2018 Secretariat international scouting reports: Platinum Warrior, Bandua, Ming

If Hunting Horn heads the Irish contingent in the Secretariat (G1), the others have claims to be better than they’ve shown so far.

PLATINUM WARRIOR

Quick thought experiment: what comes to mind when you hear that a Group 3 winner by Galileo seeks redemption after a subpar ninth in the Irish Derby (G1)? Did you reflexively suppose it was another Aidan O’Brien runner? No, it’s a Mick Halford pupil available at 10-1 on the morning line.

Halford may not be a household name on this side of the pond – Platinum Warrior is his first North American starter – but the veteran trainer has had a European Group 1 winner (Casamento) to go along with success stories at the Dubai Carnival (e.g., Certerach). His client roster includes Godolphin, the Aga Khan, and Yuesheng Zhang’s Yulong Investments, an emerging player on the world stage which snapped up Platinum Warrior for €200,000 as a Goffs Orby yearling.

The first foal from French Group 2 winner Laugh Out Loud, Platinum Warrior debuted in a hot Curragh maiden last August. The gray finished a midfield eighth of 16, not far behind fellow firsters Hunting Horn (fourth) and Hazapour (seventh). Platinum Warrior arguably should have won second up at Dundalk, but he idled a bit once striking the front and got mugged on the line. He made no rookie mistake next time over the track, drawing off in a 7 1/2-length rout.

By Galileo out of Group 2 winner Laugh Out Loud, Platinum Warrior hoses up at @DundalkStadium for @MHalfordRacing and @patjsmullen... pic.twitter.com/aqRjnEgvWF

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 10, 2017

Platinum Warrior made his seasonal reappearance in a premier handicap at Navan April 23, where his sixth isn’t a true bill. Between racing in a pocket, toting 134 pounds, and battling rain-softened ground, he could not do himself justice.

Halford pitched him into the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial (G3) next, and the 40-1 shot checked in a decent fourth. If unable to challenge Hazapour or the O’Brien duo of Delano Roosevelt and The Pentagon, Platinum Warrior was comfortably best of the rest, including a subpar Nelson.

Hazapour will be ridden by @FrankieDettori in the Derby!

Can he serve it up to the likes of Saxon Warrior, Young Rascal and Roaring Lion? #TheSupremeTest @EpsomRacecourse pic.twitter.com/mxqhy3NzqZ

— World Horse Racing (@WHR) May 23, 2018

Platinum Warrior took a leap forward on a good-to-firm surface in the Gallinule (G3), handing Halford a milestone 1,000th win. Traveling well in a stalking spot, he got first run on favored Latrobe and held sway by 2 1/4 lengths. Watch how he still looks green drifting out in the clear:

His Irish Derby bid was virtually over before it began, so his ninth is not a proper read on where he stacks up.

“He got very upset in the stalls and split his gum open,” Halford reported on his website, “and he ran way below his best.

“It was a very muddling race in that they went no gallop, and it was just a day to forget and we know that he is a good bit better than that.”

Indeed, it paid to race handy in the Irish Derby, and if Platinum Warrior had worked out a trip similar to the Gallinule, he might well have made the top four. The what-might-have been is only accentuated by the fact that Gallinule runner-up Latrobe sprang the Irish Derby upset, edging Rostropovich and Saxon Warrior.