NEWS
Archipenko wins Zabeel Mile
Posted: Thursday, February 26, 2009 7:13 PM
ARCHIPENKO
Dubai Racing Club/Andrew Watkins photo
by Myra Lewyn
Trainer Mike de Kock and jockey Kevin Shea teamed to land a Group 3 double on Thursday at Nad al Sheba when Archipenko made a victorious return to racing by capturing the $200,000 Meydan Racecourse Zabeel Mile (UAE-G3) while stablemate J J the Jet Plane landed the $200,000 Meydan Horizons Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-G3).
Archipenko was making his first start since his runner-up in the Arlington Million Stakes (G1) last summer at Arlington Park. He solidified his credentials for next month’s $5-million Duty Dubai Free (UAE-G1), a race in which he finished a close third last year.
The five-year-old Kingmambo horse tracked the early pace set by stablemate Brave Tin Soldier in the Zabeel Mile and seized the lead 400 meters out. Archipenko dug in and repelled a strong bid from fast-closing Vertigineux to win in 1:39.89 on good to firm turf.
“Archipenko’s class prevailed as he will have needed the run with the Duty Free still four weeks away,” Shea said.
Archipenko scored back-to-back victories in the 2008 Audemars Piguet Queen Elizabeth II Cup (HK-G1) at Sha Tin and Plymouth Gin Summer Mile Stakes (Eng-G2) at Ascot before finishing three-quarters of a length behind upset winner Spirit One (Fr) in the Arlington Million after being boxed in the stretch. He improved his record to six wins in 15 career starts.
Shea said he was always confident that South African champion sprinter J J the Jet Plane would get the job done in the Al Quoz Sprint.
The Jet Master gelding led for the first 300 meters before he was taken back to track Instant Recall.
J J the Jet Plane dispatched that foe 200 meters out and powered clear to win by 1 1/4 lengths from graded/group stakes winner Hatta Fort. The winner covered the 1,200-meter (5.97-furlong) turf contest in 1:11.72.
“J J the Jet Plane is very quick and I was never worried on him tonight,” Shea said. “He has done that in style.”
Godolphin and Frankie Dettori also combined to score a double on Thursday as Devotee rebounded to win the Meydan City United Arab Emirates Oaks, the night’s feature. Veracity notched a game win in the marathon Meydan Metropolis Dubai Racing Club Gold Cup.
Devotee entered the Oaks off a last-place finish to Saudi Arabia-based So Shiny in the GPD Investments United Arab Emirates One Thousand Guineas on February 6 and was later found to have an irregular heartbeat. She easily dispatched that opponent, who attempted to lead all the way on Thursday, shook clear in the stretch and turned back a strong bid from Earth Living to win by 1 ¼ lengths in 1:51.09 for the 1,800 meters (8.95 furlongs) on dirt.
“Devotee was obviously a disappointment last time, but we knew she was a good filly and her work has been good,” Dettori said of the Elusive Quality filly.
Earlier on the card, Dettori piloted Veracity to victory in the inaugural Gold Cup, a 3,200-meter (15.91-furlong) conditions race. The five-year-old Lomitas (GB) horse, winner of the 2008 Jockey Club Cup (Eng-G3), won by a half-length from Mourilyan and finished the turf trip in 3:26.76.
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Myra Lewyn is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor
