IT should not necessarily be the case in these days of wider appreciation of the global dimensions of the sport, but the reputation of some of horseracing’s equine stars can suffer if they remain in their backyards. More specifically, either they, or significant horses they have run against, are expected to travel in order to secure their legacy.

Frankel did not run outside Britain but he did at least run against several horses who spread his fame by proxy.

The same cannot be said of the sensational Winx, who made it 17 wins in a row with another drubbing of Hartnell in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Timeform rate Winx on 134 – just 2 below her fellow Aussie Black Caviar, who was joint-best female in the firm’s history – but it may be difficult for her to take things further without her (or perhaps Hartnell) going on the road.

AMERICAN CROP

It seems unlikely that the same legacy requirements will be an issue for any of this season’s North American classic crop, who seem much of muchness, besides, possibly, Unique Bella among the fillies.

Following on from consecutive years of California Chrome, American Pharoah and Arrogate – three of the best US horses in history – it would hardly be a surprise if there was a regression to a more average year.

Then again, who knows what the coming weeks will turn up?

DERBY

In the absence of the unbeaten but injured Mastery (rated 124), there is little between the Florida Derby winner Always Dreaming (123), the Wood Memorial winner Irish War Cry (121) and last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Classic Empire (122) in the betting for the Kentucky Derby on May 6th.

Close on their heels is the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Thunder Snow (119), last seen winning the UAE Derby.

In the spring of his three-year-old career, Thunder Snow has already run eight times, including in Britain, France and the UAE, with Kentucky likely to be next.

There’s a horse who cannot be accused of ducking a challenge!