Fallon declared on O’Brien’s Ace and Ivan Denisovich
The Irish jockey is scheduled to arrive in Chicago today, but it was unclear last evening if he will receive his licence to ride at Arlington Park.
It appears the Illinois Racing Board has to make the decision whether he will be able to ride or not, although it had been previously thought he would be unable to ride in the state following the decision of the Horseracing Regulatory Authority to ban him from riding in Britain.
Ace was drawn three in the Arlington Million, while the other British contender Phoenix Reach, trained by Andrew Balding, has drawn number six. Touch of Land, trained by Henri-Alex Pantall in France is drawn four, with the German raider Soldier Hollow in five.
Current favourite is the Todd Pletcher-trained English Channel, who is drawn in stall 11.
Andreas Christou, Phoenix Reach’s owner, said: “Phoenix Reach has been back in training for two months. It is quite easy to train a horse again from scratch in England, as we have hills, different gallops and lots of terrain to get a horse fit.
“He is a gifted horse and I have always believed that a gifted horse will tell the trainer when he is ready.”
Although the European trainers have not yet arrived at Arlington Park, they will hardly be upset about the draw of their contenders, all drawn on the inside.
As to Ivan Denisovich, one of six runners in the Secretariat Stakes, Pat Keating, head lad at Ballydoyle, said: “He has travelled well and we are very happy with him.
“He will suit the track. He ran well in the St James’s Palace Stakes and showed then that he should get the extra furlong without any problem.
“He is drawn five and that shouldn’t be any problem.”
The William Haggas-trained Primary is drawn four in that race, while the 7-5 favourite Showing Up is drawn in stall number one.
A total of 11 fillies and mares will line up for the Beverly D. Stakes, which has only attracted one European runner, the John Best-trained Rising Cross, who runs in the colours of Gary Tanaka.
Asked at Gowran Park this evening, where he was on the mark with Flying Knight, Fallon was unable to shed any light on whether he would be in action at the weekend.
