AFTER watching how many of this season’s Group 1 contests were run, you could wonder when the season’s battle plans are being drawn up at the Ballydoyle round table in the spring, if certain roles were already dished out to the cast of 2026 going into battle.

Private Action – your duty will be deployed as pacemaker. Private Puerto Rico, forget your Group 1 intentions, you will be drafted as a second stage attack to confuse the enemy. Private Hawk Mountain, you too will be on standby for the same role.