Eye of the Storm Focuses on America

Perhaps one of the most intriguing stories of Million Day 2014 could be that of Listed $400,000 American St. Leger probable Eye of the Storm.  The talented son of Galileo was born with only one eye and has done quite well for himself despite that impairment.  A long-distance specialist trained by Aidan O’Brien for the powerful Coolmore conglomerate, Eye of the Storm has raced at the American St. Leger’s 1 11/16-miles distance or farther in four of his last five starts, including a win last September in the Listed Loughbrown Stakes over two miles at The Curragh.

Defending champion Dandino has committed to a return trip to the American St. Leger if all goes well with preparation and shipment, according to his connections.  The son of Dansili requires firm ground and swam in the soft going last out at Newmarket in what was only his second race of 2014.  A return to his excellent form of last year, which also included a solid fifth in the world’s premier stayer’s race – the Group I Melbourne Cup – makes the nearly black charge the horse to beat here on Aug. 16.

Two possible European who has thrown his hats into the ring are Havana Beat and Brown Panther.  The former, a son of Teofilo who recently landed the Listed Esher Stakes at Sandown over two miles one race – and only 16 days – after finishing eighth in the Group I Ascot Gold Cup.  Trained by Andrew Balding, who brought Pearl Bloodstock’s Side Glance to finish third in last year’s Million, the 4-year-old seems to do his best running on good-to-firm ground and could offer Dandino a challenge.

Brown Panther, a 6-year-old world-traveling stayer son of Grade I Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Shirocco, was recently second in the Group II Prix Maurice de Nieuil at Longchamp over 1¾ miles.  Trained by Tom Dascombe, the bay horse was a notable fourth in the Ascot Gold Cup and could vie for favoritism with Dandino and The Pizza Man if he decides to make the trip and not defend his title this week in the Group II Goodwood Cup at Glorious Goodwood over two miles.

On the American side of things, we still have the dynamic locally based duo of Midwest Thoroughbreds’ The Pizza Man and Team Block’s Suntracer on track for the race.  Also possible is Grade II San Juan Capistrano winner Big Kick from the barn of Mike Machowsky in California and recent Grade III Cougar II Handicap (over the Del Mar Polytrack) winner Irish Surf – a regally bred son of Giant’s Causeway out of champion Surfside from the barn of Dan Hendricks.  While the California duo have not committed, they would both add pace and intrigue to an already complex event.