nature is evidently deceptive, judging from the appetite with which he pitches in. The same is true of his brother, who proved equal to a gruelling international campaign last year. But while Highland Reel banked a couple of extremely lucrative prizes on the way, Idaho has surely earned the right not to be pushed so hard. He has Breeders' Cup written all over him.

Zarak Short Changed…

It tells you everything you need to know about the mysteries of the Turf that the consummate breeder who mastered the Derby challenge for a fifth time–the Aga Khan duly matching the record of his grandfather–also contrived to sell off the winner's dam to Newsells Park Stud at Goffs a couple of years ago.

The one thing you can guarantee is that no such indignity will befall the dam of 'TDN Rising Star' Zarak (Fr) (Dubawi {Ire}). The first foal of Zarkava (Ire) (Zamindar) bounced back from defeat in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains last month when weaving through traffic to chase home Almanzor (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club on Sunday. In the process he became the latest in a long line of authentic “Derby” colts to have been given the slip by a miler since the abbreviation of the race distance. Perhaps he could yet emulate his dam in the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

Incidentally, those traditionalists who nowadays prefer to view the G1 Grand Prix de Paris as a more legitimate “French Derby” may also object to the naming of the Chantilly winner, as threatening to efface one of the breed's founding fathers. The original Almanzor was one of the first disseminators of the Darley Arabian blood and raced against their sire's great son, Flying Childers.

Globetrotting for Harlem?…

All in all Sunday was another of those vexing afternoons unique to France, where time after time you saw horses still pulling hard at halfway and several unable to hit their full stride after getting the breaks too late.

Harlem (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) has been mentioned here in past dispatches and once again gave the impression in the

G2 Grand Prix de Chantilly, when third to One Foot In Heaven (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), that he will only show his true colours when finding an environment where they run like they mean it. His sire ended up being exported to Juddmonte's American wing, winning three Group 1 prizes for Bobby Frankel, and maybe a similar destiny is latent in Harlem's name.

Push-Button Champions an Explosive Mix…

And what of those twin paragons of Epsom who promise to measure the Derby colts later in the season?

Albeit the G1 Investec Oaks field lacked true Group 1 depth, you seldom see pattern horses of any kind outclassed as vividly as they were by Minding (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) as she exploded out of that pocket. She requires no forgiveness for her photo-finish defeat by a supergame mudlark, 10 lengths clear of the third, in another Classic just 12 days earlier. That race had been an 11th hour diversion anyway, and a much more taxing experience than anticipated, so for her to do what she did at Epsom shows that she will continue to be measured only by adverse circumstances–rather than other horses–so long as she is kept to the company of her own sex.

Postponed (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) likewise matches brilliance with professionalism and it would be something to see him try to give the 3-year-old filly 15 pounds in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S., when both have so few of those foibles that might prevent a great showdown, on paper, coming off on the track. But a more obvious race for Minding, around that time, is the G1 Qatar Nassau S. at Goodwood. If she is to take on the males afterwards, then that intermediate trip might remain ideal–and her owners may yet have to give first refusal to their own colts in many of those races. Be that as it may, and just as you would wish, one of the great weeks of the year has reliably answered many big questions only by posing still more exciting ones.