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Contact: Michael Adolphson
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International Festival of Racing Notes: Wednesday, August 06, 2014
In Today's Notes:
- Trading Leather Confirmed for Million
- Big Kick Possible for American St. Leger
- Grandeur and Farraaj Likely to Pass on Million
- Moment in Time Probable to Take on Boys in St. Leger
- European Imports Dazzling and Terrific Possible for Hatoof
- Venus De Milo Possible for Beverly D.
TRADING LEATHER CONFIRMED FOR MILLION
International powerhouse stable Godolphin Racing's Trading Leather has gone from possible to probable for the Grade I Arlington Million, according to the International Racing Bureau. The addition of the world-class competitor raises the bar on an already stellar field that is expected to include Coolmore's Grade I Breeders' Cup Turf-winning star Magician, Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey's defending Million champion Real Solution and Sam-Son Farm's 2013 Canadian Horse of the Year Up With the Birds.
Solely owned last year by legendary Irish trainer Jim Bolger before the conditioner sold the majority of the colt to Sheikh Mohammed's operation, Trading Leather exits his first poor performance in nearly two years in the Group I King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 26. Previously, the son of Bolger's homebred champion Teofilo was second in a huge effort in the Group I Coral Eclipse 21 days prior and won the classic Group I Irish Derby last year. Kevin Manning, his regular pilot, is expected to make the Stateside trip to ride the bay colt who has finished in the top three in 12 of 14 starts, including six at the highest level.
BIG KICK POSSIBLE FOR AMERICAN ST. LEGER
Grade II San Juan Capistrano conqueror Big Kick is possible to ship to Arlington for the Listed $400,000 American St. Leger, according to trainer Mike Machowsky. The gelded son of Tiznow put on an imposing display of pace and resilience as he led wire-to-wire in the 1¾-miles event at Santa Anita Park on June 29. Leading by as many as 10 lengths on the backstretch, the 5-year-old bay seemed well within himself the entire race, including getting the first 1¼-miles in 2:02.69, and held off favored Quick Casablanca by 2¾ lengths at the end under Victor Espinoza.
"We're looking at the St. Leger pretty hard," said Machowsky. "With the turf situation at Del Mar, the owners brought it up to me last week. Then, (Arlington stakes coordinator) Gary (Duch) called me after we won the San Juan – so we are definitely looking at it. I know there's a flight a week from today."
Owned by the partnership of Ernest Marchosky, Ken Shaw, Kate Walters and Lo Hi Stable, Big Kick has come into himself with the addition of distance and grass racing in his last two starts. One race prior to the San Juan Capistrano, he wired a 1¼-miles allowance event at Santa Anita in eye-pleasing fashion – finishing well clear, despite going a half in :45.78 and a mile in 1:34.53.
"He's a big, massive horse with a long stride and high cruising speed," Machowsky explained. "He just needs to get into that rhythm and just picks it up as he goes. He has a unique style and that's the way he wants to run."
Despite his excellent speed, it is the distance that has made the difference for the Canadian-bred five-time winner. "I was trying for a while to get more distance races," Machowsky said. "In fact, that 1¼-miles race was originally (in the book at) 1½ miles, but wouldn't go. It was brought back and he still won. The distance is the number one difference with him, as well as his maturity. Being gelded also helped a little bit and he can now switch off."
Big Kick worked Sunday morning over the Del Mar Polytrack surface, going seven furlongs in an impressive 1:26.60 for his connections. "He worked really good the other day and seems to be happy. We'll make a decision later (Wednesday)," Machowsky concluded.
GRANDEUR AND FARRAAJ LIKELY TO PASS ON MILLION
As of Wednesday afternoon, the 32nd edition of the Grade I $1,000,000 Arlington Million lost two of its possibles, Yvonne Jacques Grandeur and Sheikh Ahmed al Maktoum's Farraaj, according to the International Racing Bureau. Grandeur – who is based in Newmarket with trainer Jeremy Noseda, but had raced his previous three runs in graded stakes at Belmont Park – was last year's morning line Million favorite. This year, with the waters appearing a little deeper at Arlington, his connections have decided on a different course.
Similar can be assumed for the Roger Varian-trained Farraaj, who is coming off consecutive wins in English handicap races and seems very much on the improve, but has yet to establish himself at the top level. His best finish at such was a third in the Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf in 2011 behind Wrote. Last August, Farraaj was considered for the Million, but instead shipped to Del Mar to finish 11th of 12 in the Grade I Pacific Classic behind Game on Dude.
MOMENT IN TIME PROBABLE TO TAKE ON BOYS IN ST. LEGER
The last time trainer David Simcock shipped a mare from his English yard of Trillium Place to Arlington International Racecourse, he proved victorious with I'm A Dreamer in the 2012 edition of the Grade I Beverly D. This year, he is set to bring another 5-year-old mare, Moment In Time to the International Festival of Racing, but this time will combat the boys in the Listed $400,000 American St. Leger, if all goes well.
A daughter of German champion Tiger Hill, Eliza Park International Sun Kingdom's Moment in Time exits a good second last out in the Listed Chalice Stakes at Newbury over 1½ miles, but has excellent back-class as recent as last year. Second in the Group II Lancashire Oaks at Haydock in July of 2013, she was a useful third in the Grade I E. P. Taylor at Woodbine in October to close out her sophomore year. In 2014, she has stayed almost strictly at longer distances and seems to be rounding back into form after an unbecoming winter in Dubai. The bay mare has competed seven times against males in her 23-race career, including a third to Group I winner Noble Mission in last year's Tapster Stakes at Goodwood.
EUROPEAN IMPORTS DAZZLING AND TERRIFIC POSSIBLE FOR HATOOF
Two fashionably bred daughters of Galileo have been privately purchased from the Coolmore conglomerate and placed in the care of Arlington-based conditioner Tom Proctor with an eye on local stakes for new owner Elevage Bloodstock – a partnership of Glen Hill Farm and Hill 'n Dale Farm. The two fillies will be considered for the $75,000 Hatoof Stakes on the Arlington Million undercard, if all goes well.
Dazzling, a winner of the Listed Salsabil Stakes at Navan in April and recently second to four-time Group I-placed filly Venus de Milo in the Group III Munster Oaks Stakes at Cork on June 15, sold for over $1.5 million as a yearling at the Tattersalls October sale in 2012. She is a full sister to 2011 Group I Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Roderic O'Connor.
Terrific, who was third to Dazzling in the Salsabil four races back, has finished off the board in her last three starts – but has faced the likes of Group I Irish Oaks winner Bracelet and Grade I Beverly D. hopeful Palace. Terrific cost nearly $2.2 million at the same auction as Dazzling as a yearling and is a full sister to Together, who won the Grade I Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup in 2011 for Coolmore and Dazzling and Terrific's previous trainer, Aiden O'Brien.
While Dazzling has yet to work, Terrific turned in her first move for her new connections – a four-furlong breeze on the Arlington International Racecourse turf in a leisurely :52 flat on Monday morning. "If they come around, either or both can run (in the Hatoof)," Glen Hill Farm president Craig Bernick reported.
VENUS DE MILO POSSIBLE FOR BEVERLY D.
According to the International Racing Bureau and Ballydoyle representatives, Venus de Milo – a two-time Group III winner and four-time Group I-placed 4-year-old – is now possible for the Grade I $750,000 Beverly D. on Aug. 16. The daughter of Duke of Marmalade was third last out in the Group I Nassau Stakes on Aug. 2 at Goodwood, one race after an impressive runner-up finish to the highly rated and recently retired Thistle Bird in the Group I Pretty Polly Stakes on June 29 at The Curragh.
Both of the aforementioned races were at 1¼ miles – a sixteenth of a mile farther than that of the Beverly D. and opened up a new option for the filly who had previously raced at 1½ miles or farther in six consecutive races, including a second to The Fugue in last year's Group I Yorkshire Oaks. According to officials, Venus de Milo will only make the trip in if her connections decide to pass on the race with stablemate Palace.
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David Zenner│Senior Manager of Communications
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