Main Sequence flies late to capture United Nations in U.S. debut

Main Sequence flies late to capture United Nations in U.S.

debut

Side Glance headed 3-1 favorite Kaigun and Twilight Eclipse, the 7-2 second

choice, through an initial quarter in :24 4/5, and established a comfortable

advantage as the field passed the stands for the first time. Kaigun and Twilight

Eclipse settled into tracking roles through leisurely fractions of :49, 1:14 3/5

and 1:39 2/5 on the firm turf. Meanwhile, Main Sequence was unhurried by jockey

Rajiv Maragh. Last early, the eventual winner improved his position steadily as

the race unfolded.

At the head of affairs, Side Glance continued to lead into the homestretch,

until Twilight Eclipse launched a bold bid. Sweeping past the opportunistic

pacesetter, Twilight Eclipse appeared to have an elusive Grade 1 trophy within

his grasp.

But Main Sequence then arrived on the premises. Despite flashing his tail

repeatedly down the lane, he did not shrink from the battle. Main Sequence

deployed an electric turn of foot to nab Twilight Eclipse by a neck and

completed 1 3/8 grassy miles in 2:14 1/5.

"He can be quirky in the mornings, but Rajiv rode him great," Motion said. "He's not fond of getting to the lead too early,

but he showed a tremendous turn of foot. The way he's been working, I've

been really anxious to run him for three or four weeks now. I think the

Breeders' Cup is now something we can consider."

Making his 2013 premiere in the Buckhounds at Ascot, Main Sequence faded to a

distant third. He performed much better next time in the Group 3 Brigadier

Gerard at Sandown, where he went down by only a half-length to Mukhadram, winner

of this past Saturday's Group 1 Eclipse. Main Sequence's losing skid continued

in his four remaining English appearances, checking in fourth in the Pontefract

Castle and third in a pair of Group 3s, the September over Kempton's Polytrack

and the Arc Trial at Newbury, before never factoring in the Champion.

The Kentucky-bred is a product of the Niarchos family's Flaxman Holdings, top

and bottom. He is by the Niarchos' champion sprinter Aldebaran (who is himself a

son of Mr. Prospector and the Niarchos' multiple Group 1-winning mare Chimes of

Freedom). Main Sequence's dam, the Group 3-placed Pivotal mare Ikat, likewise

descends from a maternal line cultivated by the Niarchos family. Ikat is a

half-sister to current French Group 2 winner Smoking Sun, a candidate for the

Grade 1 Arlington Million, as well as to Group 2-placed stakes scorer Zhiyi.

Main Sequence's second dam is Group 2-placed stakes victress Burning Sunset,

herself a half-sister to 2007 Epsom Oaks winner Light Shift; English highweight

mare Shiva; multiple Group 2 hero Limnos; Grade 1-placed Hyades; and Molasses,

the dam of Group 3 scorer Magadan.

Main Sequence's fourth dam is French champion and classic winner Northern

Trick, who was brought into the Niarchos fold when purchased for $530,000 as a

Keeneland July yearling in 1982. Her influence has extended to Brazil, with such

descendants as two-time champion Jeune-Turc and Group 1 victor Nonno Luigi.

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