Powerscourt storms to Arlington glory
Powerscourt made amends for his demotion from first place in the Arlington Million 12 months ago with a brilliant victory in Chicago’s Grade One showpiece.
Given a superb ride by Kieren Fallon, the Irish challenger romped home by three lengths from the favourite Kitten’s Joy with Fourty Niners Son and Better Talk Now close up in third and fourth.
Fallon was at best on the Aidan O’Brien-trained five-year-old, who stormed to the front a furlong out and galloped on too strongly for the opposition.
Powerscourt did hang left towards the rail when taking the lead but not as badly as last year when, ridden by Jamie Spencer, he was relegated to fourth place after causing interference.
Fallon had Powerscourt smartly out of the gate from his high draw and settled him off the pace as Whilly and Sweet Return made it a true test over a mile and a quarter.
The leading pair soon had the field well strung out but the pack closed in as they approached the home turn where Powerscourt appeared tight for room.
However, Fallon did not panic as Kitten’s Joy made his bid for glory early in the straight. Powerscourt soon hit top gear to grab the lead and end a winless 15 months in tremendous style.
Said Fallon: “He deserved this win. He was unlucky last year to be taken down and he’s done it really well.
“It was a great training performance by Aidan and the horse was in great condition today. He was an impressive winner.
“He had a long year last year before he came here and he had a hard race. He then went to Japan and Dubai after which Aidan gave him time to freshen up.
“His run in Scotland was a prep race for today and he did not wear blinkers when he was second in the Scottish Derby.
“If you leave them on all the time they get used to them and they don’t work. And he is a very clever horse.
“I was drawn nine and my goal was to get across and get down to the rail before the first turn. If you are five or six deep around the first turn you will have trouble to finish your race.
“They went very quick early on and I was able to get a position I wanted. I was hoping to be just in behind the leaders turning for home and it all happened for me.
“Fortunately he’s done everything easy for me and when the splits came in the straight he just went right through them and won well.
“He went over to the rail but I wasn’t too far off at the time. I didn’t have to come around horses. I was lucky enough to get the splits right through the middle.
“I thought Kitten’s Joy was going to get me at some stage. I was worried I had gone too soon but I had to attack him and just hoped he was locked up down on the rail. Powerscourt felt so good today – he was at his peak.”
Kitten’s Joy is still set to travel over to Paris for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in October despite being beaten.
Said his trainer Dale Romans: “He’s still on track to go for the Arc.”
Fallon and O’Brien were out of luck with both Mona Lisa and Grand Central in the two other Grade One races.
Mona Lisa was only seventh in the Beverly D Stakes with British raider Sundrop fifth as Gary Stevens steered Angara to a thrilling victory.
Angara, trained in California by French-born trainer Patrick Biancone, came late and wide to win by a neck from the Bobby Frankel-trained Megahertz.
Frankel’s other runner Melhor Ainda was a head away third with Wonder Again another neck away fourth in a tight finish.
Sundrop, owned by Godolphin, was in the rear for most of the nine-and-a-half furlong race but she stayed on in the straight.
Fallon had Mona Lisa in third place on the rail as Miss Terrible and Halo Ola set the pace but had his path stopped at a crucial stage.
Said Fallon: “She never got a run. I stuck her behind the two leaders and could never go anywhere.
“Jerry Bailey on Wend was on my outside and I had nowhere to go. She would have gone close but she wasn’t beaten far.”
Sundrop’s trainer Saeed bin Suroor said: “I’m disappointed about the filly. There’s no plan after this race. We will see how she comes back and think about it.”
The other intended British runner, Tarfah, missed the race after being found to be lame earlier in the day.
Fallon and O’Brien had to settle for fourth place with Grand Central behind Gun Salute in the Secretariat Stakes.
Grand Central, who has been sold to race in Hong Kong, made his bid on the outside in the straight.
However he could make no impression as Gun Salute, trained by Bill Mott and ridden by Cornelio Velasquez, landed this Grade One prize by a length and three-quarters from English Channel.
Fallon was pleased with Grand Central, saying: “I thought he ran a great race. He travelled nicely in behind and it was a great experience for him. He will come on a ton.”
Dermot Weld’s Merger, the other Irish runner, flattered briefly but faded to finish last.
His rider Darryll Holland said: “I got my position early, then just moved him up in the back stretch in behind the leader. But when I let him out there wasn’t a lot there.”
