NEWS
Alexandros captures Al Rashidiya for Godolphin
Posted: Thursday, February 04, 2010 6:17 PM
ALEXANDROS
Andrew Watkins/Dubai Racing Club
To view the Al Rashidiya, click here.
by Steve Bailey
Godolphin Racing’s French Group 3 winner Alexandros took over with about a furlong to run and drove to a 3½-length victory in the $200,000 Al Rashidiya (UAE-G3) on Thursday in the first race on the new turf course at Meydan Racecourse.
The five-year-old Kingmambo horse split horses under jockey Frankie Dettori about halfway down the straight and overhauled Front House to score the open victory, covering 1,800 meters (8.95 furlongs) in 1:51.74 on turf rated as firm.
"It is a great track [the turf], and I was really impressed with the conditions it is in—especially the sweeping bends,” Dettori said. “Alexandros likes to get his toe in and he has handled it well. He is a nice horse with some very good form in the book. Hopefully he can improve from that.”
The victory was one of three on the card for Godolphin as Dettori also rode Age of Reason to victory in a 2,800-meter (13.92-furlong) race to keep the Dubai-based stable unbeaten in turf races at Meydan.
English Group 1 winner Crowded House finished second, a half-length in front of seven-year-old Grade 2 winner Tam Lin (GB).
Trainer Mike de Kock also scored a significant victory as 2009 South African champion two-year-old colt Musir scored a neck win in a 1,400-meter (6.96-furlong) trial race on the track’s synthetic Tapeta Footings surface. De Kock won the race in the past with Dubai stars Asiatic Boy (Arg) and Honour Devil (Arg).
Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s Musir covered the distance in 1:26.95 under jockey Christophe Soumillon
De Kock said the United Arab Emirates Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-G3) probably will be next on the agenda for the three-year-old Redoute’s Choice colt.
"This horse was champion juvenile at home last season and is one we have high hopes for,” De Kock said. “We will go to the Guineas with hope now."
For videos of all Dubai International Racing Carnival races, click here.
Steve Bailey is deputy news editor of Thoroughbred Times
