THE demise of the Triple Crown dream for Saxon Warrior is to be lamented. The concept had already gained significant traction after the first leg, and that momentum would surely have continued during the summer had he won the second, taken racing off the racing pages and into the main sports pages, into mainstream.

On the positive side, it appears that the Triple Crown is back in vogue in Britain, and you can be sure that Team Coolmore/Ballydoyle will have a crack at it again if and when they unearth another potentially suitable candidate.

It is in vogue in America all right, it never left vogue. It is obviously different, three races in five weeks as opposed to four and a half months, over a range of distances that span two and a half furlongs as opposed to three-quarters of a mile, all on dirt, all on left-handed ovals, as opposed to tracks with varying characteristics.

It has been done recently too. We are still waiting for the first since Nijinsky in 1970 on this side of the water, but American Pharoah proved three years ago that it can be done in the modern era on the far side, bridged the gap back to Seattle Slew and Affirmed in 1977 and 1978.

You wish Justify and Bob Baffert and Mike Smith all the best at Belmont Park this evening.

SOLARIO STUNNER

YOU never could have thought that the Group 3 Solario Stakes, run at Sandown Park last September, would produce two classic winners by the start of June. Then again, this is the race that gave us Kingman and Raven’s Pass in recent years, and Alhaarth and To-Agori-Mou and Oh So Sharp and Lyphard’s Wish if you want to go back further. And last year’s renewal may not be finished with the accolades yet.