RACING:THE 2010 Irish Derby hero Cape Blanco will attempt to land a second American Grade One pot of the season in Saturday night's Arlington Million and he looks like being accompanied to Chicago by this year's Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach.
Both Treasure Beach and the Irish 2,000 Guineas victor Roderic O’Connor are among a dozen pre-entries for the €279,000 Secretariat Stakes on the Million under-card in Chicago.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien won the 10 furlong Grade One event 11 years ago with Ciro and indicated yesterday Treasure Beach will probably take his chance this weekend. “At the moment it is more likely Treasure Beach rather than Roderic will run but it is not definite,” the champion trainer said after confirming Cape Blanco will try to follow up last month’s Man O’War Stakes victory.
“Jamie (Spencer) will ride him and obviously Colm (O’Donoghue) rode Treasure in the Irish Derby. If the other fella runs too we will see about a jockey for him,” O’Brien added. Gio Ponti and Mission Approved, both behind Cape Blanco at Belmont, are due to take on the Ballydoyle hope again in the Million, a race O’Brien won with Powerscourt in 2005.
This evening’s Ballinrobe action includes an intriguing conditions hurdle where Muirhead would be a stone-cold cert if managing to revert to his career best form.
That includes a Grade One success as a novice and some notable efforts against the very best over flights such as Brave Inca and Solwhit. However, Noel Meade’s runner has not come within a long way of that for a while and was beaten over fences at Galway last time.
He gets a lot of weight from the course and distance winner Sicilian Secret tonight but then so does Psycho and Tony Martin’s versatile runner may be the safest option in the circumstances.
Meade could have better luck in the opening flat handicap where a half mile hike in trip could be ideal for Stigh Collain who was a beaten favourite at Down Royal last time.
Dermot Weld’s Hisaabaat has plenty to find on ratings with both Jouster and Luggers Hall in the nine furlong maiden. However, Dermot Weld’s runner boasts the best recent form and can improve on a third to Black Belt last month.
