This has been five years in the making. Ryan Moore will finally get his chance to ride in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday when he partners the UAE Derby winner Mendelssohn in Louisville.
In 2013 Moore rode at the meeting and was so transfixed by the experience that he vowed to return. The British jockey is a man of few words, but the then 29-year-old was “staggered” by the atmosphere generated by the 151,616 racegoers below Churchill Downs’ famous twin spires.
He believed at the time that there was no comparison to what he had seen. For a man who has won eight British Classics, a Melbourne Cup, two Prix De l’Arc de Triomphes, a Japan Cup and four Breeders’ Cup Turfs that is quite a statement.
On paper, Mendlessohn has a serious chance. He beat Kentucky Oaks contender Rayya at Meydan by an eye-popping 18 and a half lengths. Although it was a visually stunning performance, he stopped the clock impressively, too. By finishing second, Rayya beat her time in the UAE Oaks over the same course and distance by over a second. As he dismounted from the monstrous colt, Moore said that the precious son of deceased sire Scat Daddy could only get better.
MV Magnier was instrumental in purchasing Mendelssohn for the Coolmore syndicate for $3 million at the Keeneland September sale in 2016. He was impressed by the colt’s physique and has been dreaming of this moment ever since.
“The Kentucky Derby was always the dream,” Magnier revealed.
“If we thought he could be half as good as (half sister) Beholder and get him to win on the dirt it is something we aimed to do, but we aim quite a lot and don’t always hit.
“Ryan said afterwards that he was a bit green and he said there was plenty of improvement, so hopefully we will see it in Kentucky.”
The race known as the “Run For the Roses” is the jewel in a Trans-Atlantic Group One Triple Crown this weekend that sees Coolmore up against Godolphin in all three rounds. 
Moore has forsaken the opportunity to win a third English 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket on Saturday by spurning the saddles of Gustav Klimt, widely considered the favorite for the British Classic, and his stablemate Saxon Warrior, who many believe is the English Derby winner-in-waiting. Murillo also runs for Coolmore, most likely as pacemaker, while Godolphin rely on the runaway Craven Stakes winner Masar.
Moore will fly back to Newmarket from Kentucky on Saturday night to partner Happily in the English 1,000 Guineas on Sunday. Stablemates I Can Fly (Seamie Heffernan), Sizzling (Donnacha O’Brien) and Sarrochi form a fearsome quartet.
Up against them are Godolphin’s Soliloquy, the supplemented mount of William Buick, and Wild Illusion, who will be ridden by James Doyle.
It is a stretch to suggest that Godolphin’s Kentucky Derby challenger Enticed is a major threat to Mendelssohn, especially with unbeaten American colts such as Bob Baffert’s Justify and Magnum Moon alongside the once-beaten but highly-rated Audible also in the starting gates.
But when Moore was riding in Kentucky all those years ago, Godolphin were in a slump. Charlie Appleby had just replaced disgraced trainer Mahmood Al-Zarooni and top-flight winners were scarce. Since then, things have changed. Enticed, Masar, Wild Illusion and Soliloquy were all bred by the Dubai-based organization’s Darley operation. Last season Coolmore trainer Aidan O’Brien famously broke Bobby Frankel’s record of 25 Group One wins in a season with 28, but Godolphin pursued the Irishman around the world and ended up with an impressive 18.
Their rivalry is a strand that will thread through the fabric of the international season in 2018, and if Godolphin have one chance of knocking off their Irish rivals over the next two days it surely rests with Masar at Churchill Downs.
“I have been pleased with his preparation and he’s come out of the Craven in good order. I can’t give you a negative,” Appleby said.
“Based on what we saw in the Craven, we must go into Saturday’s race hoping that he is a serious contender. It’s an exciting weekend for the team and we hope that Masar has a decent chance.”
Roll on the weekend.