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There have been several horses named “Sir Winston” but only one has won the Belmont.
The other “Sir Winstons” have included the one who led most of the way in the 1992 Melbourne Cup which was won by Subzero.
The American one was bred by Tracy Farmer and is by Awesome Again, trained by Mark Casse, ridden by Joel Rosario and was having his Grade 1 debut. He was the stables “other” horse as Casse also saddled one of the favourites in Preakness winner War Of Will.
The popular pick in the race was Tacitus, who came from the rear and finished second, having suffered a bump in the straight from War Of Will! The early leader Joevia stayed on well to take third with Tax running fourth and Japan’s Master Fencer not disgraced in fifth.
There were 7 other Grade 1 races on the card and most went to favourites. The Just A Game for the girls over the turf mile saw an easy win for favourite Rushing Fall. The Ogden Phipps over 1700m for the girls on dirt saw Midnight Bisou hold out against favourite Come Dancing to get a fourth consecutive win.
The Jaipur invitational over 1200m turf was not trouble for World Of Trouble who finished clear of Om and Disco Partner.
The Acorn for 3yo fillies saw Guarano win by six lengths at only her second start. She looks very good and has entered the pages of the little black book.
The race with the biggest upset (apart from the Belmont itself) was the Woody Stephens over 1400m when Hog Creek Hustle 19/1 won from Nitrous 17/1 and Borracho 15/1.
The Runhappy Metrtopolitan for 3y+ over 1600m saw Mitole defeat favourite McKinzie with Godolphin’s double Dubai Gold Cup winner Thunder Snow third.
The Manhattan was over 2000m turf and was a soft win for Bricks And Mortar, with Robert Bruce second, Raging Bull third and Channel Maker fourth.
On Friday we had the Grade 2 races, also with favourites to the fore. The True North over 1300m went to favourite Catalina Cruiser in a tight finish with Strike Power and Recruiting Ready.
The New York Stakes over 2000m on turf was a predicted quinella for the second year running for Chad Brown with favourite Homerique and neck away from stablemate Competitionofideas who were lengths ahead of the rest of the field.
The Belmont Gold Cup run over the same 3200m as the Melbourne Cup saw two possible future travellers in Amade and Arklow who did the 1-2 with only a neck between them. Highland Sky wasn’t too far away in third, followed by Canessar and Red Knight.
