Rock to roll in Arlington Mile
Michael Kinane takes the mount on Rock Of Gibraltar and he will also be aboard Hawk Wing in the Classic, High Chaparral in the Breeders’ Cup Turf and has chosen to partner Tomahawk in the Juvenile.
Kinane is looking to forward to the race. He said: ‘‘Rock Of Gibraltar is a very high class colt and you would imagine he would be suited by the Mile. We already know how good he is at that distance.
‘‘Ideally a middle draw would be nice so that we could take the race as it comes, but if we came out 14 out of 14 we’d just have to deal with it.
‘‘I’ve ridden the Arlington turf before and it’s a lovely racing surface. I don’t think the ground will be a problem for him.’’
O’Brien was represented at yesterday’s draw ceremony by Ferguson’s racing manager Mike Dillon.
O’Brien, who flew to Chicago yesterday afternoon, expressed himself happy with Tomahawk, who was in action on Saturday at Newmarket, where he finished second in the Dewhurst Stakes.
As things stand at the moment the Ballydoyle handler is set to have three runners in the Juvenile and something will have to come out for his first reserve, Marino Marini, to get in.
Hold That Tiger, brilliant winner of the Grand Criterium at Longchamp on Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe day, will again be partnered by Kieren Fallon, while Van Nistelrooy will be ridden by American pilot, John Velasquez.
Landseer will join Rock Of Gibraltar in the Mile, having warmed up for this by landing a Grade One at Keeneland last month. He was ridden then by Edgar Prado, who will renew acquaintances.
Meanwhile, closer to home, O’Brien confirmed he will have three runners in Saturday’s Group One Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster, Brian Boru, The Great Gatsby and Powerscourt.
Final jockey arrangements have yet to be completed, but Kevin Darley and George Duffield have been booked for two of the challengers.
