Six South African bred horses took up places on the Dubai World Cup card and five of them ran into top three finishes. Only Sanshaawes, who caught himself up in the pens before the jump, failed to score, eventually finishing 7th in the World Cup itself.
The big result was Variety Club winning the Gr2 Godolphin Mile with Soft Falling Rain in second place, the wide draw not being enough to stop him.
Star Empire stayed on resolutely in the Gr2 Gold Cup to get up for third.
Shea Shea started favourite but didn't quite manage to defend his title, ending up a close third in the Gr1 Al Quoz Sprint.
Vercingetorix ran a great race in the Gr1 Dubai Duty Free, comfortably beating all but one horse and breaking the race record in the process, but ran into a monster in Just A Way who cleared off by more than six lengths.
In all, this was a performance that South African breeders can be proud of on the richest day of racing worldwide.
Saturday 29 March 2014
Saturday 8 March 2014
Vercingetorix scores in Gr1 on busy night for SAf-breds!
Vercingetorix retained his unbeaten record, now 6 from 6, when comfortably winning the $300,000 Gr1 Jebel Hatta. He will be headed for the Duty Free on World Cup night in three weeks time.
Shea Shea won the Gr3 Meydan Sprint easily last year when having his second start of the season, following the long quarantine break. This time it was his seasonal debut but off a shorter break following his England campaign. He came through again, though only winning by a head.
Sanshaawes put in a huge run when finishing 2nd by just over a length in the $400,000 Gr1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3. Surely he's earned his place in the big race now.
Variety Club started a very hot favourite in the Gr3 Burj Nahaar but went down by almost 2 lengths, finishing 2nd. Will he still head for the Godolphin Mile as seemed likely, or perhaps switch back to the turf in the Duty Free?
Shea Shea won the Gr3 Meydan Sprint easily last year when having his second start of the season, following the long quarantine break. This time it was his seasonal debut but off a shorter break following his England campaign. He came through again, though only winning by a head.
Sanshaawes put in a huge run when finishing 2nd by just over a length in the $400,000 Gr1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3. Surely he's earned his place in the big race now.
Variety Club started a very hot favourite in the Gr3 Burj Nahaar but went down by almost 2 lengths, finishing 2nd. Will he still head for the Godolphin Mile as seemed likely, or perhaps switch back to the turf in the Duty Free?
Saturday 1 March 2014
Star Empire grabs 2nd in the Gr3 Nad Al Sheba Trophy
Having placed 3rd in the same 2810 metre turf event last year, Star Empire ran on well from the back of the 12 horse field to finish a clear, although well beaten, 2nd in the 2014 Nad Al Sheba Trophy.
Expect to see him back for the Gold Cup on World Cup night. His conqueror tonight, Cavalryman, also won the 2013 Gold Cup when Star Empire was 4 lengths back in 5th place.
Expect to see him back for the Gold Cup on World Cup night. His conqueror tonight, Cavalryman, also won the 2013 Gold Cup when Star Empire was 4 lengths back in 5th place.
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