Gelding Tries to Repeat Sire’s Feat Decade Later
Ten years after his sire, Be My Native, came from England to finish second in the Arlington Million as a 72-1 shot, 5-year-old gelding River Verdon will try to win the 1 1/4-mile turf race today after arriving from Hong Kong.
It cost $18,000 to enter the gelding, bred in Ireland by Ronald Arculli. He is owned by Arculli and Sir Oswald Cheung. Cheung is Queen’s Council in Hong Kong and Arculli is an attorney for the government in Hong Kong.
River Verdon’s first start in a counterclockwise race will be his first race outside Hong Kong, but he didn’t appear unsettled by the 24-hour trip or the strange surroundings. He is 30-1 on the morning line.
The 5-2 early favorite in the 12-horse field is Sky Classic of Canada. Second at 4-1 is Quest For Fame, the English Derby winner in 1990. Next in the morning line at 9-2 is Second Set, a winner of three stakes in England.
At 5-1 is Golden Pheasant, winner of the Arlington Million in 1990 and winner of the Japan Cup last Nov. 24.
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