Real Solution Ready for Million Repeat

In this first edition of Road to the Million, we will delve into the main players – the big shooters, if you will – who look to possibly take aim on Arlington International Racecourse’s premier event, as well as its three supporting events.  Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey’s Real Solution, the adjudged winner of the 2013 Million, looks even better in 2014 as a 5-year-old, as evidenced by his stellar Belmont undercard victory in the Grade I Manhattan Stakes.  After a fourth in the Grade III Mervyn Muniz Handicap at Fair Grounds and a second in the Grade I Man o’ War at Belmont to begin the year, the son of Secretariat Stakes winner Kitten’s Joy showed his true form when running down the well regarded Mark Casse-trained Kaigun and beating a field flush with graded stakes winners.

A true 10-furlong horse with a tactically challenging acceleration, Real Solution looks to be coming around at the right time.  Like last year, it would be surprising if he had a race between the Manhattan and the Million – but if so it could come in the Grade I United Nations at Monmouth Park or possibly even the Grade III Arlington Handicap over the Million’s course and distance.

Supporting the American team this year looks to possibly include Phipps Stable’s Imagining, who tenaciously denied Real Solution in the Man o’ War in May in wire-to-wire fashion, before having a horrid trip in the Manhattan.  While it goes without saying a Phipps charge is well bred, it is worth noting that Imagining being a son of the sturdy turf-heavy stamina-laden Giant’s Causeway male line on top of Daydreaming – a full sister to Godolphin’s blazing sprinter Girolamo.  So many winners in past Millions have won on similar combined strengths of speed and grit (e.g. Spirit One, The Tin Man, Marlin, Estrapade, Little Mike, Tight Spot, etc.).

The proverbial up-and-comers on the possible home team could be Augustin Stable’s Utley and Moyglare Stud’s Speaking of Which.  Both charges come from powerhouse international ownerships, are ex-Europeans and have just found their best Stateside stride with breakout victories in Mid-Atlantic Grade II events - Utley in the Dixie Stakes at Pimlico and Speaking of Which in this past Sunday’s Monmouth Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The international invasion could include Group I Hong Kong Cup victor Akeed Mofeed, who exits a tough trip in the Group I Dubai World Cup, and Coolmore’s duo of Grade I Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Magician and 2013 Group I Investec Derby champion Ruler of the World.  While Akeed Mofeed will miss his chance to prep at Royal Ascot in the Group I Prince of Wales’s Stakes, the Irish duo will possibly both enter the marquee 10-furlong event of the Royal Ascot meet.

Another Million nominee on target for the Prince of Wales’s is Shadwell’s Mukhadram, a William Haggas trainee who recently ran an excellent pace-setting second in the Dubai World Cup.  Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum’s Shadwell has never been shy about sending the right horse to the Million, especially with the natural speed this son of Shamardal naturally possesses.

Mukadram’s conqueror in the Dubai World Cup, Godolphin’s African Story, is also nominated to the Million and looks to be a perfect fit for the event, given his excellent form at 10-furlongs on left-handed courses.  Last year, Godolphin brought over Hunter’s Light (once again nominated) to the Million and the gelding had terrible traffic – clipping heals at one point – while moving like a winning horse on the far turn.  Redemption could be in order for the ‘boys in blue.’

Speaking of redemption, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum and trainer Mike De Kock could return with their improving charge Vercingetorix a year after crossing the wire first in the Million with The Apache and then disqualified to second for interference with Real Solution.  By 2001 Million winner Silvano, Vercingetorix is an improving colt who won the Group I Jebel Hatta in March in Dubai before finishing second in the Group I Dubai Duty Free and third in April’s Group I Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong.

Two improving horses worth watching as they aim toward the Million are Team Valor International’s Triple Threat and the Niarchos Family’s Smoking Sun. Triple Threat, from the barn of Andre Fabre, is a 10-furlong specialist, but is exiting a disappointing seventh behind Cirrus Des Aigles in April’s Group I Prix Ganay.  Before that, the son of Monsun was a good third behind Smoking Sun in the Group II Prix d’Harcourt.  Both events were at Longchamp.  Since his victory in the Prix d’Harcourt, Smoking Sun continues to improve, including a very good second in the Group I Singapore Airlines International Cup, after which his connections mentioned a strong likelihood for the Million.