He was 2nd in this year's G1 Yasuda Kinen, though he lost to Logotype, who is a nice horse in his own right.
Going to miss this horse, one of my favourites for sure. Just consistently brilliant.
Never looked 100% comfortable but still knuckled down for the win - what a superstar
Buchiko's antics at the starting gate have cost her yet another race, once again before the race even started. Unfortunate as she clearly has talent and is lovely to look at, but is an absolute lunatic in the gate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPk4rV4NFbw
As a big fan of the Aga Khan's operation, and a HUGE fan of Sea the Stars, I am so thrilled by this! STS has a couple of nice looking 3 year old colts this year (with Harzand obviously being the standout), so hopefully this is just the beginning of a great 2016 for him.
I don't think his conformation will answer any questions regarding his popularity. He is popular because his first several crops (produced from mediocre mares) resulted in staggeringly high percentages of stakes winners from runners. He still has continued to produce G1 winners each year since he has taken off (mostly in Europe through Coolmore), but with the books he has gotten and the prices his yearlings have fetched in the last 2-3 years, I frankly have been a bit disappointed in his numbers as of late. Though I guess his books have only been getting better and better since 2014 so the next few years will be telling. Air Force Blue looks a superstar in the making so...
Not that he was ever really a slouch, but he could really clean up in 2016. He has been knocking on the door for years in Europe, but I think the relatively weak pool of older turf horses in North America (Big Blue Kitten, The Pizza Man... maybe Bolo?) may set him up for some G1 wins. I wonder if they will consider sending him back to France for the Arc in the Fall. Being 2nd the last two years in a row certainly can't hurt his odds.
I can't see Dortmund racing again. The lack of works and his apparent lack of 'energy' makes me feel like he isn't the horse he was in 2015.
Maurice has not yet fully recovered from his trip to Hong Kong and will now bypass the G1 Dubai Turf. He is expected to make his next start in the Yasuda Kinen on June 5th, according to Katsumi Yoshida
That's too bad. Hopefully some long term R&R can bring back some of the zest he had before Ascot