Arlington Million Raiders Get First Feel of the Turf

The two British contenders for the Aug. 11 Arlington Million XXXVI (G1) emerged from quarantine in Chicago Tuesday and had their first feel of the turf at the venue.

Circus Couture, trained by Jane Chapple-Hyam, and the Simon Crisford-trained Century Dream are part of a 10-strong European raiding party spread across three grade 1 races this weekend.

As well as the British pair, the Aidan O'Brien-trained Deauville goes in the feature race, while O'Brien has Athena in the Beverly D Stakes (G1), in which she will face the Mark Johnston-trained Nyaleti.

The master of Ballydoyle also has two of the five Irish entries in the Secretariat Stakes (G1) with Hunting Horn and Lucius Tiberius. The others are Bandua (Dermot Weld), Ming (Joseph O'Brien), and Platinum Warrior (Mick Halford).

The Europeans have a decent record in the Million, with wins for O'Brien coming with Powerscourt in 2005 and Cape Blanco in 2011; John Gosden with Debussy in 2010; and David O'Meara, for whom Mondialiste was a breakthrough grade 1 winner in 2016.

Newmarket-based Jane Chapple-Hyam is not breaking new ground with Circus Couture, as she saddled Mull of Killough to finish eighth in the famed 1 1/4-mile contest in 2013.

Speaking from the track Tuesday, Chapple-Hyam reported: "Circus Couture has traveled over great and he's in the box right next to where they put Mully a few years ago. He and the other Europeans that have arrived had a trot around the track for the first time this morning and, touch wood, we look good to go. John Egan will keep the ride."

On conditions in Chicago, she added: "It seems strange to say it, but it's the same as it is in England. It's in the mid-30s (celsius) and the horses have cooling fans around the place so they're doing fine."

Formerly trained in Italy, Circus Couture ran his best race for new connections when he was third in the Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot in June.

Chapple-Hyam added: "It's a tough race, and if we can finish sixth or better I would be delighted."

Chapple-Hyam, however, is already celebrating like a millionaire even before Saturday's race as she and her partners have recently sold the 3-year-old Naval Intelligence to Hong Kong for £1.3 million (about US$1.685 million).

The son of War Front  was acquired privately for less than 10,000gns from the Coolmore operation last year and is unbeaten in two starts, most recently taking the listed Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket last month.

That form was advertised when the third-placed Masaarr went on to win a listed stakes in France last week.

The trainer added: "For a 3-year-old gelding, it was an offer too good to turn down. We look forward to seeing him run in the (BMW) Hong Kong Derby next year."