NEWS
Shamdinan wins Secretariat in American debut
Posted: Saturday, August 11, 2007 6:18 PM
SHAMDINAN
Four Footed Fotos
by Ron Parker
Triple B Farms’ Shamdinan (Fr) benefited from a well-timed ride by Julien Leparoux and scored a convincing victory in the $400,000 Secretariat Stakes (G1) at Arlington Park.
The three-year-old Dr Fong colt, making his first start in the United States for trainer Doug O’Neill, stayed well off the early pace in the 1 ¼-mile turf contest as Pleasant Strike led the way for the first mile.
As the closers began to take control, Virginia Derby (G2) winner Red Giant emerged from the pack to take a clear lead in early stretch and seemed destined for victory. But Shamdinan, positioned clear of traffic on the outside by Leparoux, steadily closed ground down the lane, collared Red Giant inside the sixteenth pole, and pulled away for a half-length length victory in 2:04.02 over turf rated as good.
“He broke a little slow, but he was relaxed,” Leparoux said. “When I asked him, in two strides he was right there.”
Bred in France by the Aga Khan, Shamdinan opened the year with a maiden win at Saint-Cloud in his second career start and followed with a runner-up finish in an allowance race at Longchamp.
Trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre, Shamdinan finished third to Lawman in the Prix du Jockey Club Mitsubishi Motors (Fr-G1) (French Derby) on June 3 at Chantilly. He finished ninth at the Curragh in the Budweiser Irish Derby (Ire-G1) on July 1, and subsequently was sold privately to Triple B Farms.
“There was terrible going at the Curragh, and he would have firmer ground here,” said Eugenio Columbo, who brokered the purchase of the colt for Triple B, a partnership that includes H. Paul, Paul H., and Christopher Boghossian, after the Irish Derby. “He will go to California [for the Del Mar Derby [G1]). If you watch his races, he was always improving. But it’s best to buy after the horse has lost.”
Shamdinan, the first starter out of the Group 2-placed Dr Devious (Ire) mare Shamdara, increased his earnings to $486,611 with two wins from six starts.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Ron Parker is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer
