Motion and Main Sequence in the United Nations

 

In his first start in the United States, Main Sequence won the $500,000 United Nations (G1) at Monmouth Park with a dramatic closing move to catch two of the pace setters. It took a masterful training job by Graham Motion to get this European runner to the winner’s circle.

Main Sequence shipped to America during this past harsh winter and while in quarantine he got extremely sick. The horse came down with pneumonia and had a high fever. At that point Motion was more concerned about Main Sequence surviving the illness.

At Motion’s barn at the Fair Hills training center, Main Sequence did get better and once that happened he began to train impressively. Motion was able to get 10 workouts into him over a period of two months and at that point Motion began to think about races. Plan A was to go to Chicago next weekend, but he decided that he didn’t want to ship him that far. Plan B was the United Nations.

The race unfolded with Twilight Eclipse and European Side Glance running up front most of the mile and three-eighths race. They set a rather slow pace and as the horses turned for home Main Sequence and jockey Rajiv Maragh made their move down the middle of the track.

Motion talked about the race, “I told Rajiv that he wouldn’t break well and don’t worry about it, let’s not compromise him. He’s a step slow from the gate. European horses tend to be slow the first time over here. Rajiv did a great job. He just rode a very patient race.”

Maragh gave his perspective, “When I called on him he showed a tremendous turn of foot and kept running hard all the way to the wire.  We just wanted to get him in a good rhythm and not worry about the pace or anything else, just keep him happy.  We came around the outside into the stretch and when I called on him he just accelerated.  When you’re going long, to have a horse with that kind of turn of foot and to accelerate in the final 3/8ths is real impressive.” 

Along with the purse money Main Sequence secured a spot in the gate for the Breeders’ Cup Turf through the “Win and You’re In” program. Interestingly Motion was not even aware that the United Nations was a Breeders’ Cup qualifier until he got to Monmouth Park.

“The Arlington Million or Saratoga are possibilities for him, said Motion. He’s a horse that gets a little bit would up, so I’m not going to be in a hurry to run him back.”