Phoenix Reach claimed another overseas victory when landing the US$2,000,000 Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.I), sponsored by Dubai Waterfront, over 2,400 metres on the turf. Razkalla, the mount of Kerrin McEvoy, set the pace, with the Hong Kong Vase (Gr.I) and Canadian International (Gr.I) winner Phoenix Reach, the mount of Martin Dwyer, came from virtually last with a great late run to take the lead just over 100 metres from the line to win by two lengths from Razkalla. Collier Hill, trained in Britain by Alan Swinbank, was always in the first four and ran on well in the closing stages to take third place, a short head from Razkalla, Dwyer said, "I am over the moon, it was a great experience and come here and compete on world stage. " McEvoy commented, "Razkalla is a very genuine horse. From the good draw we had a nice position. I wound him up on the turn and he kept giving. He was beaten by a proven Group One horse in Phoenix Reach."
UAE Derby (Gr.II), sponsored by the Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group
Blues and Royals, the mount of Kerrin McEvoy, regained Godolphin's hold on the US$2,000,0000 UAE Derby (Gr.II), sponsored by Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group, over 1,800 metres on the dirt. Godolphin won this race in 2000, 2001 and 2002 but Mike de Kock claimed it for the next two years with Victory Moon in 2003 and Lundy's Liability last year.
Shamardal, the mount of Frankie Dettori, set a cracking pace early on just ahead of the Kenneth McPeek-trained Durban Thunder, Blues and Royals was racing in sixth place on the rails. Shamardal began to weaken into the straight with Durban Thunder taking over the lead. Blues and Royal, a son of Honour and Glory, came through on the rails to lead just over 200 metres out and was soon clear, running on to an easy 12 length victory from the Bobby Frankel-trained Marenostrum with the Ted Durcan-partnered Parole Board in third. Ned Kelly, third to Parole Board in the Al Bastakiya – the second leg of the UAE Triple Crown, took fourth.
Simon Crisford, racing manager for Godolphin, said, "We were surprised, we thought Shamardal would be the better horse tonight. Shamardal has not been ruled out (for the Kentucky Derby). You can forget what you saw tonight." Crisford said that it is possible that Blues And Royal, Shamardal and Parole Board are all still possible runners in the Kentucky Derby. With Parole Board possibly being transferred to Godolphin; the decision will be up to owner Sheikh Rashid Bin Mohamed Al Maktoum.
Dettori said of Shamardal, "He was too fresh and always going too fast. If he had have kept up that speed he would have been a motorbike not a racehorse – I just could never get him to relax and not surprisingly he didn't get home."
Godolphin Mile (Gr.II), sponsored by Jebel Ali International Hotels
Grand Emporium, who was purchased by Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed Al Maktoum a couple of days ago, was an impressive winner of the US$1,000,000 Godolphin Mile (Gr.II), sponsored by Jebel Ali International Hotels over 1,600 metres on the dirt. Partnered by Weichong Marwing and trained by Mike de Kock, Grand Emporium, a course and distance winner during the Dubai International Racing Carnival when claiming the first round of the Al Maktoum Challenge (Gr.II), tracked the leader in the early stages. American raider Tsigane, set the pace under Pat Valenzuela, but Grand Emporium took up the running just over 200 metres from home, crossing the line a length and a quarter clear of the Frankie Dettori-partnered Qais with Tsigane in third.
Marwing commented, "Everything went very smoothly. We thought he had a very good chance in this race. "
Dettori said of the runner-up Qais, "He ran brilliant. He went the same distance as the winner and was 4kg off." (referring to the turn around in weights from the last start)
