The year of Flintshire?

The 2016 older male turf division in America will get a lot more interesting as Juddmonte Farms announced yesterday that multiple group one winner Flintshire will race in North America under trainer Chad Brown.

Flintshire will arrive in America on Saturday after he clears quarantine. It was a surprising move and it adds a new twist to the division. Everyone in the racing world remembers the tour de force he put on in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational last summer at Saratoga. Flintshire has been very consistent in Europe, winning four races and racking up ten second place finishes, but as a horse that enjoys a fast pace and firm turf courses, America seems like a perfect fit.

This move by Juddmonte is genius, as I believe that they were getting a little tired on Flintshire's case of seconditis. Coming to America will give Flintshire new opportunities to win major Grade 1 races such as the United Nations, the Sword Dancer, the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park, and ultimately another run at the Breeders' Cup Turf -- the schedule mapped out for Flintshire, according to Juddmonte.

This is also the same schedule that took Main Sequence to the division title in 2014, who ironically, defeated Flintshire in the Breeders' Cup Turf to lock up the division title. To remind everyone how much of a threat Flintshire can be in the turf division, please enjoy his impressive win in the Sword Dancer last summer. If Flintshire runs to expectations, it could be a long year in the turf division for many others.