Anne Marie Duff

ARLINGTON hosts its big international meeting this evening with the 35th running of the Arlington Million the highlight of three Grade 1 contests, all on ATR. European challengers are plentiful,with Aidan O’Brien involved in the three main races.

9:50 Secretariat Stakes (Grade 1) (3yo) 1m2f

The six-runner Secretariat promises to be a very interesting race as, unusually for a US turf race, there appears plenty of early pace. Both the leading British and US performers have shown best form from the front and Taj Mahal has been used as a pacemaker by Ballydoyle.

Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Oscar Performance will likely try to lead under Jose Ortiz. The Brian Lynch-trained son of Kitten’s Joy was impressive in victory in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational at this trip.

Godolphin’s Group 1-placed, dual Group 2 winner Permian has made the running when winning the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot before being pipped for a Grade 1 in Saint Cloud.

The French will be represented by lightly-raced Afandem, who will be piloted by Frankie Dettori for Al Shaqab Racing. The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained son of Zoffany has improved noticeably in his last two starts, including a half-length loss in the Group 2 Prix Eugene Adam at Maisons-Laffitte.

The top-two from this year’s American Derby are returning and stepping up in class in the form of the Ian Wilkes-trained speedy Sonic Boom and Mike Maker-trained Gorgeous Kitten. Sonic Boom could throw a spanner into the pace plans of Oscar Performance and Permian.

Aidan O’Brien will attempt to win his fifth Secretariat sending out Taj Mahal under Ryan Moore. Unplaced in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes and the Irish Derby, he must improve upon the form that saw him finish a game fourth – beaten one and a half lengths – in the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club in early June.

SELECTION: Oscar Performance

NEXT BEST: Permian

11:35 Beverly D. Stakes (Grade 1) (3yo+ Fillies & Mares) 1m1f110y

Dona Bruja, a five-year-old Argentine-bred mare trained by Ignacio Correas, has won her two North American starts, including the Grade 3 Modesty over this course in July. She has never finished worse than second in her 12 lifetime starts, with 10 wins and a Group 1 in Argentina.

Aidan O’Brien’s Rain Goddess was runner-up in her most recent start, to Enable in the Group I Darley Irish Oaks. The Galileo filly will break from the outside post in this field of 10 under Ryan Moore and should make a bold bid. Sarandia, a four-year-old daughter of Dansili was second in the German Oaks last year for Peter Schiergen.

Chad Brown’s leading contender is Dacita. The six-year-old millionaire mare by Scat Daddy won the Grade 1 Diana last season and is the class of the field. Also from the Brown stable is Juddmonte Farms’ winner Grand Jete, a winner in all three of her starts this season. Brown also will saddle Lael Stables’ multiple Grade 2-winner Rainha Da Bateria, while Lael Stables will also have four-year-old filly Hawksmoor in the field. The Grade 1-placed daughter of Azamour has won both Grade 3 and Grade 2 events this season.

Zipessa was third last year in this race and has been showing improvement with her recent form. Frankie Dettori will pick up the mount.

SELECTION: Rain Goddess

NEXT BEST: Dacita

12:19 Arlington Million Xxxv Stakes (Grade 1) (3yo+) 1m2f

Deauville bids for another US Grade 1 to add to this Belmont Derby win last season in the Million. The balance of his form should see him go close against a weak crop of US turf. Other European challengers in a field of 12 are Marco Botti-trained Fanciful Angel, the mount of Daniel Muscott, while France and Jean-Claude Roguet are represented by Mekhtaal, with Frankie Dettori in the saddle for Al Shaqab. Mekhtaal probably boasts the best from as a Group 1 winner but was disappointing at Ascot behind Highland Reel.

Top US challengers Divisidero and Ascend are both Grade 1 winners. The latter, trained by Graham Motion, looked an improving horse but was only fourth last time in a Saratoga Grade 2. Ghost Hunter won the local Grade 3 trial for this last month.

Local favourite The Pizza Man is running for the third time and won the race in 2015.

SELECTION: Mekhtaal

NEXT BEST: Deauville

SARATOGA

The Grade 1 Fourstarsdave features the former British-trained Time Test, now with Chad Brown and still seeking his first US success. He has two second places to his name on his two runs this season. It looks a simpler task to land a Grade 1 with Disco Partner, on a four-timer and the grey World Approval the danger.