2022 Eclipse Awards: Nations Pride

Nations Pride was favored in the Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf. He finished fifth, never coming close to contention, but the Godolphin homebred accomplished enough earlier in the year to make him a finalist for champion male turf horse of 2022.

Trained by Charlie Appleby, Nations Pride is by Teofilo out of Important Time, by Oasis Dream. He wintered in Dubai, won an English Derby prep in stylish fashion, finished eighth in the Derby at Epsom, and then was marked for North American racing by England-based Appleby.

The record shows that Appleby nearly always chooses the right horses to send overseas, and Nations Pride did well here. A tough outside post and a wide trip proved his undoing in the Grade 1 Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational, where he rallied with aplomb but finished second to pacesetting Classic Causeway. Nations Pride avenged that tough loss in the Grade 1 Caesars Saratoga Derby Invitational, where he beat Annapolis, who would win the Grade 1 Coolmore Turf Mile in October, as well as Classic Causeway while hitting a new career peak. Back at Belmont for the Grade 3 Jockey Club Derby Invitational, Nations Pride walloped inferior competition, winning by more than six lengths.

:: Full list of 2022 Eclipse Awards finalists, including profile stories

Nations Pride, from the words of his trainer and the presence of Godolphin’s lead jockey, William Buick, appeared to be Godolphin’s “A” team in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. The trip he got in the race wouldn’t be considered ideal, and Nations Pride lacked a finishing flourish. He was beaten nearly four lengths by his victorious stablemate Rebel’s Romance.

A handy colt with a versatile style, having raced just off the speed winning the Newmarket Stakes in April, Nations Pride also demonstrated a high degree of hardiness during 2022. Counting his trip from Dubai to England, Nations Pride traveled some 14,000 miles during the year. He stayed in New York between the Belmont Derby and the Saratoga Derby, but still made three flights from England to America from early July to late October.

His Beyer Speed Figure in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, 100, was best among his quartet of starts in this country, showing that even after a demanding campaign, this plucky colt still was improving. And there may be more to come in 2023.

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