Eric Saint-Martin deserves a word of commendation for his handling of Scintillation in Sunday's Group Three HSBC Premier Bauhinia Sprint Trophy.
Scintillation is one of the most talented horses in town but also one of the most fragile. As a former bleeder, one more bleed means he will be banished forever.
He's had some 'near bleeds' - showing blood in his trachea - on a number of occasions but fortunately these leakages from the lungs do not constitute a full bleed under the rules of racing because blood has not appeared out of the nostrils.
Saint-Martin's strategy in the Bauhinia was maximum cover and maximum relaxation for optimum performance.
Ultimately, when he peeled off the back of Natural Blitz after 600 metres, Scintillation only had to open up for 400 metres and the engine was able to handle that effort without overstressing.
It's a crying shame to see one of our most talented horses living on the knife-edge of retirement, with connections knowing he's always just one gush away from the end.
