by K. T. Donovan

Edgar Prado made a memorable Dubai debut on Saturday with two wins in the first three races after a victory aboard Benny the Bull in the $2-million Gulf News Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) at Nad al Sheba Racecourse.

Prado guided Diamond Stripes to a win in the Etisalat Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2) in the first Thoroughbred race on the Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) card.
 
Horses bred in the United States won ten of the previous 12 editions of the Golden Shaheen, and the last Golden Shaheen winner not based in the United States was 2003 victor State City. The dominance continued in the 1,200-meter (5.97-furlong) Golden Shaheen with United States-based horses finishing first, second, fourth, sixth, and 13th.

Idiot Proof spurted to an early lead with New Freedom challenging. Star Crowned emerged from the group chasing Idiot Proof, and blew past to seize command. Idiot Proof re-rallied determinedly but Grade 1 winner Benny the Bull launched a big run from the middle of the track and simply gobbled up ground.

Benny the Bull surged past Idiot Proof for a 1 3/4-length win under Prado in 1:08.70 on a track rated as fast. The win also was the second on the card for Rick Dutrow Jr., trainer of both Benny the Bull and Diamond Stripes

“He had speed out of the gate, but Rick wanted him to relax, so that’s when I got him settled a bit,” Prado said. “Then when I asked him, he gave his best.”

Trainer Clifford Sise Jr. was pleased with Idiot Proof’s second-place finish, 2 1/4 lengths in front of third-place finisher Star Crowned. Barbecue Eddie finished fourth.

Benny the Bull is owned by a partnership that includes IEAH Stables, which also owns in partnership Florida Derby (G1) winner Big Brown.

“This is a big day for us in Florida, too, and we are up here celebrating,” Andrew Cohen said. “Benny is unbelievable.”

Dutrow’s assistant Michelle Nevin saddled Benny the Bull, but said she doubted that Dutrow had any regrets about staying in Florida after he had two wins in Dubai.

“He’s just happy to win,” she said. “We expected big efforts from both, and everything went very smoothly.”

Benny the Bull, winner of the 2007 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Stakes (G1), improved to seven wins in 15 starts and boosted his earnings to $1,833,550.

New Freedom was fifth, followed by Esperamos, Diabolical, Drift Ice, Narc, Mutamarres, Sarissa, Cobalt Blue, Bushwacker, Calrissian, and Munaddam.

For a replay of this and other races on the Dubai World Cup card, click here.

K. T. Donovan is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer