Maragh To Reunite With Main Sequence

Rajiv Maragh will be reunited with champion older male and champion male turf horse Main Sequence (Aldebaran) for the GII Mac Diarmada S. at Gulfstream Feb. 21 after being forced to miss what would have been a winning ride in the GI Breeders’ Cup Turf due to a broken arm. Maragh rode the Flaxman homebred in each of his previous winning outings Stateside–the GI United Nations S. July 6, GI Sword Dancer Invitational S. Aug. 17 and GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic S. Sept. 27. Hall of Famer John Velazquez was aboard for the Breeders’ Cup. 

“Rajiv will ride him,” confirmed trainer Graham Motion. “It’s a hard thing for me, because Johnny rode him beautifully. He’s one of the best out there, but Rajiv had a nice rapport with the horse. Motion added, “I don’t think it’s fair to penalize him because he was hurt and was unable to ride him in the Breeders’ Cup. I’d be happy to have either one of them ride him. In fairness to Rajiv, it was his mount before he got hurt.”