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Tazeez, Debussy touch down at Arlington The second of two European transatlantic equine charters in advance of Arlington Park's International Festival of Racing this Saturday arrived at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport Sunday evening. Shadwell Stable's TAZEEZ (Silver Hawk) and HRH Princess Haya of Jordan's DEBUSSY (Diesis [GB]), a duo of British-based Arlington Million (G1) invaders trained by John Gosden, passed through Arlington's stable gate shortly after 6:30 p.m. (CDT) following their van ride from the airport. Sally Mitchelhill, Gosden's Scottish-born lass who met Sunday's Singapore Airlines' charter at the airport after her own Atlantic crossing Saturday, had a positive report on both Debussy and Tazeez following their travels. "They both looked good when they got off the plane last night, and this morning they appear very happy and enjoying themselves here at Arlington," Mitchelhill said. "We should clear quarantine sometime Tuesday. After that, we'll see what the boss wants to do." Mitchelhill's name might sound familiar to those who follow racing at Chicago's premier Thoroughbred oval. As an apprentice jockey, Mitchelhill scored her first Chicago victory at Arlington on September 13, 2007 -- one day after Swedish-born jockey Inez Karlsson won the first race of her career. The two became good friends before fate sent them separate ways. Karlsson, now 27, finished fourth in last year's Arlington standings and will ride Robert Courtney Jr.'s Rahystrada (Rahy) in Saturday's Arlington Million. Mitchelhill, also now 27, continued her riding career for some time, eventually transferring her tack to Australia before injuries suffered there ended her time in the saddle. "Things happen," Mitchelhill said Monday morning in Arlington's track kitchen. "You move on. John Gosden is a great guy to work for and I love working with horses. I'm much happier now -- without having to fight my weight all the time -- but I do miss all my friends in the United States. I lived over here for eight years and I'm looking forward to seeing Inez and as many of my old friends as I can while I'm here on this trip." Arlington Million candidate SUMMIT SURGE (Ire) (Noverre), owned by William Bellew and trained by Luca Cumani, was aboard an earlier European equine charter that arrived Saturday evening and was under the supervision of Cumani's head lad Charlie Henson. "(Summit Surge) is in good form and traveled well," Henson said Monday. "We should clear quarantine this afternoon and plan to go to the track for a canter at about 7 o'clock tomorrow (Tuesday) morning." Marquesa de Mortalla's BIASED (GB) (Haafhd) and Michael Deegan's PACHATTACK (Pulpit), a European-based pair of Beverly D. (G1) candidates, and Mark Hawtin's Secretariat S. (G1) starter WIGMORE HALL (High Chaparral [Ire]), were also on that first flight with Summit Surge. "All of our European shippers arrived in good order and are doing well this morning," said Andrea Branchini, shipping agent for Horse America when speaking outside Arlington's Quarantine Barn on Monday. In other International Festival of Racing news: Secretariat prospect CHEROKEE LORD (Sir Cherokee) went five-eighths on Arlington's firm turf in 1:06 4/5 with the "dogs" up on Monday, getting the last furlong in :12 with jockey Julio Felix aboard. Second when facing entry-level allowance foes last time, and previously promoted to third in the Oliver S., he'll be a major longshot Saturday. Team Valor's Barry Irwin reported on the Sunday work turned in by Beverly D. contender GYPSY'S WARNING (SAf) (Mogok) for trainer Graham Motion. The multiple Group 1 winner, who captured the Eatontown S. (G3) in her American debut two back, breezed six furlongs in 1:13 3/5 over the training track at Fair Hill under exercise rider Molly Hannum. "She worked in company, and went the half in :48 1/5 and five-eighths in 1:00 1/5," Irwin said Monday. "She's always been a lousy work horse, but in the afternoons it's a different ball game." The 28th running of the Arlington Million will be shown live in a half-hour telecast Saturday from 5 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. (CDT) on Comcast SportsNet Chicago. The local telecast will be hosted by Chicago sportscaster and longtime horse racing enthusiast Howard Sudberry and feature contributions from Daily Herald and horseplayernow.com handicapper Joe Kristufek, Arlington Park paddock analyst Jessica Pacheco and Arlington Park reporter Alyssa Ali. The program will show the Secretariat and Beverly D. on tape delay. Arlington's International Festival of Racing will enjoy national coverage on HRTV (HorseRacing Television), which will offer live coverage of the entire racing card with on-site analysis from Jill Byrne, Caton Bredar and Gary Stevens.
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