International Scouting Report: 2026 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

Three of the seven entrants in Thursday’s rescheduled Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) at Belmont Park are British-based, but two are already familiar to racing fans on this side of the pond. 

El Cordobes, who had a productive stateside campaign last fall, resurfaces for Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby, and we’ve seen the Ed Walker-trained Fort George compete well at both Saratoga and Kentucky Downs this summer. That leaves Pride of Arras as the intriguing newcomer to U.S. racing, but as trainer Ralph Beckett points out, he’s well suited to the conditions. 

We’ll briefly touch upon El Cordobes and Fort George before looking more closely at Pride of Arras. 

El Cordobes and Fort George

Last year, El Cordobes arrived at the Spa as an upwardly mobile type, and Flavien Prat conjured up a remarkable winning trip in the Sword Dancer (G1). Now the successful team is back together for the first time since.

El Cordobes was third in this race a year ago, when champion stablemate Rebel’s Romance bossed it on the front end at Aqueduct. With a much better tempo in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Del Mar, El Cordobes finished nearer to Rebel’s Romance when they were second and third, respectively, to the surprising Ethical Diamond. 

The only caveat about El Cordobes is that he’s raced just once in the interim. His sole start of the year came in the Feb. 14 H. H. The Amir Trophy (G2) in Qatar, where he was an underwhelming fifth. 

But note that the top three were Japanese Turf contender Deep Monster, who was later third to Hong Kong legend Romantic Warrior at Sha Tin; multiple Group 1 star Goliath, who just romped in Sunday’s Preis von Europa (G1); and fellow globetrotter Giavellotto, who famously nipped Kalpana in the Hardwicke (G2) at Royal Ascot.

In the normal course of events, El Cordobes might have been expected to turn up in Dubai next, but instead, he dropped off the radar. Appleby recently told NYRA that he was focusing on a fall/winter campaign. 

“We sort of just worked back from a winter campaign with him,” Appleby said. “We are starting off where we are and thought he would do well for the break, and he’s had a nice break for summer. He’s very much on a winter program, for sure, and hopefully will do well and go and win this and put himself in the Breeders’ Cup picture again. If he goes and runs well, we will go down a normal sort of route with him, campaigning through the winter and ultimately looking at Qatar and the Dubai City of Gold (G2) and stuff like that. That’s why he’s not been seen for the summer. Hopefully it’ll answer everyone’s questions.”

The Hirsch should tee El Cordobes up well, whether he’s forward enough to win off the bench or not.

Fort George also has tussled with Rebel’s Romance, finishing a fine second in the Dubai City of Gold on Feb. 28 (for details, see the scouting report prior to his near-miss in the Bowling Green [G2]). Walker told NYRA publicity that Fort George was scratched from the Christophe Clement Turf (G1) because of a foot abscess. Rerouted to the Kentucky Turf Cup (G2), he ran a better-than-appears third from far off the pace. Fort George was missing regular pilot Kieran Shoemark that day, but they reunite in the Hirsch. 

Pride of Arras 

By the terrific Dubawi stallion New Bay and out of an Oasis Dream mare, Pride of Arras comes from a deep European family that’s performed well in North America. His maternal relatives include Brian Boru, Workforce, Sea Moon, and more recently, Grade 2 winner Legend of Time, who placed in the 2024 Belmont Derby (G1) and Saratoga Derby (G1).

Yet you don’t need to read pedigree tea leaves to discern Pride of Arras’s adaptability to Belmont Park. He’s excelled around York, a similar flat, left-handed expanse of a racecourse. 

A swashbuckling winner of the 2025 Dante (G2), Pride of Arras emerged as a prime player in the Derby (G1) at Epsom, only to flop badly. After another dismal display in the Irish Derby (G1), he was gelded. Pride of Arras appeared to be a reformed character when unleashing a sharp turn of foot to capture the Great Voltigeur (G2), though that might have simply been his enthusiasm for York. 

Pride of Arras concluded his sophomore campaign with a fourth in last November’s Bahrain International Trophy (G2), his first start outside Europe and his first try versus older horses. He may have raced a little keenly, attending the leader before staying on one-paced on the cutback in trip.

Scratched from his intended reappearance at Newbury in April with a bruised foot, Pride of Arras was not seen again until the July 5 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud (G1). He faded to last against a strong field led by Calandagan, but tried to work his way into contending for the minors before giving way abruptly and shortening stride.

Pride of Arras turned in a much better effort next time in the York (G2), battling gamely for second behind talented three-year-old Item. He strode forward in a tactical race with a stop-start tempo that probably didn’t play to his strengths, especially dropping back in trip.

The form worked out well when Item came back to upset the Juddmonte International (G1) over the same course. Pride of Arras was supposed to be there too, but he acted up in the gate and got scratched. It’s worth wondering if he might have snared a placing at big odds.

Pride of Arras proved he could strike top form away from York when landing the September (G3) at Kempton in his latest. Stepping up to 1 1/2 miles again, he outkicked odds-on favorite Gethin, who had the run of the race as the controlling speed. Interestingly, regular rider Rossa Ryan said on “Luck on Sunday” that Pride of Arras wasn’t that enamored with the Polytrack that was riding slower than usual. 

Ryan wouldn’t have been available to ride in the Hirsch last Saturday, when he was on duty at Newmarket. That’s the only reason that James Doyle was originally listed to ride as a super-sub. With the postponement to Thursday, Ryan is back aboard, and he expects Pride of Arras to appreciate the contours of Belmont Park. He also believes that he’ll handle any type of ground.