THE United Nations never had as many representatives as the Arlington Million had turning for home. The 34th running of the historic race, won by the international stars Cape Blanco, Teleprompter, Tolomeo and others over the years, attracted horses born all over the world: Ireland, Argentina, Germany and America.

As the cavalry charged home in the 10-furlong Grade 1 stakes on August 13, it seemed as though every horse, every continent had a chance.

Irish-bred, British-based, French import Mondialiste rallied widest and best, stamping a neck decision on Argentine-bred, American-based Kasaqui, who threaded the needle inside to be second. The Irish-bred and trained Deauville finished a neck back in third.

The $1 million stakes looked more like a European race than an American race as less than five lengths separated the 11 runners.

Owned by Geoff and Sandra Turnbull, Mondialiste proved yet again that he loves North America. He won the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile in September, then chased home Tepin in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Mile, finishing two and a quarter lengths behind the incomparable champion.

A six-year-old son of Galileo, Mondialiste travelled to Hong Kong after the Breeders’ Cup but finished 12th in the Hong Kong Mile. Freshened by Cork-born trainer David O’Meara, Mondialiste began his 2016 season with a seventh in the Prix d’Ispahan at Chantilly, an 11th in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot and then showed his old self, finishing second in the Group 2 Sky Bet York Stakes at York in July.

That effort convinced O’Meara to book a ticket for the 10-furlong Arlington Million where again he ran on Lasix as he did when racing in North America last year.

“We stepped him up to a mile and a quarter at York and he ran a really good race, and once we saw that he handled the trip okay, we had this race in the back of our mind,” O’Meara said. “We thought we’d bring him over because he performed so well this side of the water last year.”

perfect

Regular pilot Daniel Tudhope made the trip and Mondialiste earned his fifth career win in his 21st start.

“We couldn’t have worked out (more) perfect to be honest. We went over the race so many times beforehand, but you just don’t know how it’s going to go, but we couldn’t have asked for a better run, it was perfect,” Tudhope said. “He seems to love it over here and he thrives over here. It’s amazing, even everyone back home in the yard, we all work hard and they deserve this just as much as we do. Hats off to everyone in the yard. It’s an amazing feeling.”

Purchased for €190,000 out of the Andre Fabre stable at Arqana’s Deauville Summer Mixed Sale in 2014, Mondialiste had won one race while competing in France. Transferred to Britain, he won three in a row last year and has now earned over $1.6 million.

With his success in North America, Mondialiste will certainly be back for the Breeders’ Cup in November. Tepin isn’t concerned.