Deauville tops list of possible European invaders for Arlington Million card

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. – As many as about a dozen European shippers could be headed overseas to race at Arlington on the Million program here Aug. 12.

Heading the list of prospective runners supplied by the International Racing Bureau, which will coordinate travel and logistics for the horses that come to Arlington, is Deauville, the Aidan O’Brien-trained 4-year-old who won the Grade 1 Belmont Derby Invitational last summer and went on to finish a close third facing older rivals in the Million.

Deauville wants fast ground, but has made three of his six starts this year on courses rated soft or yielding. He was second as the odds-on favorite July 20 in the Group 3 Meld Stakes, but that race was run over yielding ground, and Deauville’s best form this year, third-place finishes in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes over one mile and in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup over 1 1/4 miles, will make him one of the Million favorites.

O’Brien, who has won the Million twice, also could have runners for the card’s two other Grade 1’s. The 3-year-old filly Rain Goddess, most recently second to the budding star filly Enable in the Irish Oaks, is possible for the Beverly D., while Orderofthegarter and Taj Mahal could run in the Secretariat Stakes for 3-year-olds.

Orderofthegarter finished a troubled seventh July 14 in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris, and the horse that finished second by an eyelash in that race, Permian, also is a possible Secretariat runner. Also getting a mention for the Secretariat is the Hugo Palmer-trained Afandem.

Possible for the Million is Mekhtaal, a France-based 4-year-old who won the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan in May; Scottish, a solid Godolphin gelding trained by Charlie Appleby; and Fanciful Angel, who would be a longshot.

The German filly Sarandia is another possible Beverly D. runner, while Dylan Mouth is the only relatively firm runner for the American St. Leger, though trainer Willie Mullins is expected to send something for the staying race.