David Mollett
8 August 2008
Johannesburg — IRISH-trained Mount Nelson - named after the famous hotel in Cape Town - is likely to prove the toughest rival to Mike de Kock's runner, Archipenko, in tomorrow's Arlington Million in Chicago.
Ironically, Archipenko and Mount Nelson used to be stable companions until Coolmore Stud decided last year that their horse was "surplus to requirements". That is polite language for going nowhere.
This year De Kock has won top races in Hong Kong, Dubai and England with Archipenko -- the horse's most recent victory coming in the Grade 2 Summer Mile at Ascot.
Winner of the Eclipse Stakes, Mount Nelson will bid to give trainer Aidan O'Brien his 18th Grade 1 win this year, and jockey Johnny Murtagh is confident of a big run. He told US reporters: "The horse has trained well since the Eclipse, and Arlington is such a great turf course that we have to fancy our chances."
If Murtagh wins in Chicago - the race is due off at 15 minutes before midnight tomorrow evening and scheduled to be shown live on the racing channel Tellytrack -- it will be his 16th Grade 1 success this year.
The Arlington race - first won by John Henry in 1981 and which I was lucky enough to attend -- has also attracted Canadian champion, Cloudy's Knight, and multiple Grade 1 winner Einstein.
Turffontein host a 10-race card tomorrow and trainer Geoff Woodruff will be hoping his four-year-old, Access Code, can notch the second win of his career in the seventh race.
The gelding has never finished out of the money, and could beat home Cathay Prince, who failed to justify favouritism on his most recent outing.
Woodruff's Argentinian import, Aluminium, is likely to top the betting boards in the first leg of the Pick 6, and Mark Khan's mount should appreciate reverting to the turf. The four-year-old trailed in a long way behind Halie's Sword when trying the sand surface at the Vaal last month, and he is well treated by the conditions of tomorrow's race. Although Arabian Mist looks a horse who should pay to follow this season; he would be receiving 5,5kg if this was a handicap so may have to settle for the runner-up berth.
Gary Alexander, who trains Arabian Mist, has better prospects of capturing the fifth race with his lightly-raced filly, Lisa Anne.
The daughter of Rambo Dancer is bidding for a hat trick following two successes on the Turffontein inner track.
London Telegraph and Swinging Jet may pose the main threat to Lisa Anne, who will be ridden for the first time by Gavin Lerena. Apprentice Victor Morake scored on Mars Mission at tomorrow's course last month, and this rider has been entrusted with the ride again in the final leg of the jackpot.
It could be tougher for Morake this time as Twilight Samurai will be 3kg better off, and Paul Matchett's runner could defy the top weight of 60kg. A possible "roughie" in this race is Sean Tarry's five-year-old, Golden Cup.
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