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Main Sequence flies late to capture United Nations in U.S. debut

Main Sequence fired off an eight-month layoff, propelling himself into a spot in the Breeders' Cup Turf (Carl Sari/Equi-Photo) Flaxman Holdings' homebred Main Sequence made a scintillating American debut off an eight-month layoff in Sunday's Grade 1, $535,000 United Nations at Monmouth. Now trained by Graham Motion, the 8-1 shot caught fire in deep stretch to deny Twilight Eclipse and book his spot in the November 1 Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita. Main Sequence was an established Group 1-caliber performer in Europe in 2012, although it took this transatlantic move to earn a breakthrough at the top level. Runner-up to Camelot in the Epsom Derby and a desperately unlucky fourth in the Grand Prix de Paris during his sophomore campaign, the chestnut gelding endured a subpar 2013, and signed off after a poor eighth in the Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot October 19. Motion revealed that Main Sequence became ill after his stateside arrival last winter, and the patient horseman took his time to get him back in peak form. Believing that he had him ready at last, Motion decided to try him in this competitive Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" event, and Main Sequence fully repaid connections' faith. There was little pace in the opening strides, so English shipper Side Glance moved up to seize the initiative from his outside post. Jockey Jamie Spencer was employing the same heady tactics as in the November 2 Mackinnon at Australia's Flemington Racecourse, where he guided Side Glance to take early control of a paceless race, and helped the veteran globetrotter notch a Group 1 title.

Side Glance headed 3-1 favorite Kaigun and Twilight Eclipse, the 7-2 second choice, through an initial quarter in :24 4/5, and established a comfortable advantage as the field passed the stands for the first time. Kaigun and Twilight Eclipse settled into tracking roles through leisurely fractions of :49, 1:14 3/5 and 1:39 2/5 on the firm turf. Meanwhile, Main Sequence was unhurried by jockey Rajiv Maragh. Last early, the eventual winner improved his position steadily as the race unfolded.

At the head of affairs, Side Glance continued to lead into the homestretch, until Twilight Eclipse launched a bold bid. Sweeping past the opportunistic pacesetter, Twilight Eclipse appeared to have an elusive Grade 1 trophy within his grasp.

But Main Sequence then arrived on the premises. Despite flashing his tail repeatedly down the lane, he did not shrink from the battle. Main Sequence deployed an electric turn of foot to nab Twilight Eclipse by a neck and completed 1 3/8 grassy miles in 2:14 1/5.

"He can be quirky in the mornings, but Rajiv rode him great," Motion said. "He's not fond of getting to the lead too early, but he showed a tremendous turn of foot. The way he's been working, I've been really anxious to run him for three or four weeks now. I think the Breeders' Cup is now something we can consider."

Graham Motion turned in a superb training performance and Rajiv Maragh provided an astute ride (Bill Denver/Equi-Photo) "When I called on him he showed a tremendous turn of foot and kept running hard all the way to the wire," Maragh said. "We just wanted to get him in a good rhythm and not worry about the pace or anything else, just keep him happy. We came around the outside into the stretch and when I called on him he just accelerated." Side Glance, who looked surely swamped by the closers, proved his mettle once again by soldiering on for third. He just held the fast-finishing Winning Cause by a nose, with Kaigun a further neck away in a one-paced fifth. Ghurair, Charming Kitten, Exclusive Strike and Manchurian High rounded out the order of finish. Lochte was withdrawn after being cross-entered to Wednesday's 8TH race at Belmont Park. Main Sequence, who paid $18 to win, advanced his line to 15-5-3-3, $988,311. Originally trained in England by David Lanigan, he won his first four career starts, capped by the Group 3 Lingfield Derby Trial that had been transferred to Polytrack. Following his aforementioned second in the Derby, Main Sequence suffered a nightmare trip in the Grand Prix de Paris, or else he might well have already boasted a Group 1 laurel. He ended his 2012 season with a close second in the Group 2 Great Voltigeur and a fifth in the Group 1 St Leger.

Making his 2013 premiere in the Buckhounds at Ascot, Main Sequence faded to a distant third. He performed much better next time in the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard at Sandown, where he went down by only a half-length to Mukhadram, winner of this past Saturday's Group 1 Eclipse. Main Sequence's losing skid continued in his four remaining English appearances, checking in fourth in the Pontefract Castle and third in a pair of Group 3s, the September over Kempton's Polytrack and the Arc Trial at Newbury, before never factoring in the Champion.

The Kentucky-bred is a product of the Niarchos family's Flaxman Holdings, top and bottom. He is by the Niarchos' champion sprinter Aldebaran (who is himself a son of Mr. Prospector and the Niarchos' multiple Group 1-winning mare Chimes of Freedom). Main Sequence's dam, the Group 3-placed Pivotal mare Ikat, likewise descends from a maternal line cultivated by the Niarchos family. Ikat is a half-sister to current French Group 2 winner Smoking Sun, a candidate for the Grade 1 Arlington Million, as well as to Group 2-placed stakes scorer Zhiyi.

Main Sequence's second dam is Group 2-placed stakes victress Burning Sunset, herself a half-sister to 2007 Epsom Oaks winner Light Shift; English highweight mare Shiva; multiple Group 2 hero Limnos; Grade 1-placed Hyades; and Molasses, the dam of Group 3 scorer Magadan.

Main Sequence's fourth dam is French champion and classic winner Northern Trick, who was brought into the Niarchos fold when purchased for $530,000 as a Keeneland July yearling in 1982. Her influence has extended to Brazil, with such descendants as two-time champion Jeune-Turc and Group 1 victor Nonno Luigi.

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