The European contingent went back home empty-handed from Monmouth Park. George Washington’s euthanization cast a shadow over the BC weekend. There were complaints from the Europeans about racing conditions at Monmouth Park but Carl Nafzger, Street Sense’s trainer, put it all in perspective. Talking about Street Sense, trainer Nafzger offered no excuses. “He had every chance. The others were better. After all, every horse had to run on the same track.”

Given how bad the conditions were, it is surprising that form horses performed beyond expectations. The belief that the Derby winner does not do well in the Classic was cemented. An Arc winner has difficulty in the Turf is a thought that gained wider acceptance despite the fact the (very) soggy turf compromised the chances of Dylan Thomas.

Curlin, beaten the only time he raced at Monmouth Park in August in the Haskell Invitational, chose the right race to win at the same track. He won decisively and staked his claim for the Eclipse Award. Curlin’s wins in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and the BC Classic were in the classic mould. Street Sense was beaten in the last two races after sizzling wins in the Derby and the Travers. Lawyer Ron lost to Curlin in the Jockey Club and could not handle the mud in the Classic. Any Given Saturday won the Haskell at Monmouth Park and came into the Classic with a great deal of support. He did not have a serious chance in the Classic because of his inability to handle the slop.

A paragraph on Kieren Fallon’s race-fixing trial in England. Ray Murrihy, an Australian Steward and an expert in race analysis was a prosecution witness on Monday. Mr Murrihy gave evidence about a race at Lingfield on March 12, 2004. Kieren Fallon had a huge lead with 200 metres to go on a horse called Ballinger Ride. Fallon lost the race. Mr Murrihy said, “That is a race he should have won. It was an extraordinary ride. The horse slowed down as Fallon dropped his hands.” The defence has contended that Fallon was giving the horse a breather.

Aidan O’Brien’s Scorpion, the Coronation Cup winner at Epsom this year, may not run in the Melbourne at Fleming Race Course next Tuesday. Scorpion and Mahler were exercised on Monday at Sandown Race Course. Scorpion was found to be lame.

O’Brien, however, had good news from Leopardstown in Ireland. Jockey Seamus Heffernan rode a double for O’Brien. Jupiter Pluvius won the Group III Killavullan Stakes. He also won with the O’Brien-trained Plan.

The syndicate that won the biggest Scoop6 at Newmarket on October 20 failed in its bid to collect the bonus on October 27 at Doncaster. A lone punter at a William Hill shop had 16 pounds invested and had Perfect Art in the last leg. At one point, Perfect Art struck the front but could not sustain. With the bonus pool included, next week’s Scoop6 will reach new heights.

End of Monday, Jamie Spencer had a seven-winner lead over Seb Sanders. Spencer had 179 and Sanders had 172. Spencer had a riding double at Kempton. Seb Sanders was sitting out the first of a two-day suspension. “I am riding fancied horses at the right time. If I have a double-figure lead with a week to go, I will be hard to catch but I will keep trying. I’d rather be chased than be chasing,” Spencer stated. He is 1-10 with Coral to win the British riding title. The British season ends on Saturday, November 10, 2007.

In the other race for jockeys, Jorge Ricardo leads Russell Baze 9903 to 9890. Baze has won 19 races from 32 rides.

Ryan Moore rode the Michael Stoute-trained Allegretto to a victory in the Prix Royal-Oak on Sunday at Longchamp. It was the first Grade I win for Ryan Moore in France. A Galileo filly, Allegretto is the winner of the Henry II Stakes and the Goodwood Cup this year.

On Sunday at the Tokyo Race Course, Meisha Sampson won the Grade I Tenno Sho (Autumn) over 2,000 metres on the grass. The jockey was Japan’s champion, Yutaka Take. The race was worth about 1.5 million dollars to the winner. That was Take’s 2,999th career win. Because of equine influenza, Meisha Sampson missed the Arc at Longchamp won by Dylan Thomas.