Arrogate’s mesmerising victory in the Travers Stakes on Saturday sent shockwaves around the racing world.
The three-year-old grey colt lowered the track record for the 2,000-metres at Saratoga that had stood for 37 years. Regardless of the fact that his two outstanding rivals, Creator and Exaggerator, ran lacklustre races, Arrogate showed with searing fractions that he is a colt to be reckoned with.
• More: Mohaymen flops while Arrogate dominates
According to Trakus, Arrogate was the fastest horse during the main sections of the race for all but the start. The son of Unbridled’s Song clicked through the first 400 metres in 23.09 seconds, the 800 metres in 46.84 seconds and dipped under two minutes for the 2000 metres. As a reference, Wayde Van Niekerk’s record-breaking 400 metres in Rio de Janeiro this month was run in 43.03s, and David Rushida’s 800m final in one minute 42.15s.
Arrogate is now generally accepted to be the third favourite behind Dubai World Cup winner California Chrome and Godolphin’s Frosted, who on Saturday morning was confirmed for Saturday’s Woodward Stakes alongside World Cup runner-up Mubtaahij, for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita in November.
For a horse that has run just five times, it was some statement. Racing ratings service, Timeform, gave Arrogate a speed figure of 139, which is the highest they have awarded any dirt horse in America since Ghostzapper’s win in the Metropolitan Mile in 2005
In light of Arrogate’s run, Geoffrey Riddle nominates his five best performances around the world this year.
1. California Chrome, Pacific Classic, August
California Chrome put up one of the best dirt performances of the last decade when he slammed Beholder and Dortmund at Del Mar last week. Beholder had beaten the colts by eight lengths in last year’s race, and had ten Grade 1s to her name, while Dortmund had two Grade 1s of his own on his CV.
In terms of depth of field, it was a belter, and California Chrome effortlessly cruised five lengths clear of the champion mare, who had two-and-a-quarter lengths to spare on Dortmund.
Other than Frosted, they were perhaps two of the strongest challengers for the Breeders’ Cup before Arrogate’s scintillating effort on Saturday. He was aided considerably, however, by the brilliant ride from jockey Victor Espinoza, who secured an uncontested lead with a show-and-go ride from the inside gate.
2. Tepin, Queen Anne Stakes, June
Professional handicappers and ratings services will not have the American mare’s run in Britain up there, but she showed she is a world-beater at Royal Ascot. Tepin had never run a straight mile, never run on European soft ground, never run without Lasix, the anti-bleeding drug, and never up an incline like the one at the British racecourse. She dismissed all of those fears with a commanding victory over Godolphin’s Belardo.
3. A Shin Hikari, Prix d’Ispahan, May
The Japanese raider had shown a marked preference for firm ground in his country, so faced with heavy going at Chantilly he looked firmly up against it. What happened next was nothing short of extraordinary, and although the winning distance was actually only seven lengths, rather than the 10 put up afterwards by the French stewards, made little difference. Since then the race has produced three subsequent Group 1 winners and two Group 3 winners, although sadly not A Shin Hikari, who produced a limp performance at Royal Ascot in June.
4. Frosted, Metropolitan Handicap, June
Winning any top-level race by 14 lengths is astonishing. What trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has done since Godolphin’s Frosted has returned from Dubai, nobody quite knows, but Frosted’s win really has to be seen to be believed. There was only one other Grade 1 winner in the field, Noble Bird, who ran the race in sixth, but it was the manner, swagger, and smooth, purring power that makes it a truly awesome effort.
5. California Chrome, Dubai World Cup, March
California Chrome has a lot to thank Victor Espinoza for. The Mexican jockey rode much of the 2m.01.83s of the world’s most valuable race at Meydan in a stress position.
Almost as soon as the giant chestnut exited the gates, Espinoza’s saddle slipped back. It put tremendous strain on Espinoza, who had to use all of his strength merely to stay on, let alone guide a horse to the Dubai World Cup.
In terms of pure form, it may not be the most meritorious run of the year, despite the likes of Grade 1 US challengers Frosted, Mshawish and Keen Ice finishing down the field. But with Espinoza in such difficulty it clearly makes the cut.
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