BARELY was the ink dry on this column two weeks ago than The Taj Mahal (formerly known as Taj Mahal) went and won a Group 2 in Australia, earning the equivalent of about €115,000 without necessarily improving on the best of his form in Europe.

The colt is now trained locally, rather than by Aidan O’Brien, but his story underlines the fact that there are some good rewards to be earned by those bold enough to travel at this time of the year.

The Japan Cup last weekend was a tougher proposition altogether, and O’Brien’s Idaho could finish only fifth in it, though he did make some decent late ground from behind. In the process, he earned connections €250,000 according to the JRA website.

Idaho looks to have some mileage left in him still, and a belated reproduction of his 119 timefigure from Ascot in the summer could easily get him in the frame again.

Idaho has since been taken out of the Hong Kong Vase on December 10th, but O’Brien looks to have strong claims still with the Vase which will feature Idaho’s even more talented stable-companion Highland Reel, seeking to repeat his win from two years ago and to reverse placings from the Breeders’ Cup Turf with Talismanic.

The latter had the perfect trip at Del Mar, while Highland Reel possibly had insufficient use made of him and was coming back for more at the end. Highland Reel’s lifetime best timefigure of 126 would be good enough next weekend.