BC Internationals: Turf contender Decorated Knight

Decorated Knight has come a long way since last summer, when he shaped as a dark horse in the 2016 Arlington Million (G1) and stayed that way when having to scratch the morning of the race. Now the Galileo blueblood returns stateside, no longer under the radar, but as a triple Group 1 winner.

Part of his success is due to the clever management by trainer Roger Charlton, who had Decorated Knight cranked for a couple of early-season Group 1s. But the Al Homaizi and Al Sagar homebred was no opportunistic flash in the pan, for he ran a mighty race in defeat at Royal Ascot and most recently upstaged the Irish Champion (G1).

Cross-entered to the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) (as his first preference) and the Mile (G1), Decorated Knight must choose between trying 1 1/2 miles for the first time and taking on specialist milers on a tight track. Since Europe’s past Mile heroes have all been proven at that game (or shorter), I think connections’ first preference to step up for the Turf is the right one. Del Mar won’t put a premium on stamina, but on turn of foot, and he has that in spades. Of the two options, he has a better shot of factoring in the longer event.

Decorated Knight’s dam, Pearling, is a full sister to Giant’s Causeway and to the prolific broodmare You’resothrilling, who’s produced five Group 1 performers to the cover of Galileo. That list includes dual classic-winning champion Gleneagles and current Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) threat Happily. Since Decorated Knight is by Galileo as well, they’re intensely related. His ability therefore doesn’t come out of the blue.

His Arlington misadventure cost him the remainder of 2016, and Decorated Knight didn’t resurface until the February 4 Winter Derby Trial over Lingfield’s Polytrack (click link for replay). Under considerate handling by Andrea Atzeni, he out-moved Arab Spring and beat a few decent all-weather mainstays.

That wasn’t so much his trial for the Winter Derby as a prep run for Dubai. The about nine-furlong Jebel Hatta (G1) appealed as a very winnable spot to boost his stallion profile. Nightmarish traffic almost defeated the purpose for going, but Decorated Knight flew once in the clear to nab Godolphin’s improving Folkswood. The form looked better as Folkswood went on to place in a trio of Group races, most significantly when third in Winx’s Cox Plate (G1) three-peat.

Decorated Knight went for the double in the Dubai Turf (G1) over the same course and distance on World Cup night, only to wind up sixth in a far deeper field on yielding ground. Just touched off in third is Ribchester (whose Mile profile is forthcoming).