MDK HAS FAV FOR ARLINGTON MILLION!

Sry guys,once again I have to disagree here.I think you are making a mountain out of a mole hill.Archie wasn't good enough on the day.What Murtagh did was merely race riding,and it's hardly like Shea had to snatch Archie up or anything like that.He might beat the winner next time,but it simply wasn't his day.I don't think that Nelson cost Archie that race.

Fair enough but there is no doubt that he was boxed in and once clear ate up the ground.

Horses get boxed in during races every day.That was a mild incident in comparison to what happens sometimes and although it is unlucky to have that happen when your money is on,imo it did not cost Archie the race.Anyway,we all live to fight another day so on we go.

Interesting comments from MDK regarding Murtaghs rding tactics

Still 2nd in a 15 million rand race. second must be about 3 million or so.

I see De Kock has retracted his previous statements,which were made ' in the heat of the moment'.

Guys 'boxing in' is a VERY big part of the game ask Lucky any ex-pro.

It sorts the men from the boys 'old skool' riding!!

MIKE DE KOCK on Monday attempted to defuse any ill feeling between himself and Johnny Murtagh and his employers at Coolmore after admitting to “throwing toys out of his cot” in the immediate aftermath of Archipenko's defeat in Saturday's Grade 1 Arlington Million.

De Kock's challenger, the former Ballydoyle inmate, finished second to all-the-way French raider Spirit One, with Mount Nelson and Murtagh weakening back in third.

Afterwards De Kock suggested that Murtagh's tactics on Mount Nelson had cost his horse the race, accusing him of “the most ungentlemanly piece of riding I have seen in a long time”.

When contacted by the Racing Post on Monday, Murtagh would only say: “There are a lot of experts out there and they should watch the race for themselves and make up their own minds, because I have nothing to comment on it.”

De Kock, when informed of Murtagh's reaction, said: “Johnny is 100 per cent right and what I said after the race was in the heat of the moment. I viewed last Saturday's race close enough to the most important race in my career as I felt to win a Grade 1 race in North America would be a major deal for me, especially being from South Africa.”

The trainer, who recently won the Grade 2 Gold Circle Oaks at Clairwood with the John Magnier-owned Front House, continued: “In the heat of the moment afterwards, Kevin and I were very emotional and I owe him more respect. We planned this race for a year and we just have to live with the result.

“Johnny is a big part of my team in Dubai where I intend sending 40 horses this year and I have the utmost respect for him.”

The trainer added: “At the end of the day I have a lot of respect for Johnny Murtagh and I don't want to fall out with him. He is one of the best jockeys I have ever seen, let alone worked with.

“I have had time to reflect and I admit fully that it was the wrong thing to say.”