Vancouverite Not Coming for Arlington Million

In Arlington Million news, Godolphin’s Vancouverite – once considered probable to make the 32^nd running of the summertime centerpiece of Chicago racing on Aug. 16 – has now changed course and will no longer make the trip.  The middle-distance specializing son of Dansili won the Group II Guillaume d’Ornano at Deauville last summer and was second earlier this year in the Group I Jebel Hatta at Meydan.

 

In slightly more uplifting news, Juddmonte Farm’s Noble Mission took a small step toward possible involvement in the Million when his connections decided not to enter Saturday’s Group I King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.  The son of Galileo – and full brother to the great Frankel – will instead run in Sunday’s Group I Grosser Dallmayr-Preis at Munich. 

 

The change of heart by Juddmonte and trainer Lady Cecil – wife to the late, legendary Sir Henry Cecil – means switching from a 1½-miles event on a right-handed course to a 1¼-miles event on a left-handed course.  Additionally, Dallmayr-Preis is a Festival Free Pass race, guaranteeing entry to the Million for the winner.  A victory Sunday would be the second in a qualifying event for the Khalid ibn Abdullah-homebred, following his score in the Group I Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh in May over Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Magician.