The cream of Ireland's jockeys will be in international competition today with Declan McDonogh and Kevin Manning flying the flag in Ascot's Shergar Cup and the illustrious trio of Mick Kinane, Pat Smullen and Johnny Murtagh facing a trans-Atlantic dash to make it back to the Curragh tomorrow from tonight's Arlington Million meeting in Chicago.
Kinane will be on board the John Oxx-trained Danak who is second favourite in some books to become just the second Irish winner of the world famous Arlington Million after Powerscourt in 2005.
Danak, who lost his unbeaten record when fourth in the Tattersalls Gold Cup in May, will break from stall eight of the eight runners in the mile and a quarter feature which will be shown on the Racing World channel at 10.40 tonight. However, he faces a stiff task against last year's winner The Tin Man and more especially the top Californian turf horse, After Market. Murtagh will ride the French hope Doctor Dino.
Murtagh will also team up with South Africa's Irridescence in the $750,000 Beverly D Stakes (9.45) but there will be significant Irish interest in the $400,000 Secretariat Stakes (9.10) with Kinane on the Aidan O'Brien-trained Admiralofthefleet and Smullen riding Dermot Weld's Fleeting Shadow. Admiralofthefleet, winner of the Royal Lodge Stakes last year and the Dee Stakes last May, is a 3 to 1 second favourite on the morning line in Chicago. The Virginia Derby winner Red Giant is the local favourite.
Aidan O'Brien was runner-up with Ivan Denisovich in the Secretariat in 2006 but the O'Brien-Kinane team were successful in the Grade One race seven years ago with Ciro.
As well as McDonogh and Manning at Ascot, the Tony Martin-trained Leg Spinner will take his chance in the Shergar Cup Stayers Race over two miles. Leg Spinner, a former Ascot Stakes winner, won over hurdles at the Galway Festival last week.
Home racegoers tonight will focus on Kilbeggan where the Galway trainer Iggy Madden could enjoy a fruitful evening courtesy of Trevi Fountain in the three-mile handicap hurdle and Galway Legend in the handicap chase.
Another horse to look out for in the opening maiden hurdle is the Dessie Hughes-trained Laura's Light.
Crack three-year-old US Ranger is set to join Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O'Brien. Trained in France by Jean-Claude Rouget, the son of Danced won his first four starts before finishing a good seventh in the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket.
He was last seen taking second place behind Tariq in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot. The colt is jointly owned by Michael Tabor and Joseph Allen, whose racing manager Andy Smith told the Racing Post: "US Ranger is being sent to Ballydoyle because there isn't really a programme for him in France and there are many more opportunities for him in England and Ireland.
"After half of US Ranger was sold, it was always agreed that we would regroup after Ascot to reconsider his future.
"This move is no reflection on Jean-Claude, who will be sent more horses in the future - US Ranger was unbeaten in France."
