United Arab Emirates
Country Grammar rolls to Dubai World Cup win
Second in the G1 Saudi Cup last out, US Grade 1 winner Country Grammar (USA) (Tonalist {USA}) showed that racing abroad is no issue after scoring a 1.75l win over Hot Rod Charlie (USA) (Oxbow {USA}) in the G1 Dubai World Cup.
Shadowing race favorite Life Is Good (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) for much of the race, he took advantage when that one ran out of stamina in the final 350 metres. Flying up the centre of the track, Country Grammar took over in the final 100 metres and pulled away from there with Hot Rod Charlie and Chuwa Wizard (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) both passing the long-time leader right before the line.
“I am just very thankful to the entire team and Frankie (Dettori), who gave him a perfect ride. He is one of the best, if not the best,” said owner Amr Zedan.
Bred 3 x 4 to Pleasant Colony (USA), Country Grammar is one of two stakes-performers out of the Forestry (USA) mare Arabian Song (USA). That mare is a granddaughter of Willstar (USA) (Nureyev {USA}), whose granddaughter Phenetic (GB) (Zamindar {USA}) is a broodmare in New Zealand. Phenetic’s oldest is a two-time winning I Am Invincible filly named La Tardigrada with the mare also having an unraced 3-year-old by Maurice (Jpn), an Almanzor (Fr) filly who sold for $220,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale this year, and a Too Darn Hot (GB) weanling filly. Phenetic visited Hello Youmzain (Fr) in 2021.
Shahryar leads Japanese raid in Sheema Classic
On a card that saw Japanese-based horses win five of the eight races and have placings in two others, Shahryar (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) won what was thought of as the toughest race on the card in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic by 0.25l.
The 2000-metre race saw Shahryar take command late and hold off Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) with fellow Japanese runner Authority (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) 0.5l back in third.
“It would be a dream for me to take this horse to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. It is the race we want to win and it would mean so much to be able to take him there. That is our ambition and our aim,” said trainer Hideaki Fujiwara.
Shahryar is a full brother to dual Group 1 winner Al Ain (Jpn) with the pair two of six winners for US champion mare Dubai Majesty (USA) (Essence Of Dubai {USA}). This was the second Group 1 success for Shahryar, who was also the winner of the G1 Japanese Derby last year in his home country.
Dubai Turf ends in dead heat
It took over 10 minutes for the stewards to decide the finishing placing in the G1 Dubai Turf Sponsored by DP World and in the end, they couldn’t separate last year’s winner Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Japanese runner Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), declaring a dead heat.
It was nearly a three-way dead heat at the line with Vin De Garde (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) losing by just a nostril to the pair. Panthalassa was one of five winners on the night for Japan while Lord North became the first-ever dual winner of the race.
This wasn’t the first dead heat for the Dubai Turf, however, with Right Approach (GB) (Machiavellian {USA}) and Paolini (Ger) (Lando {Ger}) managing the feat in 2004.
“As the Japanese racehorse level has increased over the years, I’ve been really proud to showcase it on the global stage,” Panthalassa’s trainer Yoshito Yahagi said. “This was his first time running this well on firm ground and in the past he’s run well on softer ground, so taking him over to Europe is high on his to-do list. We'd like to head to Royal Ascot for the Prince of Wales's S.”
Lord North is out of a half-sister to the Grade 1 winner Bandini (USA) (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}) and to the stakes-placed dam of the late stakes-winning Sweet Victory (USA) (Blame {USA}), who was imported to Australia in 2017. Sweet Victory is the dam of the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Sweet Finesse (All Too Hard) and to Inglis Easter Lot 458, a Dundeel (NZ) yearling colt.
One of two top-three finishers on the card for Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) and his sixth Group 1 winner, Panthalassa is one of three stakes-performers out of Miss Pemberley (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). That mare is one of two stakes-producers out of her own dam.
Fan favorite in front in Dubai Golden Shaheen
The UAE-trained Switzerland (USA) (Speightstown {USA}) scored his first-ever Group 1 win by 1.75l in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Atlantis Dubai to become the 23rd Grade 1 winner for his sire.
A regular at the winter carnival for the last four years, Switzerland was winning his second stakes of the year and bouncing back from an unplaced finish in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint on the Saudi Cup card last month. Red Le Zele (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) gave Japan another placing on the card with the US-trained Dr. Schivel (USA) (Violence {USA}) 0.5l back in third.
“We’ll look to bring him back next year and you never know, even at eight there could be some more improvement in him,” trainer Bhupat Seemar said. “It’s a fantastic team we have behind us and I need to thank so many people, I’m in a very privileged position.”
Switzerland is out of the multiple stakes winner Czechers (USA) (Indian Charlie {USA}), who is the dam of four winners from seven to run. Each of his first four dams have produced stakes winners with his fourth dam the dam of Grade 1 winner Willow Hour (USA) (Bold Hour {USA}).
A Case Of You wins for Ireland
A Case Of You’s (Ire) (Hot Streak {Ire}) first Group 1 success last October was subject to a photo before he was declared the winner but on Saturday, there was no such worry with a 1.25l victory in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint Sponsored by Azizi Developments.
It was the second win of the year for the 4-year-old, whose only loss of 2022 came last out when second to Al Quoz Sprint third Man Of Promise (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}). In all, A Case Of You has won half of his 14 starts with just three off-the-board finishes in his career.
“We’ve come here as a genuine Group 1 horse who had a good run the last day and we were chasing the win, we weren’t just chasing prizemoney so that has it’s different expectations,” jockey Ronan Whelan said. “To go and deliver on such an international stage, represent Ireland is very, very special.”
A Case Of You is one of three winners out of his dam Karjera (Ire) (Key Of Luck {USA}), who is a full sister to dual stakes winner Akanti (Ire) and multiple Group 3-placed Lock And Key (Ire).
Damian Lane pilots Crown Pride to Kentucky Derby berth
Japan likely has a G1 Kentucky Derby runner after Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach The Crown {Jpn}) won the G2 UAE Derby Sponsored by Mubadala by 2.75l as one of five winners for his country on the card.
The 100 Road to the Kentucky Derby points Crown Pride earned for his win gives him an automatic berth to the Kentucky Derby if his connections choose that route. Second-placed Summer Is Tomorrow’s (USA) (Summer Front {USA}) trainer Bhupat Seemar said that colt may also be headed to the bluegrass.
“Whenever you jump aboard (a Japanese-trained horse), you can be confident they're going to be strong and they're going to run well and it's just a privilege to be a part of it,” Crown Pride’s jockey Damian Lane said.
Crown Pride is the second Group winner and second stakes winner overall for his sire Reach The Crown (Jpn). Bred on a 3 x 4 cross to Sunday Silence (USA) and 4 x 4 cross to Mr. Prospector (USA), the colt is a grandson of the stakes-winning Emmy’s Smile (Jpn) with stakes performers under each of his first three dams.
Ireland
First winner for Sioux Nation
Former Australian shuttle stallion Sioux Nation (USA) went a perfect one-for-one on Saturday after Ocean Quest (Ire) ran home late to win at The Curragh by a head.
It was the first 2-year-old race of the season in Ireland and the first runner for the Coolmore Stud stallion. The 1000-metre race was a closely contested affair with runner-up Forceful Speed (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) just 0.25l ahead of Midnight Toker (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}).
Ocean Quest is bred 3 X 3 to Oasis Dream (GB) and out of a half-sister to Group 2 winner and retired Australian runner Poetic Dream (Ire) (Poet’s Voice {GB}). Their siblings also include 2021 Group 3-winning juvenile Who Knows (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}).
United States
Epicenter catches eye in Louisiana Derby
Epicenter (USA) (Not This Time {USA}) added a G2 Louisiana Derby victory to his Fair Grounds haul on Saturday, winning two-thirds of this year’s Kentucky Derby preps at the track and securing his spot at Churchill on the first Saturday in May.
Sitting just behind the leader for much of the 1900-metre race, Epicenter kicked away in the stretch to win by 2.5l over Zozos (USA) (Munnings {USA}) with Pioneer of Medina (USA) (Pioneerof The Nile {USA}) another 2l back in third.
The colt is by third-crop sire Not This Time (USA), who has two horses inside the top five on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. Epicenter is one of three winners out of the stakes-winning Silent Candy (USA) (Candy Ride {Arg}), who is a half-sister to Grade 3-placed Quite a Handful (USA) (Mutakddim {USA}).
Echo Zulu remains undefeated
Though her connections weren’t sure she’d be ready for this race only a few weeks ago, last year’s undefeated Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Echo Zulu (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}) showed her determination when digging in to win the G2 Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks by a nose to punch her ticket to the G1 Kentucky Oaks.
The filly controlled the race from the start but started to get desperate in midstretch when Hidden Connection (USA) (Connect {USA}) put her under pressure. Echo Zulu wouldn’t bow down and squeaked out the victory with Favor (USA) (Pioneerof The Nile {USA}) 2.25l back in third.
Echo Zulu is from the first crop of record-breaking freshman sire Gun Runner (USA), who broke the US freshman earnings record last year. The filly is out of the Grade 3-winning Letgomyecho (USA) (Menifee {USA}), who also produced Grade 1 winner Echo Town (USA) (Speightstown {USA}) and Grade 3 winner J Boys Echo (USA) (Mineshaft {USA}) among five stakes-performers. The mare has an American Pharoah (USA) juvenile filly named Doing Justice (USA) to come this year.
