O'Brien Reflects On American Raid

Connections of Ace and Ivan Denisovich will wait until both have settled back into their County Tipperary stables after a trip to Chicago before making any future plans.

The pair travelled to North America to take part in Saturday night's Arlington Park card, in which Ivan Denisovich showed up the best by finishing with a late rattle and taking second in the Secretariat Stakes.

Ace did not fare so well having been caught flat-footed at a crucial stage under Garrett Gomez before staying on to finish sixth to The Tin Man in the Arlington Million.

Both Ballydoyle runners had new partners in America after retained rider Kieren Fallon was banned from riding by the Illinois authorities following the restrictions imposed on him in Britain by the Horseracing Regulatory Authority.

'Ace jumped well but they slowed the race up and he had to just sit and suffer. Had the jockey known the horse better it might have been a different story,' said trainer Aidan O'Brien.

'We would have loved to go there with Kieren and it is hard for the lads over there to get to know the horses quickly and to get it right the first time.

'John Velazquez was delighted with Ivan Denisovich. He had to pull out wide but was delighted with him.

'Both are coming back home after which we will sit down and decide where to go next with them.'

? PA Sport