Arlington (not PE) Million on Sat night.

Racing Post

Gio Ponti 7-4 favourite for Arlington Million

USA: Last year's winner Gio Ponti has been installed as the 7-4 favourite for the Arlington Million after Coral opened betting on Saturday's big race in Chicago.

The Christophe Clement-trained five year-old, runner-up to Zenyatta in the Breeders' Cup Classic when switched to the all-weather, has been drawn in gate six of a ten-runner field.

He is attempting to join John Henry as the only dual winner of the famous million-dollar contest, in which the John Gosden-trained Tazeez is the shortest-priced of three British runners in the million-dollar contest.

The six year-old, who finished third behind Byword in the Prince of Wales' Stakes at Royal Ascot, is rated a 7-2 chance by Coral.

He has been drawn nine, one box inside Luca Cumani's Summit Surge, on the wide outside in gate ten.

The recent winner of the Sky Bet York Stakes is quoted at 13-2 while Gosden's other entry Debussy is a 16-1 shot.

The Gerard Butler-trained Pachattack has drawn box one on the rail for the Grade 1 Beverly D Stakes, $750,000 highlight of the supporting card.

Former John Gosden-trained Rainbow View (drawn five) is the 4-1 favourite on the indicative Arlington morning line, where dual Listed-race winner Pachattack is 8-1.

John Smith's Cup winner Wigmore Hall will face six rivals in the Sceretariat Stakes, the third Grade 1 on the Saturday card where Paddy O'Prado will start hot favourite.

Arlington Million

Coral: 7-4 Gio Ponti, 7-2 Tazeez, 13-2 Summit Surge, 8 Just As Well, 9 Rahystrada, 11 General Quarters, 12 Tajaaweed, 16-1 Debussy, 20 Marsh Side, 66 Quite A Handful

Will we have any coverage? tellytrack, ESPN etc

British trio out to thwart Gio Ponti at Arlington
Preview: USA, Saturday 11.14pm BST

Arlington Park: Arlington Million (Grade 1) 1m2f, turf, 3yo+

THE three British-trained horses lining up for Saturday's Arlington Million have a tough nut to crack in the shape of defending champ Gio Ponti (Christophe Clement/Ramon Dominguez), who is bidding to become only the second dual winner in the race's rich history.

The Luca Cumani-trained Summit Surge is joined by the John Gosden-trained pair Tazeez and Debussy in the 28th running of what was the first million-dollar contest in the States when it was inaugurated back in 1981.


The storied John Henry won that initial running - and he remains the only two-time winner after scoring again three years later.

If the Arlington Million has lost some of its lustre in the three decades since, at least it has attracted a major star inGio Ponti.

Runner-up to Zenyatta on the all-weather in the Breeders' Cup Classic, the five-year-old won a pair of Eclipse Awards and was named America's champion turf performer last term after a string of Grade 1 wins.

His victories included a length-and-a-quarter decisive victory at Arlington 12 months ago, when over Saturday's rival Just As Well (Jonathan Sheppard/Julien Leparoux) at Arlington 12 months ago.

A short-priced favourite with British bookmakers, Gio Ponti was back in the Group 1 groove last month when taking the Man o'War Stakes at Belmont Park.

Luca Cumani, who forged his international reputation when Pat Eddery rode Tolomeo to victory in 1983, reckons the favourite will be hard to beat.

"We'll give it a go though, but I think we're running for second place," he said of his representativeSummit Surge (Kieren Fallon), who landed the Sky Bet York Stakes on his most recent outing.

Cumani added: "He won very well last time, but this is a step up and it will be very tough against Gio Ponti."

Huxley Stakes winner Debussy (William Buick), who breaks from the inner in the absence of non-runner Marsh Side, was fourth in that York contest.

He is joined by John Gosden-trained stablemate Tazeez (Richard Hills), second favourite behind Gio Ponti according to British bookmakers.

A fine third in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot, the six-year-old filled the same spot upped in trip to 1m4f in the Princess of Wales's Sportingbet.com Stakes at the July meeting.

Six of the last ten runnings have stayed in North America, and Gio Ponti's support team includes course-and-distance trial winner Rahystrada (Bryon Hughes/Inez Karlsson), Grade 1 winner General Quarters (Tom McCarthy/James Graham) andformer Sir Michael Stoute-trainedTajaaweed (Dan Peitz/Michael Baze).

>>With significant rain forecast in the Chicago area, soft ground is a possibility.

Gypsy's Warning running for Team Valor in the Beverly D, Super open race so anything can happen!!! All the best to Barry and his connections

Howdy Tommy ... remember Gypsey's Warning... ran a season here in SA>

Yip, she won a group 1 in KZN and then again a group 2 in joburg under Ferraris. She is now racing for the Team Valor boys in the US. Will try and find some form for her, but thats not easy to do here!

Gypsy's Warning ran a great race to finish just out of 2nd place, about 2.5 lengths behind the winner!

I think she lay a bit too far back but there was some bumping and boaring coming around the first turn. Under the circumstances she ran a super race and another great advertisement for our bloodstock!

Mogok really is producing at stud and I think he deserves all the opportunities he gets!

All the best to Barry and Team Valor!

Raihana ran last in her comeback race at Warwick Farm in Sydney today. I know she was running over a distance well short of her best and she was probably well underdone but for a horse that has Cox plate or Caulfield cup aspirations I was hoping for a better run here.

Hope she improves, but I fear Australia will be too tough for her!

Race Replay

What a good race thought the fav was home and hosed, as you mentioned a great finish from Debussy/Buick.

Young William Buick sure gets around quickly. I see he won the Gr 1 Feature at Deauville today. Two Gr 1 wins on two continents in the same weekend - could that be almost some sort of record? I do recall Frankie riding in a Gr 1 in Rome the day after the Breeders Cup a few years ago but I don't think he won.

The wonders of the jet age!(

He must have caught a Jet Flyer when a DuBUSsey simply wouldn't do. See what can happen when you heed the Gypsy's Warning and you Dream Ahead?

I think we have a bit more input on the Gypsy Warning thread, but u are correct about jet age it will soon be "beam my up scotty" but I will probably miss that