Getty Mendelssohn enters the Triple Crown season with a strong mix of pedigree and performance that has many people thinking the European-trained horse can succeed in the United States. Mendelssohn demanded $3 million thanks to a bidding war that ensued at the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling sale. Why did the horse command such a high price tag? Mendelssohn's sire is Scat Daddy, and dam is Leslie's Lady. Both were successful race horses who have offspring that have produced at a high level. There is reason to think Mendelssohn can become the first European-trained horse to win the Kentucky Derby. Mendelssohn won the UAE Derby in Dubai by nearly 19 lengths. The horse has won races all over the world, including in the United States at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf last fall. Mendelssohn has an experienced jockey-trainer combo with Ryan Moore on the saddle along with famed European trainer Aidan O'Brien. The horse is owned by Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor. Mendelssohn won in Dubai by 18 1/2 lengths, one of the most dominant performances we have seen in a Derby prep race. Paulick Report's Editor-in-Chief Scott Jagow noted just how impressive of an outing it was. “Despite the historical irrelevance of the UAE Derby on the Kentucky Derby, it is impossible to shade Mendelssohn's rousing performance Saturday,” Jagow told the Paulick Report. “He's already won on three continents and three different surfaces, with his drilling of the competition in Dubai coming over dirt. A half-brother to Beholder, one of the great champions of recent memory, the sky appears to be the limit for the son of Scat Daddy." There is some concern on how Mendelssohn will perform at Churchill Downs after shipping from Dubai. As Jagow noted, the horse has already proven he can travel well, winning races on multiple continents. While no UAE Derby winner has won the Kentucky Derby, no previous horse had the performance Mendelssohn had in Dubai. Even O'Brien was surprised by Mendelssohn's performance. "He was a horse that we hoped would learn a lot by coming here [Dubai] and we are absolutely delighted, over the moon really," O'Brien told The Independent. "He's by Scat Daddy and the lads paid a lot of money for him and he's bred to be very good. With a pedigree like he has he is bred to handle the dirt. That was an unbelievable performance really. We weren't sure how he would handle the distance but you have to say he saw it out pretty well! He is naturally quick and has a lot of tactical early speed. He did it the hard way but he did it so easily." Some will argue Mendelssohn peaked too early with his dominant outing. Others point out Mendelssohn could just be getting started if his early 2018 races are any indication. Every Kentucky Derby contender has something they have to overcome. For as strong as the 2018 field appears, each horse has a flaw that can be focused on. Learn more about Mendelssohn's team by clicking the next button to read about the horse, jockey, trainer and owners.
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Mendelssohn's Jockey: Ryan Moore
Moore is just starting to hit his stride as one of the best jockeys in the world. Moore has 18 victories over his career, and 32 top three finishes. Moore has earned more than $1.8 million this year, and $17.6 million over his racing career. Moore rode Mendelssohn to his decisive UAE Derby victory in Dubai. The jockey saw something special in Mendelssohn based on his unprecedented run in Dubai.
“Next time it’s going to be a far tougher question but we’re very happy with what he’s done and I still feel he will get better," Moore told the Lexington Herald-Leader. "He’s got the pedigree and looks to go with the form he’s producing, so he’s a very exciting horse.”
According to Sky Sports, Moore gave up the opportunity to ride Saxon Warrior in Newmarket for the chance to lead Mendelssohn to a Kentucky Derby victory. Trainer Aidan O'Brien noted Moore had been eyeing the Kentucky Derby for some time.
"I think it was (straightforward) for Ryan," O'Brien told Sky Sports. "He was always fascinated by the Kentucky Derby and obviously this horse was coming along lovely last year. He went through the winter well and his first two runs were lovely, so that (Kentucky Derby) is what Ryan is thinking at the moment, obviously things can change but that's the way he's thinking at the moment."
Moore comes from a horse racing family as his father, Gary Moore, was a jockey. Moore's three siblings were also jockeys. Moore is from England, but would like nothing more than to win one of the Triple Crown races in 2018. America's Best Racing details some of the highlights of Moore's career.
"Based in the United Kingdom, Ryan Moore has shipped over to North America to win some of the continent's most prestigious races," America's Best Racing notes. "Moore was aboard Conduit when the horse won the 2008 and 2009 Breeders' Cup Turf and was aboard the winners of both the 2011 (Wrote) and 2012 (George Vancouver) Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. In 2013, Moore swept the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (Dank) and Turf (Magician). He pulled off another double in 2015 when he guided Hit It a Bomb to a win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf and Found to victory in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf."
Moore spoke with The Telegraph about his approach when he is on the race track.
“I can go out there and keep it simple and put a horse up with the pace and keep it out of trouble – and that will be fine, but you’ll probably burn up too much petrol," Moore told The Telegraph. "You have to have relaxed the horse and be relaxed yourself, and just do it economically. You’ll need luck as well. A huge part of our sport is draws and ground [or going]. When you come out of the stalls the horse next to you might jump into you, you might be left with no cover. All sorts of things. You’re always reacting. It’s not always going to be the right decision. But for me it’s all about feeling, finding a good rhythm and intuition really.”