Motion tabs Maragh to ride Main Sequence in Mac Diarmida

"I don't think it's fair to penalize him because he was hurt and was unable

to ride him in the Breeders' Cup. I'd be happy to have either one of them ride

him. In fairness to Rajiv, it was his mount before he got hurt."

Maragh sustained a broken arm in the Jockey Club Gold Cup

mishap caused when his mount, Wicked Strong (Hard Spun), was impeded by a rival with whom he

clipped heels, unseating his jockey.

The Jamaica native returned to action for Gulfstream Park's

Championship Meet and scored aboard his very first mount back, Barclay

Tagg-trained Sky Blazer (Sky Mesa), who posted an optional claiming victory on

January 16.

Main Sequence, one of 32 nominees for the

Mac Diarmida, is on track for his 2015 debut following Monday's seven-furlong

workout in 1:23 4/5 over the firm turf course at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park's

satellite training facility in Palm Beach.

"It's the plan. He has one more work next week," said

Motion, whose plan is to use the 1 3/8-mile Mac Diarmida as a prep for the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1) on March 28.

Main Sequence campaigned in Europe before being brought to the United States

last year and turned over to Motion.

"There's a certain amount of pressure. When you've won

Eclipse Awards like he has, it adds a certain amount of pressure, but that's a

good thing," Motion admitted. "You want to see the horse run well. It's a little

nerve-racking, especially because the horse has a tendency to break a step slow

from the gate and when he wins, he doesn't win by much. It's certainly a little

nerve-racking in that respect, but it's also exciting."

Main Sequence's ascension to superstar status has been

rewarding for his trainer.

"I never could have anticipated it," Motion stated. "At this time last year

when he came to me, he was very sick. When I talked to (European trainer) David Lanigan about him he was very high on him. He had a very high regard for him.

For that reason, I had a lot of respect for the horse, but could I have imagined

the horse getting us to the heights that he's done? No way."

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