Russian Sage will miss Arlington Million

RUSSIAN SAGE DEFINITELY WILL MISS THE GRADE 1 ARLINGTON MILLION,

SOUTH AFRICAN CHAMP IS TWO WEEKS BEHIND SCHEDULE FOR CHICAGO,

DE KOCK TO RUN HIM FORTNIGHT LATER IN GROUP 3 STRENSALL AT YORK

Russian Sage unfortunately will definitely miss his engagement in the Grade 1 Arlington Million Stakes the first week of August in the United States, as a minor hoof ailment set him back after his arrival in England, confirms trainer Mike de Kock from his yard in Newmarket.

Barry Irwin said “Naturally, we are disappointed not to be able to bring the colt over for the Million, as we feel that both the 10-furlong distance and the galloping nature of the Arlington Park layout would suit him. However, we are very happy that Mike has him going the right way again and look forward to seeing him in action at York.”

Russian Sage instead will make his next start on August 21 in the Group 3 Strensall Stakes going 9 furlongs at York in a race in which he carries no penalty for being a Group 1 winner.


Russian sage ran second twice in Dubai last year
including in his debut when preping at a mile

The Champion Colt at 3 in his native South Africa and a double Grade 1 winner including the Cape of Good Hope Derby, Russian Sage ran well without winning in a pair of starts in Dubai over the winter, but he bled from both nostrils when subsequently unplaced in the Grade 1 Duty Free.

A lot of horses suffered from respiratory ailments in the United Arab Emirates over the winter because of the dust kicked up from nearby construction and Russian Sage was among many first-time bleeders on World Cup night.

De Kock, who won last weekend’s Group 3 Criterion Stakes at Newmarket with another South African import in Imbongi, confirmed that the change in venue has had a dramatically beneficial impact on his horses from the desert.

“The horses in England are just so different to what they were in Dubai,” he said. “I am confident we will see the best of Russian Sage there.”

Russian Sage as of now has no long-term game plan, as the interruption in his training schedule has waylaid any definite schedule. “Right now, we are more interested in getting the colt back on track than in mapping out any long-term plans,” Irwin said. “Right now, all options will be considered. He is owned by an international group racing men and woman that have as their ultimate goal standing him at stud. We will carefully watch and assess his run in the Strensall and then come up with a more definite game plan. We could be looking at races in the United Kingdom and Europe, a trip to the United States, or a foray to Hong Kong with a possible return to Dubai. We’ll play it by ear for now.”

The Group win by Imbongi last week heartened Team Valor International’s racing partners, as that colt finished just behind Russian Sage when he dead-heated with Jay Peg for second in the Group 2 Jebel Hatta in Dubai. Imbongi got the better of Russian Sage when they met over a mile in the Grade 2 Guineas in Durban last year at 3. The form shown by these two colts is a great advertisement for South Africa,” Irwin said. “We feel that over 9 or 10 furlongs that Russian Sage can make an impact where ever Mike runs him.”