Grandeur, Farraaj to Pass on Arlington Million
As of Wednesday afternoon, the 32nd edition of the Grade I $1,000,000 Arlington Million lost two of its possibles, Yvonne Jacques Grandeur and Sheikh Ahmed al Maktoum’s Farraaj, according to the International Racing Bureau. Grandeur - who is based in Newmarket with trainer Jeremy Noseda, but had raced his previous three runs in graded stakes at Belmont Park - was last year’s morning line Million favorite. This year, with the waters appearing a little deeper at Arlington, his connections have decided on a different course.
Similar can be assumed for the Roger Varian-trained Farraaj, who is coming off consecutive wins in English handicap races and seems very much on the improve, but has yet to establish himself at the top level. His best finish at such was a third in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf in 2011 behind Wrote. Last August, Farraaj was considered for the Million, but instead shipped to Del Mar to finish 11th of 12 in the Grade I Pacific Classic behind Game on Dude.
TRADING LEATHER CONFIRMED FOR MILLION
International powerhouse stable Godolphin Racing’s Trading Leather has gone from possible to probable for the Grade I Arlington Million, according to the International Racing Bureau. The addition of the world-class competitor raises the bar on an already stellar field that is expected to include Coolmore’s Grade I Breeders’ Cup Turf-winning star Magician, Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s defending Million champion Real Solution and Sam-Son Farm’s 2013 Canadian Horse of the Year Up With the Birds.
Solely owned last year by legendary Irish trainer Jim Bolger before the conditioner sold the majority of the colt to Sheikh Mohammed’s operation, Trading Leather exits his first poor performance in nearly two years in the Group I King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on July 26. Previously, the son of Bolger’s homebred champion Teofilo was second in a huge effort in the Group I Coral Eclipse 21 days prior and won the classic Group I Irish Derby last year. Kevin Manning, his regular pilot, is expected to make the Stateside trip to ride the bay colt who has finished in the top three in 12 of 14 starts, including six at the highest level.