Moonstruck

One of the more interesting equine stories on the day is that of Khalid Abdullah's homebred Spanish Moon, who will be able to return to racing in England this season after a six-month ban last year for being difficult to load into the starting gate.

A six-month ban in England basically translates into the entire season as flat racing there begins in late March (today, actually) and runs into September.

Instead of pouting or complaining, trainer Sir Michael Stoute decided to take his show on the road and the six-year-old El Prado (Ire) horse flourished, winning two of four starts with a second- and a fourth-place finish and more than $1.2-million in prize money.

Following the ban, Spanish Moon went to France and captured the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (Fr-G1) and the Qatar Prix Foy (Fr-G2) in succession before shipping to America for a fourth-place run in the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park.

He finished his 2009 season with a runner-up finish in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Vase (HK-G1) in December. During the forced exile, not one starting gate issue in any of his four starts.

Spanish Moon will be allowed to resume racing in Great Britain this season following his run in today's $5-million Guangsha Group Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1), a race in which he finished second by only a nose to Eastern Anthem at Nad al Sheba last year.

I, however, would keep traveling. The horse has proven he can run with the world's best in any venue, and I've always believed that if it ain't broke, don't try to fix it.