Mondialiste is one in a Million

MONDIALISTE ran out a game winner of the Arlington Million for David O'Meara and Danny Tudhope.

Winner of the Woodbine Mile last year, the six-year-old obviously likes competing on his travels.

Aidan O'Brien's Deauville made a bold bid to become just the second three-year-old to win the historic race and follow up his Belmont Derby success but he was just run out of it close home and finished third from a wide draw.

Kasaqui split the two Europeans but Godolphin's Tryster only briefly flattered before fading out of contention close home.

Mondialiste, who was second to Time Test at York last time out, now has an automatic entry into the Breeders' Cup Turf.

Roger Charlton's Decorated Knight was declared a non-runner earlier in the day.

"I couldn't have worked out better," said Tudhope.

"We'd gone over the race so many times but you don't know how it's going to go. It couldn't have gone better, though.

"He seems to love it out here, he thrives out here.

"It's amazing to win a race like this my first time here, it's amazing for everyone at the yard."

O'Meara added: "We stepped him up to a mile and a quarter at York and he ran a really good race behind Time Test and once we saw he handled the trip this race was in the back of our minds.

"Once he ran so well over that, the fact he ran so well when we travelled him last year, we were always going to come.

"He won at Woodbine last year and that was a win and you're in for the Breeders' Cup and he was second in the Mile so I don't so a reason we won't come back again. The owner will have the final say."

Earlier on in the evening Clondaw Warrior was a fast finishing second behind odds-on favourite Da Big Hoss in the American St Leger.

Willie Mullins' ultra-versatile performer is in the form of his life as a nine-year-old and has taken his owners to all the big meetings.

Seamie Heffernan only had one rival behind him throughout but when he asked his mount to quicken in the short straight the Galway Hurdle winner found plenty for pressure.

Unfortunately for connections the Michael Maker-trained favourite, ridden by Florent Geroux, had quickened past William Buick on Wasir and Clondaw Warrior had too much to do. Wasir stayed on for third.

"He just loves to win, he always finds a way, it doesn't matter where he is in the race," said Geroux on NBC.

"I got a great trip and no-one tried any funny business, which can happen when you ride a favourite.

"Earlier I won a race wire-to-wire and this time I can from off the pace, the track is great."

Mullins is hoping to continue the incredible story of Clondaw Warrior with a run in the Melbourne Cup.

When asked if Melbourne was on the agenda  Mullins said: "I'm hoping that.

"He looked fantastic today even with all his travels this year. He jumped very slowly (at the start) but with another 5/16ths to get up to two miles, he looked like he wanted every bit of it there.

"When he's closing on the Belmont Gold Cup winner (Da Big Hoss) that has to mean he's good enough to go Melbourne.

"He might have one more run (in England or Ireland). We'll see. He'll have to improve a little in the weights to get into the race, but we'd love to go if we can."