Breeders' Cup International Horse Profile: Hierarchy

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint

Improving colt has raced exclusively at six furlongs, but could be the type to prefer shorter. That gives him dark horse appeal in a furiously competitive event.

Hierarchy’s pedigree points to his adaptability to Southern California. His sire, the smart juvenile Mehmas, is responsible for current Del Mar Oaks (G1) winner Going Global. His broodmare sire, Milk It Mick, was the 2003 Dewhurst (G1) shocker who resuscitated his career at Santa Anita. Dam Cheworee is a half to Group 2-placed sprinter Astrophysics from the family of Group 3-winning two-year-old Good Vibes. Hierarchy failed to sell twice as a youngster but proved a much more commercial property at the Tattersalls Guineas Breeze up, where he brought 105,000 guineas.

Hierarchy won his first two starts. Trainer Hugo Palmer introduced him on the Wolverhampton Tapeta Aug. 9, and he obliged as the 6-4 favorite, albeit in a tight three-way finish. He traveled like a coiled spring just behind the leaders but didn’t establish the separation he promised. At any rate, he readily handled the left-handed turn. Switched to turf for a Salisbury novice, Hierarchy again traveled best and this time forged clear.

Back to all-weather for the Sirenia (G3) at Kempton, Hierarchy made a nifty move on the far side to contend, only to be repelled by the 16-1 winner Eve Lodge. Favored Wings of War rallied from farther back to relegate him to third.

Hierarchy nearly turned the tables on Wings of War when they renewed rivalry in the Mill Reef (G2) at Newbury. In a change of tactics, he strode to the fore and almost pulled an 18-1 coup. Wings of War took flight late to reel him in, but Hierarchy tried to come again, and the margin was only a head.

Finishing third was a decent yardstick in Fearby, the Molecomb runner-up and Gimcrack (G2) fourth, who has since placed to the well-regarded Tatsumaki in a lucrative Tattersalls sales race at Newmarket. The beaten Mill Reef favorite, Dhabab, is likewise a familiar face whose best stakes result remains a third in the Superlative (G2).

Considering his profile as a good traveler who’s not quite getting home at six furlongs, Hierarchy could respond well to five. Obviously it would be preferable to ascertain that before the cauldron of the Breeders’ Cup, but that’s factored in his price, and he has potential.