BC Internationals: Turf contender Ulysses

“My suspicion is that this is coming a year too soon for him, but I wouldn't be shocked if he crashes the party.”

That was the concluding line of my international profile of Ulysses for the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1), which did indeed come a year too soon. Now 12 months on, the Niarchos Family homebred has fulfilled his early promise and can conclude his career on a high note. As if his enhanced resume weren’t enough, he also brandishes the key Turf stat: coming off a commendable loss in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (G1).

Ulysses boasts one of the best pedigrees you can possibly have, being by a Derby (G1) hero – world colossus Galileo – and out of an Oaks (G1) winner in Light Shift. He’s got the reputation to go along with it. Indeed, his typically methodical trainer, Sir Michael Stoute, threw him straight into last year’s Derby off a maiden win. Inexperience, combined with bad racing luck, contributed to his 12th-place finish.

There was a similar sense that Ulysses just wasn’t the finished article yet in his three ensuing outings last season, culminating in a respectable fourth in the Turf. The chestnut traveled well while held up off Highland Reel’s pace, advanced into the stretch, then couldn’t lift any more. Watch how third-placer Found zooms by as though Ulysses is tied to the eighth-pole. He boxed on without ever looking dangerous:

Given his raw profile last November, it’s tempting to see his first Turf experience as something of a reconnaissance mission. Connections have freely revealed that the 2017 Turf at Del Mar has been the plan ever since, and Stoute is lethal when he lays out a program for a progressive older horse.

Ulysses already looked like a different animal in his four-year-old premiere in the April 28 Gordon Richards (G3) at Sandown. Improving his position in the stretch while still on the bridle, he lengthened well to overhaul pace controller Deauville. If Deauville isn’t Highland Reel, he was a race-fit customer who can be dangerous on the front end, and Ulysses had no problem tackling him off the layoff.

Sir Michael Stoute's Ulysses wins the Gordon Richards Stakes - a second Group 3 level success for the son of Galileo. Royal @Ascot next? pic.twitter.com/CqDohTBXpG

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 28, 2017

Ulysses picked up a new rider in Jim Crowley for the Prince of Wales’s (G1) at Royal Ascot, and in midstretch, he appeared to be sitting with a handful of horse cruising up to Highland Reel and Decorated Knight. But then just as suddenly his move proved short-lived. Ulysses, who looked ready to forge clear, stalled and allowed Highland Reel’s superior stamina to prevail. He even lost the tight finish for second to Decorated Knight.