by K.T. Donovan

South African champion Jay Peg delivered a thrilling finish in the $5-million Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1) on Saturday at Nad al Sheba, battling back after being headed in the stretch and overhauling a determined runner-up Dajina to win in turf course record time.

Jay Peg quickly took the lead under Anton Marcus with Floral Pegasus right behind and J. Paul Reddam’s Notional midfield on the rail. With the field strung out in a long line, Jay Peg held tough on the lead all the way into the stretch. But approximately 300 meters from the finish, Marcus’s saddle slipped and Archipenko, Darjina, and Vodka passed Jay Peg on the outside.

As Marcus tried to readjust his saddle, he urged Jay Peg to keep going, and the four-year-old Camden Park colt eagerly responded, battling back up the rail and collaring Darjina in the closing strides to win by a half-length. Darjina finished a nose in front of third-place finisher Archipenko.

Multiple graded stakes winner Notional weakened under Garrett Gomez and finished last in the 16-horse field. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the In Excess (Ire) colt was lame in his left foreleg. 

Jay Peg covered the 1,777 meters (8.83 furlongs) in 1:46.20, eclipsing the previous turf course record by two hundredths of a second. 

“I was aware of what I had under me; how much horse I had,” Marcus said. “I never had a concern.”

Jay Peg’s owners erupted in exuberance in the winner’s enclosure.

For the final 200 meters, the South African owners went berserk, and with leaps and hugs, tears and shouts, Etienne Braun, Paul Loomes, and Bezel and Selwyn Marcus, brothers of the winning jockey, celebrated.

“We were the underdog, and now we are winning,” cried Braun. “He’s never been in a race like this. This is the best moment of my life.”

Trainer Herman Brown was delighted with the victory.

 “This is like a dream, especially with such a bad draw [from post 14],” he said. “For me, I’ve been here before, so I take it as it comes, but for them, it’s their first experience here. This is the highlight of my career.”

Jay Peg, South Africa’s champion three-year-old male of the 2006-’07 season, entered the Dubai Duty Free off a runner-up to Lord Admiral in the Nayef Jebel Hatta (UAE-G2) on March 6 at Nad al Sheba.

Bred by High Season Stud, Jay Peg is out of the Al Mufti mare Laptop Lady.

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

http://drcnewswire.com/media/dwc2008/index.php

K.T. Donovan is a Thorougbbred Times contributing writer