Mike happy with SFR’s second
August 17, 2013Tiger Ridge Syndicate on fire!
August 18, 2013THE Apache lost Saturday’s Gr1 Arlington Million at Arlington Park in Chicago on objection after beating Real Solution by a head.
Real Solution (Alan Garcia) was on the outside of The Apache (Christophe Soumillon) as they came down the stretch. The Apache was on the rail, but ended up about four lanes outside, bumping Real Solution in the process.
Real Solution (red and white) vs The Apache (yellow and blue).
Garcia and trainer Chad Brown filed an objection, and after 6 minutes, the objection was upheld.
“At the top of the stretch I had plenty of horse to go by, and the other horse (The Apache) bumped us more than four times,” Garcia said. “Made me lose my momentum. If that didn’t happen we might have won by two or three lengths.”
Soumillon blamed the move to the right on the giant video screen closed to the finish line.
“We were the better horse, but he got scared by the screen and shifted out,” Soumillon said. “My horse was on the lead and got a little unbalanced. The screen scared him, but we were the best horse.”
Mike de Kock was bitterly disappointed but commented on Sunday morning: “To say that we are gutted is an understatement but at the same time very proud of The Apache and the team. He ran a huge race. It was a good day for SA-bred bred horses and it could have been massive.
“On viewing the head-on of the Arlington Million I can safely say that the second horse did get hampered by The Apache and had we got beat like that I would have felt aggrieved. I still think had The Apache gone straight he would have won.
“It’s painful but that’s the game. Between Shea Shea’s close second at Royal Ascot and now this we feel a bit unlucky, but we are very competitive on the world stage with fairly unfashionably bred horses which makes me proud!”
Watch review and head-on clip here.
5 Comments
Well done Mike and team. Another proud moment for SA. Hope he pulls up well and go for the breeders cup. I am gutted to say the least as I had an all to come onto the apache to win R220 000, but as you always say Mike, the sun will come up tomorrow,
We are very proud of the Apache and the whole team.unfortunate about the disqualification but S A Racing can stand tall anywhere
So disappointing for you, and for us all. Was so hoping this would lead to the Breeder’s Cup, but there you are, that’s how the wishbone cracks. Apache showed his class. Here’s hoping to see him reel in the big fish before too long … he certainly deserves it and so do you.
God do I just love all those unfashionably bred horses from the tip of Africa 🙂
Here’s to Mike & all his unfashionably bred horses – may they all rule the racing world in the years to come!
Mike De Kock and his great team are a force to be reckoned with Internationally! All I can say about the Arlington Million is you were robbed. The Apache was pulling away again at the end… there might have been contact between the two horses, but it sure did not look like it affected the runners-up as much as they make it out to be! To say they might have won by 2 or more lengths… a joke!
Mike and team – Congratulations on a brilliant achievement. They might have been able to take the race away from you, but the photo and the video will be with us forever.