Sunday, January 16, 2005
Bullish Luck swoops in Stewards' Cup to maintain Cruz's big race dominance
From despair to delight - trainer Tony Cruz experienced it all before and after today's Stewards' Cup (Gr.1-1,600m), the first leg of the 2004/05 Triple Crown Series in Hong Kong.
First the horror as short-priced favourite Perfect Partner broke through the stalls, dislodged jockey Felix Coetzee, galloped a full circuit of the Sha Tin turf and was withdrawn. But only minutes later, Cruz was beaming as Bullish Luck came from last to first secure the lion's share of the HK$8 million purse.
Bullish Luck, of course, was unlucky when a short-head second to Alexander Goldrun in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup five weeks ago. On that occasion, the way he hung under pressure cost him victory in the world's richest 2,000m event on turf.
Dropping back to a mile here, Cruz's stable jockey Coetzee opted to ride Perfect Partner, runner-up in last month's Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile, prompting Cruz to book Christophe Soumillon for the mount on Bullish Luck, the highest-rated member of the field.
Cruz's instructions to the Belgian-born rider were straightforward: settle him in rear and use his powerful finishing kick in the straight.
"I was travelling well, nice and quiet, 600m out and I knew that I would be able to finish in the first three and maybe win," said Soumillon.
"He quickened up well at the top of the straight but I only used my hands on him until the 200m because I knew he could hang a bit. When he got to the front at the 200m I drew the whip and he gave me a second acceleration - he finished very strongly. It's my first Group 1 win in Hong Kong and I'd like to thank Tony for his support," the winning rider added.
Bullish Luck, a 6/1 chance, defeated Ain't Here by a length and three quarters, with Palette Natural a length and a quarter further back in third.
Asked whether Perfect Partner would have been able to live with Bullish Luck's turn of foot, a diplomatic Cruz said: "I think they would have fought out the finish. Bullish Luck didn't have things go his way in the Hong Kong Cup so it's nice to make up for that defeat."
Bullish Luck's victory meant his owner Wong Wing-keung could celebrate his birthday in the best possible style. The next race for the American-bred six-year-old will be his defence of the Hong Kong Gold Cup on February 20.
RACING IN DUBAI, UAE,DUBAI RACING CLUB
NAD AL SHEBA RACECOURSE
Saturday, January 15, 2005
Fayette win for Tarfaa bint Swain
Tarfaa bint Swain enjoyed her second Nad Al Sheba victory in nine days when landing the Fayette Handicap, sponsored by Keeneland Association, over the straight 1,200 metres at Nad Al Sheba on Saturday.
Partnered by Brazilian jockey Tiago Pereira and trained by Aditiyan Selvaratnam, Tarfaa bint Swain looks to relish the straight track made all and ran on well close home to win by an easy six and a quarter lengths.
Mr Magistrate, the mount of Ted Durcan took second with Waajeb a length back in third.
Jawad Al Kheir made all to win the opening race, the 1,300 metre Woodford Handicap for Purebred Arabians, sponsored by the Keeneland Association.
Partnered by Durcan and trained by Mazin Al Kurdi, Jawad Al Kheir, was briefly challenged in the straight by the Richard Hills-ridden Al Kesbe, but despite drifting across the track close home the seven-year-old ran on to a four and a quarter length victory.
Rod Simpson’s Russian Relation, the mount of John Panas, showed a blazing turn of foot to win the Lexington Maiden for Thoroughbreds over 2,000 metres.
The field were led into the straight by the Seamus O’Gorman-partnered Outside Centre with Russian Relation in eighth, Panas got to work on the son of Kris who picked up and took the lead at the 300 metres marker and soon showed the field a clean pair of heels.
Russian Relation crossed the line six and three quarter lengths ahead of Lewa Dance and the long term leader Outside Centre.
Naaddey, trained by Dhruba Selvaratnam and ridden by Pat Smullen, won his first race in the UAE when claiming the Kentucky Handicap over 1,400metres.
Stablemate Granato, Stanley Chin up, set the pace with Naaddey, a four-year-old son of Seeking The Gold, tracked the leader and made smooth progress to lead 450 metres out.
Naaddey was soon clear and ran on to three and a half lengths from the Hills-partnered Muwassi with Attlee a further length and a half back in third.
Early Assault, Willie Supple in the saddle, was the easiest of winners for trainer Doug Watson in the 1,800 metres Keeneland Handicap. The seven-year-old son of Danewin was going well into the straight and made smooth progress to lead at the 200 metres pole and ran on to a four and a quarter length win.
Dolbear, Gary Hind in the saddle, made it a winning double for trainer Aditiyan Selvaratnam when he won the final race of the evening, the Jessamine Handicap over 1,800 metres.
Dolbear, a son of Phone Trick, came with a run in the straight to take the lead 300 metres out and was spoon clear, crossing the line three lengths ahead of Morafij and Al Hasim
RACING IN DUBAI, UAE, DUBAI RACING CLUB, NAD AL SHEBA RACECOURSE
Saturday, January 15, 2005 Dirt. Track: Fast.
Key: The figures beside the race conditions (ie 00-80) are for horses
rated in that division and these figures are in pounds. The UAE Dirham
(AED) is fixed at US$3.68. All races on dirt.
Race One. The Woodford. Purebred Arabians 1,300m. NH & SH 5yo+. 65-85
Prizemoney: AED 42,000.
1st: AED 27,300. 2nd: AED 8,400. 3rd: AED 4,200. 4th: AED 2,100
1. JAWAD AL KHEIR (FR) 57.5kgs
1998 GR H Kesberoy – Flamme de Syrah (Passem)
Owner: Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
Breeder: Nejma Mousli
Trainer: M Al Kurdi. Jockey: T Durcan
2. AL KESBE (FR) 55.5kgs
1999 b h Kesberoy – Zamba (Managanate)
Owner: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Breeder: M Francis Faure
Trainer: Gillian Duffield. Jockey: R Hills
3. SADEEM (FR) 54kgs
1996 CH H Djelfor – BJT Miss Bobby (Tiki Tessar)
Owner: Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Breeder: Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan
Trainer: J Frazier Jr. Jockey: W Hollick
Then came (in order): Sousoff (FR), Quick Reply (US), Wayward Faery
(GB), Badawi (GB). All 7 ran. Margins: 4.25, nse, .75. Time: 1m 29.00s
Race Two. The Lexington. Thoroughbreds 2,000m. NH 4yo+ & SH 3yo+. Maiden
Prizemoney: AED 30,000.
1st: AED 19,500. 2nd: AED 6,000. 3rd: AED 3,000. 4th: AED 1,500
1. RUSSIAN RELATION (USA) 58.5kgs
2000 b g Kris S – Tereshkova (Mr Prospector)
Owner: Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum
Breeder: Gainsborough Farm LLC
Trainer: R Simpson. Jockey: J Panas
2. LEWA DANCE (USA) 58.5kgs
2000 b g Mr Prospector – Housa Dancer (Fabulous Dancer)
Owner: Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
Breeder: Darley Stud Management Ltd
Trainer: E Charpy. Jockey: T O’Shea
3. OUTSIDE CENTRE (USA) 58.5kgs
1999 dk b or br g Benny The Dip – Six Nations (Danzig)
Owner: MMRM
Breeder: Darley Stud Management LLC
Trainer: S Seemar. Jockey: S O’Gorman
Then came (in order): Naiad (GB), Another Legend (IRE), Silver Medal
(USA), Old Dorset (USA), Hot Wings (FR), Myboyzandme (IRE), Slane Hill
(USA), Namehimifyoucan (IRE), Sept Etoiles (IRE), Jarnain (GB),
Ingridann (GB), Tri Another Cat (USA), West Country (UAE). 16 ran.
NRs: Houbara (GB), Stratemann (GB), Mutamadee (USA), Nile’s Trick (USA).
Margins: 6.75, .75, .5. Time: 2m 08.32s
Race Three. The Kentucky. Thoroughbreds 1,400m. NH 4yo+ & SH 3yo+. 55-85
Prizemoney: AED 42,000.
1st: AED 27,300. 2nd: AED 8,400. 3rd: AED 4,200. 4th: AED 2,100
1. NAADDEY (GB) 62kgs
2001 b c Seeking The Gold – Bahr (Generous)
Owner: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Breeder: Darley
Trainer: D Selvaratnam. Jockey: P Smullen
2. MUWASSI (GB) 56gs
1999 b h Grand Lodge – Sardonic (Kris)
Owner: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Breeder: Lord Howard de Walden
Trainer: E Charpy. Jockey: R Hills
3. ATTLEE (USA) 53gs
1999 dk b or br g Atticus – No Rego (Riverman)
Owner: Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
Breeder: Robert B Berger
Trainer: M Al Kurdi. Jockey: T Durcan
Then came (in order): Wilde (GB), Rezif (GB), Mr Sena (ARG), Granato
(GER), Dubai Midnight (USA), B Major (IRE), Shaard (IRE). All 10 Ran.
Margins: 3 .5, 1.5, nk. Time: 1m 26.59s
Race Four. The Fayette. Thoroughbreds 1,200m. NH 4yo+ & SH 3yo+. 60-90
Prizemoney: AED 50,000.
1st: AED 32,500. 2nd: AED 10,000. 3rd: AED 5,000. 4th: AED 2,500
1. TARFAA BINT SWAIN (USA) 54gs
2000 b f Swain – Escape to Victory (Salse)
Owner: Jean-Michel Lee Shim
Breeder: Lyons Demesne
Trainer: A Selvaratnam. Jockey: T Perira
2. MR MAGISTRATE (AUS) 54.5kgs
1997 b g Danewin – Wild Thunder (Our Poetic Prince)
Owner: Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
Breeder: Alex Cheung & Sunny Yam Investment Co
Trainer: M Al Kurdi. Jockey: T Durcan
3. WAAJEB (USA) 58.5kgs
2000 b c Silver Deputy – Bridal Tea (Gulch)
Owner: Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
Breeder: W S Farish, W Temple Webber Jr & J Elk
Trainer: A Rashid Al Raihe. Jockey: D Mernagh
Then came (in order): Grand Eastern (USA), Maksad (IRE), Medraar (GB),
Majaarat (IRE), Ma Yoram (USA). 8 ran. NR: Misdeed (FR).
Margins: 6.25, 1, shd. Time: 1m 12.31s
Race Five. The Keeneland. Thoroughbreds 1,800m. NH 4yo+ & SH 3yo+. 65-90
Prizemoney: AED 50,000.
1st: AED 32,500. 2nd: AED 10,000. 3rd: AED 5,000. 4th: AED 2,500
1. EARLY ASSAULT (AUS) 54kgs
1997 b g Danewin – Rangiora (Greenwood)
Owner: Paul Duffin
Breeder: Emirates Park Pty Ltd
Trainer: D Watson. Jockey: W Supple
2. RUMPOLD (GB) 53kgs
1998 gr h Mister Baileys – Southern Psychic (Alwasmi)
Owner: Sheikh Mohammed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum
Breeder: P & Mrs Venner
Trainer: A Rashid Al Raihe. Jockey: R Ffrench
3. TRACK SHOW (GB) 52.5kgs
2001 b c Unfuwain – Chrysalu (Distant Relative)
Owner: Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan
Breeder: Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi
Trainer: J Frazier Jr. Jockey: W Hollick
Then came (in order): Suzuka (USA), Asiatic (GB). 5 ran. NR: Faithful
Warrior (USA). Margins: 4.25, 4.75, .5. Time: 1m 53.86s
Race Six. The Jessamine. Thoroughbreds 1,800m. NH 4yo+ & SH 3yo+. 40-65
Prizemoney: AED 26,000.
1st: AED 16,900. 2nd: AED 5,200. 3rd: AED 2,600. 4th: AED 1,300
1. DOLBEAR (USA) 57kgs
2000 ch g Phone Trick – My Own Lovely (Bucksplasher)
Owner: Mohammed Nayamat
Breeder: Mary S Iselin
Trainer: A Selvaratnam. Jockey: G Hind
2. MORAFIJ (GER) 56kgs
2000 b g Lion Cavern – Maid of Kashmir (Dancing Brave)
Owner: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Breeder: Darley Stud Management Ltd
Trainer: D Selvaratnam. Jockey: P Smullen
3. AL HASIM (FR) 56kgs
1999 gr h Highest Honor – Dou El Qamar (Woodman)
Owner: Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Breeder: Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan
Trainer: J Frazier Jr. Jockey: W Hollick
Then came (in order): Sudden Squall (USA), Rue Mazarine (IRE), Rich
Pickins (USA), Classic Spirit (USA), Sole (BRZ), Senlis (JPN),
Rhythmical Road (USA), Aviation Falcon (USA), Danehill Dubai (IRE), Keep
(USA), Lunch Time (GB), School Spirit (USA), Terminater (NZ). 16 ran.
NRs: Bitter Chill (USA), Zanatan (FR), Silver Solver (IRE). Margins: 3,
hd, 3. Time: 1m 55.66s
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