Looks like four European entries in this race, just to make it difficult for us yanks to handicap.
http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-ra ... t7DaysNewsTHERE will be a strong European presence in Chicago on Saturday night as four British or Irish-trained horses feature among the 15 pre-entries for the Arlington Million.
In Tryster, Mondialiste and Deauville, the European quartet includes a trio of horses who have won at the highest level before, while Decorated Knight is a progressive four-year-old and arrives on the back of a career-best effort.
Only 14 horses can compete in the $1million contest but all four European raiders are guaranteed a run.
Good preparation
Godolphin's only success in the Million came when Sulamani was awarded the race in 2003 but they have a strong contender this time in Tryster, who, as you might expect for a horse who has proven so effective in Dubai, has reportedly taken the travelling in his stride.
"He's travelled over well," Appleby said. "He was out on the track on Saturday morning and the guys were very happy with him. It's all been straightforward so far."
Noted for possessing an explosive turn of foot, Tryster is thought to be at his most effective on turf when the ground is fast and Appleby is hoping a decent gallop on quick ground will allow the horse to produce his best.
"They are forecast thunderstorms during the week but hopefully they'll miss them as it's a case of the faster the ground the better for Tryster," the trainer said. "He's not the quickest from the gates but you wouldn't want him to be too quickly away as he likes to be held up and come off a fast pace."
Appleby also confirmed that Tryster would be ridden by William Buick, who won the race in 2010 on the John Gosden-trained Debussy.
Supporting card
The last European winner of the Million was Cape Blanco in 2011 and Deauville, winner of the Belmont Derby on his latest outing, carries the same Fitri Hay silks. Behind Deauville in sixth at Belmont was his Aidan O'Brien-trained stablemate Long Island Sound, who is the sole European pre-entry among 10 in the Secretariat Stakes, which also takes place on Saturday.
The feature race for fillies at Arlington is the Beverley D. Stakes and Aidan O'Brien is responsible for two of the 14 pre-entries with Belmont Oaks third Coolmore and Ballydoyle, a disappointment in the same race.
The Willie Mullins-trained Clondaw Warrior - who won the valuable Galway Hurdle on his latest start - is a fascinating pre-entry in the American St Leger, in which leading American stayer Da Big Hoss is sure to be popular on the back of his Belmont Gold Cup win.
The final declarations for all four races are made on Wednesday.
Arlington Million betting
William Hill bet: 7-2 Tryster, 4-1 Mondialiste, 9-2 Deauville, 7-1 Decorated Knight, World Approval, 10-1 The Pizza Man, 11-1 Wake Forest, 14-1 Takeover Target, 16-1 Kasaqui, Take The Stand, 25-1 Danish Dynaformer, Greengrassofyoming, 40-1 bar.
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