|
|
Debussy exits Million in good order; Just as Well very sore HRH Princess Haya of Jordan's DEBUSSY (Ire) (Diesis [GB]), half-length hero of Saturday's 28th Arlington Million (G1), was placidly grazing outside Arlington Park's International Barn Sunday morning following his upset victory in the centerpiece event of the Chicago Thoroughbred racing season. "He's enjoying himself right now," Scottish-born exercise rider Sally Mitchelhill said, speaking from the other end of the shank. "He came out of the race very well." A short distance away, Shadwell Stable's TAZEEZ (Silver Hawk), who finished third in the Million after making much of the pace, grazed under the watchful eye of exercise rider Barry Savage. "He's doing fine this morning," Savage said. John Gosden, trainer of both Debussy and Tazeez, returned to England Saturday night while the Million's first and third place finisher -- as well as the rest of the European equine entourage -- have their return charter scheduled for Monday. On the other side of the International Barn, trainer Luca Cumani's traveling head lad Charlie Henson reported that the SUMMIT SURGE (Ire) (Noverre), fifth in Saturday's Million, came out of his race without problems. "The horse is fine -- he just didn't like the ground," Henson said. "He was running well but he couldn't really dig in. All week long we were hoping for firmer ground, but it just didn't work out for us this time." Tom McCarthy, owner/trainer of the Million's seventh-place finisher GENERAL QUARTERS (Sky Mesa), was still scratching his head after 8 p.m. Saturday night outside his horse's stall in Barn 9A. "I still don't know what happened," McCarthy said. "He just quit. He moved up to second turning for home and James (jockey Graham) told me he thought he was going to win it because he was sitting on a lapful of horse. Then he just stopped. "I thought he might have flipped his palate, but that wasn't it. We scoped him and couldn't find a thing. I just finished doing up his legs and they were cold. At this point, everything looks clear except my mind." Jonathan Sheppard, owner/trainer of the Million's eighth-place runner JUST AS WELL (A.P. Indy), reported that his seven-year-old second choice in the wagering suffered extensive cuts on both hind legs and was very sore Sunday morning. "It happened during the race," Sheppard said. "Those European jockeys ride too rough. I say that even though I'm European myself." Owner Michael Deegan, trainer Gerard Butler and their wives visited Arlington's television department Sunday morning to study replays from all angles of PACHATTACK's (Pulpit) troubled start in Saturday's Beverly D. S. (G1). "She dwelt big-time," said Butler, who spent a number of years in North America as an assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Wayne Lukas. "Then the rider (Kieren Fallon) rushed her to get her into contention early. I wish he'd just accepted it (the bad start) and let her pick up the others on her own. "I don't know what will be next for us," Butler added, "but we'll probably take a look at the E.P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) at Woodbine (on October 16)."
 Send this article to a friend
|
|
