time for a moan about the flat.

​It is only May 7th and already I am irked about flat racing. Whenever someone fires off criticism from afar, with no hands-on knowledge of the minor or important detail, the critic is an easy target for ridicule. My ‘moan’ or critical observation, as I would have it, in this piece is more scattergun than directed at any one individual, even if I do hone-in on individuals whose worldly experience on the subject outweighs mine by an incalculable amount. 
I doubt if I was alone in thinking last Friday afternoon that the King and Queen, as they are post coronation, had a useful type for the Epsom Derby in Circle of Fire. Though only second, he was a running on second, looking all over that he needs the Derby distance even this early in the season. The winner, Castle Way, is highly thought-of by both William Buick and Charlie Appleby, though not as an Epsom Derby horse, it seems. Doubtless Godolphin have other fish to fry when it comes to Epsom. But that doesn’t take away from Circle of Fire that it was a striking effort on his first start of the season.
Yet, straightaway connections were already ruling out Epsom in favour of Royal Ascot. There was no mention from anyone it was the considered opinion that the horse would not be suited by the unique test of Epsom Downs or that the horse neither possesses the class nor stamina for the Derby. I could have accepted the decision if based on immaturity, that a hard race at Epsom may bottom the horse. I could even accept, even applaud, the thought that Circle of Fire was thought a St.Leger horse and he would be quietly brought-on with Doncaster in mind.
I am using Circle of Fire as an example of my thinking. I am in no way criticising the judgement of Sir Michael Stoute, Ryan Moore (whose opinion must have guided the decision to swerve Epsom) or the King and Queen’s racing manager. My ire is directed at the flat racing industry as a collective. Continually the Epsom Derby is referred to as ‘the greatest race in the world’, when clearly it has fallen behind many other races around the world, yet more and more it is regarded in terms of investment value rather than a sporting event, the Blue Riband of the sport.
It's all very well highlighting the crumb that a 1.30 start time this year allows for greater revenue from the World Pool but what use is money when the race itself continues to fall down the popularity ladder?
The French ignore the race these days. The U.S., Japan, Australia, Germany, etc, give it no consideration, believing the greater kudos in British racing is Royal Ascot or Glorious Goodwood. The worst stroke of reality, though, is that the Epsom Derby no longer stops the nation in which it is staged. And the most damning statistic, I believe, is that the Epsom Derby is no longer producing flat racing’s superstar horses. I would argue, perhaps wrongly, given my poor memory and inability, seemingly, to stand up and look for the reference book to prevent me from making as ass of myself, that Sea The Stars was the last potentially great horse to win the Epsom Derby. Don’t start me on why Sea The Stars can only be attributed to being the best (by a long way) of his generation and not a true great along the lines of Mill Reef, Brigadier Gerard or Frankel. Place Sea The Stars after Frankel and spot the odd one out.
This year, especially this year, the Epsom Derby needs to have star appeal, an A.1. celebrity, a bright light to hold the public attention so that come the first Saturday in June on the streets it is not ‘oh, is it the Derby today?’ but anticipation and acceptance that today is Derby Day. For the greater good of the sport, the Epsom Derby needs a Royal runner. Not as a sacrifice for the sport but a horse with a viable chance of being at the pointy end of the race, stirring the blood of viewers desperate for the late Queen’s lifelong love affair with the sport is underlined by finally having her name historically associated as the breeder of a Derby winner. The horse in question, and perhaps there is a dark royal horse waiting in the wings that I am not aware of, as of now is Circle of Fire.
I extend my critical thoughts on Epsom participation to all owners and trainers of top-class 3-year-old colts that have a pedigree that does not entirely rule-out the possibility that their class will see them prevail at Epsom. For instance, why with immediate effect would anyone rule-out Chaldean from having a shot at Epsom glory. He won with ease on ground somewhere between soft and heavy in the 2,000 Guineas. As a classic winner he is now worth a small fortune; his value would hardly be diminished if he failed at Epsom. His world doesn’t end with defeat; he can always return to the mile division.
The complex of not risking failure is creeping into National Hunt, in flat racing it is close to a medical condition. I am not suggesting that an immature horse should be thrown to the fires of Epsom as a marketing strategy, though I might suggest that if at this time of year, the majority of top-class 3-year-olds are too immature to endure the undulations and cambers of Epsom, then perhaps the race should be run later in the season. Yet this is the Epsom Derby we are debating. It is the premier race of the British racing calendar. At what point does the sport come first. The health and wealth of the sport. The very future of the sport. I would suggest at this moment in the sport’s history, with racecourse attendances receding, prize-money at an all-time real world low, it should be all-hands on deck to keep the boat afloat. I am not seeing that. All I see is the protection of investment. It never used to be like this – why is it like this now?