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Main Sequence could have Dubai agenda

Motion on Main Sequence: "the world is his oyster" (Breeders' Cup Ltd. Photo) Trainer Graham Motion celebrated the 10th anniversary of his first Breeders' Cup success in the Santa Anita winner's circle Saturday after saddling Main Sequence for victory in the Turf. Motion's first career Breeders' Cup victory came with Better Talk Now in the 2004 Turf at Lone Star Park. "It's pretty neat. It's amazing that it would come around full circle like that, especially since he was the horse that kind of put me on the map and is probably the reason I have horses like this," Motion said. Main Sequence closed from off the pace to register a half-length victory in the 1 1/2-mile Turf under jockey John Velazquez. It was the fourth straight Grade 1 victory scored by the five-year-old gelding since being shipped to Motion by Flaxman Holdings Ltd. and trainer David Lanigan. "I never could have anticipated these things. My original plan was to find the easiest race for him. David and I talked about it. We just wanted to get him back on track, and the best way to do that was find the easiest spot possible," Motion said. "When he won the United Nations the way he did, he was really impressive that day. He showed something that we hadn't seen before -- that turn of foot. With every race, he's gotten better; he really has."

Motion expressed pleasure with the manner in which Main Sequence came out of his Turf victory but has no set plans for a next start or when the son of Aldebaran would be shipped back to his Fair Hill base in Maryland.

"We haven't decided anything yet. We've been invited to Japan (Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse on November 30) and Hong Kong (Hong Kong Vase or Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin on December 14). I don't know, I just might take him back to Fair Hill and regroup," Motion said.

"Japan comes a bit quick, so that's a worry. Hong Kong is an option -- my only apprehension is that this horse got quite sick when he came to me last winter and I'm just worried about shipping him a long way, but I'd say we'll definitely consider it.

"It's a good shot we could do Dubai (in March)," Motion added. "The world is his oyster at the moment. I'm not sure what to do."

Motion is confident that Main Sequence has done more than enough to earn an Eclipse Award as North America's premier turf performer of 2014. He also regards his Turf victor as a prominent candidate for the Horse of the Year title.

"He has won four Group Is. No other horse has done what he's done," Motion said. "At the end of the day, I'm not going to lose sleep over it. He certainly deserves consideration. I'm sure there'll be a lot of split opinions because of the dirt and turf. I get that. It's America, we race on dirt."

Motion and his family celebrated Main Sequence's triumph with a dinner with the gelding's owners, who also visited the winner's circle with the Jonathan Pease-trained Karakontie, who captured the Breeders' Cup Mile Saturday.

"We had a big dinner with the Niarchos crew and Jonathan (Pease)," Motion said. "I worked for Jonathan, so it was pretty cool. I haven't spent much time with him, so it was really neat."

Motion reported that Rainha Da Bateria (ninth in the Juvenile Fillies Turf) and Rusty Slipper (10th in the Filly & Mare Turf) came out of their respective races in good order and would remain with his division at Santa Anita for the fall and winter months.

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