WHILE Epsom still seeks a headline act for the Investec Derby, America already has a star three-year-old and his two most recent victims, Firing Line and Dortmund prepare to take him on again as he bids for the second leg of the Triple Crown at Pimlico tonight.

Following the American classic scene, it offers much more of a public spectacle for fans and due to the nature of training and racing, the accessability to the star horses from the moment they walk of the lorry is a huge attraction in the era of social media. Contrast it to Britain and Ireland where the public rarely see a sight of an Epsom Derby horse until he appears in the paddock at Epsom. The Kentucky Derby this year turned out to be a strange race in comparison to past years as there were no wild front runners and the final three were in contention throughout and had the race between them into the straight. The overall time was slow, though a slow track and a quick mid-race section was offered as reasons for that.

American Pharoah’s pedigree is interesting as you have to go back to the fifth generation to find Northern Dancer, unusual in the modern thoroughbred.

Tonight he lines up for the second leg of the Triple Crown and where his destiny lies remains to be seen. In flat racing there is usually a link through the pedigrees of the classic winners. American Pharoah’s Derby winning great grandsire Unbridled could only manage second in the Preakness.

Over a shorter distance Dortmund could be dangerous but, whatever happens, it is difficult to see the Pharoah lasting the distance in the Belmont.