GRAHAM Motion was squarely in the game in February when Irish War Cry led every step to win the Grade 2 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park. He was surely out of the game in March when Irish War Cry flopped in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth.

The son of Curlin loped on the lead to win the Holy Bull by an easy three and three quarter lengths. He squandered a perfect stalking position in the Fountain of Youth, losing by nearly 22 lengths. That’s when Motion turned the game board upside down.

Motion fled Florida and relocated Isabelle de Tomaso’s chesnut colt to Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland. Motion paired Irish War Cry with a tough, older workmate and drilled him six furlongs six days before the Wood Memorial.

Not necessarily by choice, but Motion tabbed jockey Rajiv Maragh, freshly back from a back injury that sidelined him for 16 months, when Joel Rosario opted to ride Practical Joke in the Blue Grass.

A front-running winner of the Holy Bull, Irish War Cry stalked favourite Battalion Runner in the Wood Memorial and galloped to a three-and-a-half length win in the $750,000 stakes.

Five days before the Wood Memorial, Motion had been asked yet again about the fumble in the Fountain of Youth. He pondered the question like only he can.

“I don’t have a reason why and I’m tired of trying to explain it,” Motion said. “With the pressure that you’re on at this time of year, you kind of have to find out and see where you are. A month ago, he was one of the favourites for the Derby. I can’t just suddenly get off the roundabout, right?”

You can’t get back in the game if you get off the roundabout.