Sunday, 31 March, 2013
Dubai World Cup Carnival form very much came to the fore as the Meydan-based Reynaldothewizard displayed no end of courage to snatch the Dubai Golden Shaheen, sponsored by Gulf News.
An affinity for the Meydan’s six-furlong dash has long been considered a distinct advantage in the US$2 million feature and the result was almost a replica of the Super Saturday’s Mahab Al Shimaal, with the first three past the post on that occasion dominating again.
Reynaldothewizard won by four lengths earlier in the month but he was made to fight much harder in the third leg of the Global Sprint Challenge.
Having raced handily under his jockey Richard Mullen, the seven-year-old American-bred son of Speightstown held the late challenging Balmont Mast by a neck with Krypton Factor, last year’s winner, half a length further back.
The pace of the race was not quite as breakneck as usual – or as widely anticipated beforehand. The time clocked was 1 minute 12.46 seconds so the steadier speed suited the on-pace Reynaldothewizard who Mullen committed to the lead with well over a furlong to go.
Mullen declared the result the “highlight of his career” and was profuse in his thanks and praise of trainer Satish Seemar and owners Zabeel Racing.
“Dubai has given me my best moments in racing but this tops the lot. I’m overjoyed. I do the easy work. I just sit on board and steer and I’m so happy to win a Group 1 on the biggest stage in racing,” he said.
“I was always travelling well and he gave me everything in the stretch. It’s unbelievable.”
Jockey Johnny Murtagh and trainer Eddie Lynam were left ruing what might have been. One race after Sole Power ran a sound fourth in the Al Quoz from his high draw, outsider Balmont Mast got much closer to victory.
“I was tracking the winner and I thought I was going to catch him inside the furlong but to be fair to him, he kept finding. Great run from our horse, however. There is a big one in him yet,” Murtagh said.
Kieren Fallon felt his wide draw in gate 13 might have cost Krytpon Factor a repeat success in the race.
“We were beaten less than a length but it was still a very good run,” he said.
Godolphin’s race favourite Mental trailed in 10th and never got seriously involved in the race.
REYNALDOTHEWIZARD (Richard Mullen) Wins the DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN Group 1, sponsored by GULF NEWS, for trainer, Satish Seemar , at the Dubai World Cup on 30th of March, 2013.
fonte: Meydan HRacing
