NEWS
Vodka, Vale of York take Super Thursday stage
Posted: Wednesday, March 03, 2010 9:23 AM
by Jeff Lowe
While Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta prepare for a showdown on April 9, two-time Japanese Horse of the Year Vodka will kick off her quest to capture the $10-million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) on Thursday in the $300,000 Al Maktoum Challenge-Round 3 (UAE-G2) at Meydan Racecourse.
Vodka won the $5,561,556 Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) by a nose on November 29 at Tokyo racecourse in her most recent start. She is the all-time leader on the female earnings list with a career bankroll of $13,147,826.
The six-year-old mare will switch to the synthetic Tapeta Footings surface in the Al Maktoum Challenge-Round 3 after racing exclusively on turf in her previous 25 starts. She was unplaced in one start in Dubai in 2008 and two more last year.
Gloria de Campeao (Brz), winner of the Al Maktoum Challenge-Round 1 (UAE-G3) on January 28, also is in the full field of 14 for Thursday’s race, which headlines the Derrinstown Stud Super Thursday card packed with preps for World Cup night on March 27.
Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Vale of York (Ire) will open his three-year-old season in the $250,000 Al Bastakiya at 1,900 meters (9.44 furlongs).
Vale of York has not raced since his 30.60-to-1 upset over Lookin At Lucky in the Juvenile on November 7 during the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park. His owner, Godolphin Racing, also entered Mendip, a Triple Crown nominee who won a conditions race on February 11 at Meydan.
Godolphin has multiple graded stakes winner Justneuffhumor in the $250,000 Jebel Hatta (UAE-G2) at 1,800 meters (8.95 furlongs) on the turf along with Dubai International Al Rashidiya (UAE-G3) winner Alexandros.
Grade 2 winner Desert Party will resurface in the $200,000 Mahab Al Shimaal (UAE-G3) at 1,200 meters (5.96 furlongs). Desert Party, by Street Cry (Ire), won the Gulf News United Arab Emirates Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-G3) last year and finished 14th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
The card also includes the $200,000 Burj Nahaar (UAE-G3), which is a prep race for the Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2), and the $250,000 Dubai City of Gold, a prep for the Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-G1).
For entries and past performance information, click here.
Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer
