Arlington Million XXIX

11.15 Arlington

Arlington Million XXIX (Grade 1) (3yo+) (Turf) (3yo+) Winner £369,231

Pick: Cape Blanco (win)

Rahystrada: Liked this track, winner the Arlington handicap here last year and also fourth in the Million; No reason for that form to be reversed and others preferred today.

Tajaaweed: Has improved in twelve months based on his Arlington handicap win (third in it last year behind Raystrada) and maybe he’s upto this class, but will find better opportunities this year.

Dean’s Kitten: Can’t be winning this based on two efforts, when fifth of six in last year’s Secretariat Stakes and then third in the Arlington handicap when last seen; Others preferred.

Zack Hall: Progressive at 3, landing a hat trick with listed success before finding step up to Group 2 company too much; fast-finishing second behind Ivory Land on his seasonal reappearance at Longchamp last month; Slow pace caught him out in Grand Prix De Saint Cloud and while he’s still unexposed , other  raiders do make more appeal at the trip.

Gio Ponti: Absolutely top class, one of best turf horses in recent US Racing history; Possibly not as good as he was in 09’; Second to Goldikova in Breeders’ Cup Mile was cracking effort (best in field) & Dubai World Cup (behind Cape Blanco) was far too slowly run for him; Unable to give weight (7lbs) and big start over 10f to Mission Approved and then too back to catch Cape Blanco in Man O’War Stakes; Big chance in race like this, which should suit him more, but would want a strong pace.

Proceed Bee: Never able to land a real blow in the Arlington handicap last time and not even tries Grade 1 company; Better options available.

Cape Blanco: Thoroughly progressive last year, winning Dante and then second in King George, not to mention landing Irish Derby and Irish Champion Stakes (by 5l) (Couldn’t handle soft ground in the Arc but that effort forgiven); creditable fourth in farcically slowly run Dubai World Cup (ahead of Gio Point) but probably didn’t match that form when a well beaten fourth in the Prix Ganay; Worse still when sixth in the Queen Anne last time out but that far too hard at a mile and return to this trip can see him in a better light.

Mission Approved: Made Gio Ponti pull out all the stops when allowed to dictate a steady pace in last year’s renewal, and got away with it when gives same amount of rope on seasonal reappearance when pinching the  Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap’ Form reversed with Gio Ponti on level terms latest and will find it difficult to lead all the way from stall 5.

Wigmore Hall: Rapidly progressive since second in this last year, winning Group 2 at Meydan in great style before luckless run in Dubai Duty Free; Fortunes haven’t changed since then on last two starts but more in favor today and a bold bid expected.

General Perfect: Monmouth specialist  (10-for-20 in his career at Monmouth on both turf and dirt and zero-for-22 elsewhere) who gained a repeat win in the 5 furlong John McSorley Stakes;  All form seems to be at lower level and over shorter trip so hard to fancy.

VERDICT: The sharper test of this track should bring Gio Ponti closer to CAPE BLANCO but the latter had a lot in hand when winning the Man O’War and can confirm the form today. Wigmore Hall makes a lot of appeal, as things should go his way today, while Zack Hall may like a longer trip.