IF my maths is correct, between last Friday and Monday in the USA we saw a total of 14 graded or listed races for two-year-olds, and five of these were at the highest level. There were a number of talking points among them, and while ParisLongchamp had the attention of most racing fans and breeding afficionados, there are sure to be many among the US winners who will go on to greater glory and become household names.

Arguably, the weekend belonged to Spendthrift Farm. When the juvenile Brave Deb (Authentic), a homebred, won the Grade 3 Surfer Girl Stakes at Santa Anita on Monday, she was adding to her sire’s great weekend, as on Saturday another daughter, Iron Orchard (Authentic), won the Grade 1 Frizette Stakes at Aqueduct. However, the Spendthrift colours were also carried to Grade 1 Santa Anita juvenile victories by Tommy Jo (Into Mischief) and Ted Noffey (Into Mischief). The celebrated Into Mischief will stand at Spendthrift again in 2026 at $250,000.