RACING:JAMIE SPENCER will hope to settle an old score with the Arlington Million when he teams up with the Aidan O'Brien-trained favourite Cape Blanco in tonight's Grade One feature in Chicago.
Cape Blanco, winner of the 2010 Irish Derby, is joined by this year’s Curragh Derby hero Treasure Beach who lines up in the €280,000 Secretariat Stakes as the all-powerful Ballydoyle team target a hugely lucrative Grade One double.
Treasure Beach will again be ridden by Colm O’Donoghue as he attempts to bounce back from a lacklustre run in last month’s Grand Prix de Paris.
However Cape Blanco tackles the Million as a 9-5 favourite in local morning line betting in Chicago after comfortably beating America’s top turf runner, Gio Ponti, in last month’s Man O’War Stakes at Belmont.
Spencer is the retained rider for owners Jim and Fitri Hay, for whom he has also tasted top-flight success this season on Fame And Glory.
However, the former British and Irish champion jockey will attempt to banish the memory of the 2004 Arlington Million when he famously passed the post first on Powerscourt only to be demoted to fourth by the stewards after taking an erratic course in the closing stages.
That was one of the low points during a controversial one-year reign as O’Brien’s No 1 jockey. Powerscourt returned to Arlington the following year to win the Million under Kieren Fallon and O’Brien also has a Secretariat win to his name already with Ciro 11 years ago. But it would be understandable if Spencer felt a sense of unfinished business with the famous race that was first run 30 years ago.
Cape Blanco got a first feel of the Arlington track yesterday and even the possibility of softer than usual ground couldn’t dilute his jockey’s confidence.
“For me he would have to under-perform not to win. If he can hold his Man O’War form, not even improve, he should win,” Spencer said earlier this week. “He has met Gio Ponti twice and beaten him. I don’t see any reason why he would turn the form around.”
The Irishman added: “Like all good horses my fella goes on all ground and stays a mile and a half. If there’s pace you can sit in and if there is no pace you can go forward. Gio Ponti is one dimensional and has to be at the back to settle. You can ride to beat him.”
Other European interests in the 10-runner Million are Michael Bell’s Wigmore Hall (Hayley Turner), who finished runner-up in last year’s Secretariat and the French hope Zack Hall, who ran fourth last time in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
Treasure Beach faces nine opponents in his 10-furlong turf event including another French challenger in Ziyard and the top local hopes, Banned and Willcox Inn. The top-rated visitor only just missed out on another Derby success at Epsom in June and defeated the subsequent King George hero Nathaniel in the Chester Vase.
“I don’t think dropping back to a mile and a quarter will be a problem and there shouldn’t be a problem with the track either,” O’Donoghue said ahead of his attempt at securing a first win in the USA.
Tramore’s festival continues with an all-flat fixture this evening and one of last year’s co-champion apprentices, Gary Carroll, can enjoy a good meeting by the sea.
Carroll teams up with the Co Tyrone trainer Andy Oliver for Jazz Girl in the mile and a half fillies maiden and that one’s recent form could give her an edge on David Wachman’s Crystal Highness.
Solaras Exhibition was third in a hurdle here on Thursday and the former Clonmel flat winner can build on that in the first of the mile and a half handicaps while Dorset Square may complete a Carroll hat-trick in the finale.
Racing opens with a claimer and Peaks Of Fire can bounce back from a third over hurdles at Ballinrobe on Monday night.
TAKE OCEANWAY: Johnston looks to strike in Dundalk
TOP CROSS-CHANNEL trainer Mark Johnston sends a couple of runners to Dundalk tomorrow and Pat Smullen can guide Oceanway to success in the most valuable event on the card, the €45,000 August Handicap over an extended 10 furlongs, writes Brian O'Connor.
The son of Street Cry was on an excellent run of form when he went to Goodwood last time out only to lose all chance when he stumbled badly emerging from the stalls. That bare form is forgivable and Johnston is always to be feared when he sends runners here.
Below Zero is the other Johnston hope in the six furlong Handicap but Maarek could be a better option.
Pat Smullen will also fancy his chances in the two-year-old fillies maiden despite Mahaazen being a rare Dermot Weld-trained disappointment at the Galway festival when only third to Soon.
Before that Mahaazen had chased home La Collina at Limerick on her debut, a standout piece of form after that one's Phoenix triumph last weekend.
Paul Townend hasn't wasted any time getting back into full-swing since his return from injury and the champion jumps jockey can feature at Tramore tomorrow where Hampshire Express can take care of the local hope Fort George in the conditions chase.
