TRACKSIDE WORLDWIDE

Fort Washington Denies Mystik Dan in Arlington Million as Appleby’s Stars Shine Abroad Big stakes racing returned to the U.S over the weekend starting in Virginia, where the prodigious talent that won last year’s Kentucky Derby lined up on Saturday, August 9 in a bid to taste more Grade One success. However once again Mystik Dan fell short of that goal, having to settle for fourth in the Arlington Million Stakes at Colonial Downs. The four year old colt has yet to find the form that led to his win in arguably the world’s most famous race for three year olds in 2024. He battled for the lead in the straight but just didn’t have enough gas in the tank in his first race on turf. It was instead Fort Washington, whose perfectly timed run earned the 6 year old’s owners a majority share of the $1million purse. Grand Sonata meanwhile finished runner up for the seventh time in his career and last year’s runner up Integration crossed the line in third. 

Punters then turned their attention to Saratoga, where trainer Charlie Appleby had two runners in the Grade One Sword Dancer Stakes. Nations Pride and El Cordobes dueled for the lead in the final furlong with the latter ultimately prevailing, while a fast finishing Rebel Red managed to beat out William Buick’s ride for second. As they ran for home, Nations Pride was in the lead with a three length advantage, while El Cordobes had to make his way up from the rear. Rebel Red and El Corbodes ran side by side as they passed their competition - both showing a great turn of foot. It’s El Corbode's second Graded race win in a row after securing a maiden black type victory at Newmarket last month in the Group 2 Princess Of Wales's Stakes. His stablemate on the other hand experienced Group success in March in the Singspiel Stakes but hasn’t won a Group One since the 2024 Arlington Million Stakes. 

Luckily for Charlie Appleby he’s never short of winners at the highest level. Closer to home, Rebel's Romance ran in the Group One Westminster 135th Grosser Preis von Berlin on Sunday, August 10. Heading into the race as favourite, the only other horse considered to be a serious contender was two time Group One winner Junko. That’s exactly the way things played out, with Junko being the front-runner throughout while Rebel’s Romance followed closely behind on the outside, before out-running his rival in the straight. It wasn’t as clear cut of a victory as some might have expected, with Junko refusing to give up the lead until they were 100 metres out. The Godolphin 7 year old has been a truly successful globetrotter for Appleby over the past year. He’s won races in the U.S,Qatar, the UK and Germany where he previously won at Cologne in September last year. Not to mention a Group One win in 2024 at Sha Tin as well. written by Joe Bell