After hearing John Sadler’s plan for Inshallah, the son of Flightline, I look at it a little differently. To me, this isn’t just a talented 2-year-old you want to move quickly with. Inshallah looks like a colt you manage for the long game. He was foaled April 1, 2024, so when he gets to the American Pharoah (G1) on October 3 at 1 1/16 miles, he’ll only be about 2½ years old physically. If the next move is the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) on October 30 at the same distance, you’re talking about two major Grade 1 tests in less than a month while he’s still not even 2 years and 7 months old. That’s something I’d take seriously. A horse’s racing age and his actual physical maturity aren’t necessarily the same thing. The calendar may call him a 3-year-old on January 1, but his body doesn’t know the calendar changed. Bone, joints, and growth plates mature at different stages, and the knees, cannon-bone area, spine, pelvis, muscle, and overall strength are still developing as a young horse gets older. I’m not against racing 2-year-olds at all. A properly managed workload is part of building bone and developing a racehorse. But there’s a big difference between building a horse and using too much of him too early, especially with a colt you believe could have a real classic future. If it were up to me, I’d rather have the best version of Inshallah at three than try to find the bottom of him at two. Give him the winter, let him grow into himself, and bring him back on the California Derby trail. You could start with the Robert B. Lewis (G3) in February at a mile — 20 points to the winner under the latest points structure — or even give him another month and start in the San Felipe (G2) in March at 1 1/16 miles, worth 50 to the winner. Then you’ve got the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in April at 1 1/8 miles, worth 100 points to the winner. If he’s good enough and earns his way there, you go to the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 1 at 1¼ miles. That gives you a natural progression: 1 mile → 1 1/16 → 1 1/8 → 1¼ miles, while giving the colt several more months to mature and keeping him home in California with Sadler and the same team. For me, it’s not really about what Inshallah can win this October. It’s about what kind of horse do we want Inshallah to be next May? With this kind of talent and pedigree, I’d play the long game. I have a lot of respect for John Sadler and KAS Racing, and ultimately they know the horse better than anybody. Sometimes the best thing you can do with a really good young horse is simply give him time to become the horse he’s supposed to be. @JockeyClubSA_EN | @SaudiEA @JockeyClub_SA | @Saudi_Racing 📷 @A_Evers