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Some of us may be trying to look the other way, but with the Breeders Cup behind us and the November handicap just a few days away, we’ll have to admit it’s a really good jumping season.

There is still excitement for Flat on the international calendar with potential appearances from Auguste Rodin (Ire) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Goliath (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}) and Fantastic Moon (Ger) (Sea The Moon). {Ger}) at the Japan Cup later this month, but if National Hunt isn’t your thing, it’s never too late to start looking forward to the next flat season.

In this regard, one of the most interesting elements will be how well this Irish-conceived first crop of Wootton Bassett (GB) fares at three years of age. There is no denying that they looked quite impressive at a young age. There is an old saying that behind every great man there is an even greater woman (or something like that) and the quality of Wootton Bassett’s mares, which was already gaining momentum thanks to the success of his early years at Haras d’Etreham, has risen another notch or two , when he arrived at Coolmore. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Henri Matisse (Ir), who followed his other son, Indisputable (Fr), in winning this race, is out of the brilliant racemare Immortal Vers (Ir) (Pivotal {GB}), who also turned out to be a gem of a broodmare in the creation of Group 1 and 2 winners Tenebrism and Caravaggio Statuette and Vindication.

Henri Matisse, already a G2 Futurity Stakes winner, follows a spate of Group/Grade 1 winners for Wootton Bassett over the last month or so, starting with Camille Pissarro (Ayre) in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère and ending at Tennessee Stud. (Ayre) and Twain (Ayre) on the same day in Saint-Cloud the weekend before last.

Wootton Bassett now has a record 10 juvenile group winners from 213 2022 foals. Let’s hope there are one or two Classic winners among them.

When mentioning Wootton Bassett, it is worth noting that he came from the same Hertfordshire small breeders as last weekend’s G1 Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who is currently the highest-rated horse in world. Congratulations to Colina and Melbe Bryce of Laundry Cottage Stud for producing two such outstanding Thoroughbreds.

I’m into Kin

The influence of British and Irish horses around the world remains undeniably strong, as evidenced by this weekend’s results and the action at last week’s Tattersalls Horse in Training Sale. Five winners at the Breeders’ Cup meeting between Ger Lyons, Ralph Beckett, Charlie Appleby and Aidan O’Brien were proof of that.

It was also good to see a major international win outside of Europe for 24-year-old jockey Rossa Ryan and another Breeders Cup success (from just five rides at the meeting) for Colin Keane. Keane became Irish champion jockey for the sixth time.

Ger Lyons, for whom he rode Magnum Force (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint and put the meeting on excellent terms from a European perspective, bemoaned Keane’s lack of recognition at international level. This will surely change soon.

On Saturday, my Argentine friend and colleague Jose Nelson arrived in the Del Mar press box and said, “Emma, ​​I gotta tell you, I watched this race over and over again and I LOVE COLIN KEAN!”

That’s it, Ger. The word has come out.

The Ralph and Rossa Show

Ralph Beckett and Rossa Ryan have barely been out of the winner’s zone this year and they can certainly look forward to even more big days next spring with this year’s formidable team of two-year-olds on the rise. Second to third Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner Starlust (GB) (Zoustar {Aus}) has developed into a top-class athlete and represents the second Group/Grade 1 winner in Steve Parkin’s breeding operation this season after Fallen. Angel (GB) (Too hot {GB}).

Too Darn Hot is also helped by Beckett, who had stakes winners on both sides of the Atlantic on Saturday including Listed Montrose Fillies’ Stakes scorer Smoken (GBR), who remained unbeaten in her second start for Andrew Rosen, Mark Chan and Sonya. Rogers.

After a season that featured Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), Arc heroine Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) and seven stakes winners in October alone, Beckett was asked about Starlust’s win. how he will keep his stable in shape next year.

“With difficulty,” he replied with a grin.

With some gifted youngsters in the yard and no doubt some quality yearlings, including leading colt Wootton Bassett from Book 1 Amo Racing, he may just be being modest.

Golden day for Haggas

And let’s not forget the success of William Haggas’ Lake Forest (Ire) (No-No-Never) team at the Golden Eagle at Rosehill on Saturday, who achieved remarkable success with fewer runners.

For those of us who appreciate a great card on Derby day at Flemington on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup, the arrival of upstart Golden Eagle with its $10 million purse looked a little like Racing NSW parking its tanks on the Racing Victoria green.

However, within six years it soon gained popularity and was won last year by the Keiji-trained Yoshimura Obamburumai (JP) for Japan. This time the area of ​​Lake Forest and Lazzat (France) (Territories {Ire}) took the top two places for England and France, although not without some controversy. Jockeys Siren Fallon and Antonio Orani each received a month’s suspension and large fines for interference.

Goodbye then…

The Breeders’ Cup marked the end of the racing journey for a number of top class horses that we have been lucky enough to follow over the past few seasons.

City Of Troy is about to become the first son of Justify to compete in Europe, and at least one major breeder visiting Del Mar over the weekend already has mares lined up for him. “I’m just waiting to see how much it’s going to cost,” he said. Aren’t we all?

Bradsell (GBR) and Big Eves (Ire), who each played out terrible draws in the Turf Sprint, head to the National Stud and Tully Haugh Stud respectively, having earned their places through preliminary sterling efforts.

We also saw the last of Emily Upjohn (GBR) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) who came so close to winning the Oaks and went on to win the British Champion Fillies and Mares Stakes and Coronation Cup. This season has certainly been a disappointment to her connections, not least her swan song on the Breeders’ Cup turf where she seemed busy running on the rails with nowhere to go.

Meanwhile, Ramatuelle (Justify) will be one of the highlights of Fasig-Tipton’s Star Sale Night on Monday. In theory, she could still race despite her vet being in contention for the Breeders’ Cup. And that has indeed been a feature of the past week: the added strain and stress on owners and trainers caused by the increased veterinary checks both at the Breeders’ Cup and at the major meetings in Australia.

It is understandable that increased attention is considered a requirement, but it will nevertheless exclude unfortunate stories about horses that could or will win more races while remaining healthy.

The current situation will undoubtedly mean that some smaller operators who happen to be up against the big horse will be less willing to risk traveling to some of these international meetings for fear of being excluded after costly travel. The welfare of horses should always come before financial considerations – that goes without saying – but this will almost certainly lead to a situation where only those with the deepest pockets will be able to play on the international stage.