Arlington Million preview: Wigmore Hall can blow rivals away in the Windy City!
Most European eyes will be focusing on the Aidan O’Brien trained Cape Blanco in the Arlington Million in Chicago on Saturday night, and the Galileo colt rates a worthy favourite, having proved over two lengths too strong for Gio Ponti, who landed this race in 2009 and is one of the leading horses in North America, in the Man O’War Stakes at Belmont Park last month.
There has to be a doubt as to whether Cape Blanco will confirm the form with Gio Ponti, though, given that Christophe Clement’s charge was probably unsuited by what was essentially a steadily-run Man O’War. However, I reckon that they will be both be thwarted by British raider WIGMORE HALL, who ran a cracking race on this card last year when chasing home the classy Paddy O’Prado in the Secretariat Stakes.
The selection failed to fire in a couple of races in the Far East in May, but he appeared to have improved again this year in his first two starts of 2011 in Dubai, seeing off some classy performers in the Jebel Hatta on his reappearance in March prior to finishing third to Presvis in the Dubai Duty Free.
Wigmore Hall’s usual pilot Jamie Spencer is likely to be aboard Cape Blanco, but Hayley Turner proved when landing the July Cup aboard Dream Ahead last month that she can handle the pressure that comes with partnering horses at the highest level, and I reckon she can add another feather to her cap by steering the son of High Chaparral to glory in this valuable contest.
The ex-Sir Michael Stoute-trained Tajaweed warmed up for this race, in which he was a well-held sixth behind Debussy in last year’s renewal, by landing a Grade 3 handicap over C&D last month and is not discounted, while Mission Approved and French challenger Zack Hall both have each-way claims.