March, 2022 | Horse Racing Free Tips

Dead Heat Between Panthalassa and Lord North in the Dubai Turf

In a race for the ages that three horses deserved to win, the brave pacesetter Panthalassa (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) and defending champ Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) could not be separated and a dead-heat was eventually declared. A full eight minutes passed after a course-record smashing renewal of the $5-million G1 Dubai Turf before a stunned Meydan Racecourse audience knew which of the trio had emerged victorious in a desperately close finish.

Sparkling trainer Yoshito Yahagi, who was savoring his third win on the card, exclaimed, “We've had a lot of good luck today so we didn't think we'd lose! I've never known a wait like that in a photo finish.”

Then, the fast-finishing Vin De Garde (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was declared a hard luck third despite being well in front just past the wire. His disappointed jockey Mickael Barzalona said, “My horse ran a very good race. We were unlucky.”

As the the eventual winning pair circled the walking ring with their connections anxiously awaiting the judge's decision, racing pundits marveled over whether they had ever witnessed a more exciting race in World Cup night history.

Under jockey Yutaka Yoshida, Panthalassa, a Group 2-winning entire in his native Japan who had never ventured outside of his homeland, bagged the early lead, set demanding fractions and gave his all while racing closest to the far side rail.

A pleased Yoshida said, “It was a very good run from my horse and he did all that I asked of him and only just managed to hold on at the end.”

Flanked on both sides by his Japanese-trained revivals, Lord North, a 6-year-old gelding who had broken the Meydan course record in last year's renewal when beating Vin De Garde by three lengths, benefited from regular rider Frankie Dettori's patience and a well-timed bid.

Awaiting the verdict, Dettori said, “I thought I was beaten on the line so I will settle for a dead-heat if it's available. He had half the year off, he almost died last year so to get him back performing at this level, it is a credit to the team.”

The winners stopped the timer in 1:45.77 besting Lord North's mark of 1:46.46 for the 1800-metre distance.

A poised John Gosden, co-trainer with his son Thady of defending champion Lord North, said, “That's a very fair result as we got ourselves in a bit of a Japanese sandwich there and those horses are so tough. They've been buying horses for the last 30 years or so and their investment is paying dividends, they've come here and knocked us for six–they've gone and won four races now.”

He continued, “I'm thrilled with our boy. He's been off for a year with a very nasty throat infection and we've managed to get him back in time.”

The 4-year-old Newmarket-based filly Saffron Beach (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), ridden by Hollie Doyle, finished best of the rest, 3 1/2 lengths behind the winners. Her satisfied trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam said, “She ran a great race. I'm really delighted. she's so tough and we'll have a lot of fun with her this year.”

If the race had a disappointment, it was the highly-regarded Japanese colt Schnell Meister (Ger) (Kingman {GB}), who crossed the line in eighth. His jockey Christophe Lemaire said, “He had a good trip in the middle. He didn't finish like I expected. He is better than that.”

The William Haggas-trained Mohaafeth (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) cost himself his chance when sluggish to begin. He ended up 10th in the field of 14.

The 2004 renewal of the race, then known as the Dubai Duty Free and contested at Nad Al Sheba, finished in a dead-heat between Paolini (Ger) (Lando {Ger}) and Right Approach (GB) (Machiavellian).

Pedigree Notes

The five-year-old horse Panthalassa was sired by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}), a world-class sprinter who won 13 of his 19 races and is best known as the sire of G1 Hong Kong Sprint winner Danon Smash (Jpn) and the redoubtable champion Almond Eye (Jpn), a multiple Group 1 winner in Japan and Dubai. His dam is Miss Pemberley (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), who raced six times in Japan without winning. Five of her eight foals have won in Japan with Dimension (Jpn) and Etendard (Jpn), a pair of Deep Impact fillies, joining Panthalassa as Japanese black-type performers.

Lord North, a gelded son of Champion sire Dubawi, was bred by Godolphin in Ireland. Raced by HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing, his dam is Najoum (Giant's Causeway), a Kentucky-born Godolphin homebred, who won two of her four lifetime starts and showed promise as a 2-year-old winning a seven-furlong race on turf and an eight-furlong race on Polytrack. Najoum is a half-sister to GI Blue Grass S. winner and former Kentucky-based stallion Bandini (Fusaichi Pegasus). In addition to Lord North, Najoum has produced three other foals with the horse Chronicles (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}), winner of a 10-furlong Irish maiden race as a 3-year-old, being her only other winner.

Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
DUBAI TURF SPONSORED BY DP WORLD-G1, $5,000,000, Meydan, 3-26, 3yo/up, 9fT, 1:45.77, gd.
(DH)-1–LORD NORTH (IRE), 126, g, 6, by Dubawi (Ire)
                1st Dam: Najoum, by Giant's Causeway
                2nd Dam: Divine Dixie, by Dixieland Band
                3rd Dam: Hail Atlantis, by Seattle Slew
O-HH Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing; B-Godolphin (IRE);
T-John Gosden; J-Frankie Dettori. $1,175,000. Lifetime Record:
G1SW-Eng, 15-8-4-1, $4,209,593. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click
for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
(DH)-1–PANTHALASSA (JPN), 126, h, 5, by Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Miss Pemberley (Ire), by Montjeu (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Stitching (Ire), by High Estate (Ire)
                3rd Dam: Itching (Ire), by Thatching (Ire)
O-Hiroo Race Co Ltd; B-Pangloss Y K, Toshihiro Hirosaki et al
(JPN); T-Yoshito Yahagi; J-Yutaka Yoshida. $1,175,000. Lifetime
Record: GSW-Jpn, 20-6-4-0, $2,888,474. *1/2 to Etendard
(Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), GSP-Jpn, $770,677; and Dimension
(Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), MGSP-Jpn, $1,030,766. Werk Nick
Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
3–Vin de Garde (Jpn), 126, h, 6, Deep Impact (Jpn)–Skia (Fr), by
Motivator (GB). O-Shadai Race Horse Co Ltd; B-Shadai Farm
(JPN); T-Hideaki Fujiwara. $500,000.
Margins: DHT, NO, 3HF.
Also Ran: Saffron Beach (Ire), Sir Busker (Ire), My Oberon (Ire), Alfareeq (Ire), Schnell Meister (Ger), Colonel Liam, Mohaafeth (Ire), Ursa Minor (Ire), Haqeeqy (Ire), Desert Fire (Ire), Harrovian (GB). Scratched: Finest Sound (Ire), Lord Glitters (Fr).
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree of Lord North or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree of Panthalassa.

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‘Pride’ Of Japan Scoots Clear in UAE Derby

Japan runners continued to shine on the world stage as Crown Pride ground out a classy victory Saturday in the $1 million UAE Derby Sponsored By Mubadala (G2) in the hands of Damian Lane.

Teruya Yosida's homebred son of Reach the Crown is trained by Koichi Shintani.

On a day when being close to the pace was important, it was local hope Summer Is Tomorrow who made the running and was traveling smoothly as the field entered the homestretch. Out a little wider, however, loomed Crown Pride and the pair singled out for a duel.

At the furlong marker, Summer Is Tomorrow appeared to have the measure of his Japanese rival, but his stride shortened and the Crown Pride's reserves of stamina told inside the final 100 meters for a victory by 2 3/4 lengths. Island Falcon finished third for Godolphin just over a length further back.

With four Thoroughbred races run on the Dubai World Cup card, Crown Pride's victory marked a third success for Japan after Bathrat Leon won the Godolphin Mile (G2) and Stay Foolish took the Dubai Gold Cup (G2). Japanese runners also fared well last month at the Saudi Cup meeting, winning four races.

Crown Pride, a nominee to the U.S. Triple Crown, covered about 1 3/16 miles (1,900 meters) in 1:59.76 on a track rated as fast.

Among U.S.-based runners, Gilded Age was 13th, Get Back Goldie was 15th, and Pinehurst, was last in the full field of 16 runners.

With his UAE Derby victory, Crown Pride, a nominee to the U.S. Triple Crown, earned 100 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby (G1) May 7.

Crown Pride, who has three wins from four starts, was racing outside of Japan for the first time and earned his first graded or group win Saturday.

“He stepped out okay but didn't travel too well thereafter and it just took a little bit to get him in a rhythm and get him going.” Lane said of Crown Pride after the UAE Derby. “I got crowded a little early but as I say he was able to stride through and take up position and it was plain sailing from there really. I was confident a long way out and although he made hard work of it in the straight, ultimately he was the toughest out there. He's a strong, tough horse and saw the distance out well.”

He added: “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.”

Bhupat Seemar, trainer of runner-up Summer Is Tomorrow, said: “This horse eats well, trains well, sleeps well – he is the perfect horse to have for any owner or trainer. Maybe we should have gone to the Guineas first and if he had a little bit of a longer race in him, he would have finished a little closer. The furthest he'd gone before today was seven furlongs, but he'd shown so much natural speed. At least we have a good horse for next year.”

He continued: “He's been sprinting before so pace comes naturally, the only thing was that the track was playing for speed as well so we thought we might have a little crack at it. Turning for home when he was still travelling, I thought he would pick up a little bit more but without that longer race to condition him he just gave out.

“I'd definitely consider the Kentucky Derby (G1), but I'd have to see if he's nominated or not first of all. That's the biggest thing. Why not though? There were some good horses behind him, a couple of Grade 1 horses from America, so now that he's had that run I think we'd have to think about it.”

3rd – Island Falcon, jockey Pat Cosgrave said: “The added trip was in his favour and he ran well.”

4th – Bendoog, trainer Bhupat Seemar said: “Very happy with his run, he just got on the rail and he got a lot of kickback but he's an immature horse and he ran one hell of a race.”

4th – Bendoog, jockey Tadhg O'Shea said: “He's a big shell of a horse and ran very good. He enjoyed a lovely trip around the inside and he drafted off the winner. He's a big horse and next year when he fills that big frame, there will be more to come.

9th – Azure Coast, jockey Antonio Fresu said: “My horse was uncomfortable going over the two turns and didn't handle the track very well and didn't perform.”

10th – Withering, jockey Adrie de Vries said: “It was alway going to be a very tough race. We weren't very lucky with the draw and my horse was hanging all the way and he wasn't comfortable. I would have liked to get something to get me into the ride, but he was wide always and didn't get a chance.

15th – Get Back Goldie, jockey Irad Ortiz Jr said: “My horse didn't handle the track very well, maybe he's just better on grass.”

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Switzerland Rolls in Dubai Golden Shaheen

RRR racing's Switzerland (Speightstown) showed that age is merely a number with an emphatic victory in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan Saturday. Jockey Tadhg O'Shea wisely stationed the 8-year-old just behind a sharp pace, carved out by the American duo of Drain the Clock (Maclean's Music) and Wondrwherecraigis (Munnings) who were shadowed by Al Tariq (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Turning for home, Drain the Clock shook clear from the others as Switzerland began to pick up the tempo confidently while in the five path. Sat down for the stretch drive by O'Shea, the gelding turned on all boosters, catapulting himself to the front approaching the 200-metre marker and was given some encouragement late to fend off the Japanese invader Red Le Zele (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) by 1 3/4 lengths at the wire. The American-based Dr. Schivel (Violence), who was held in midpack in the early going, rallied to pick up third a half-length behind.

Bhupat Seemar, who is on track to this season's UAE training championship, said, “It's such a fantastic result. We've always really liked the horse. Tadgh and I spoke this morning and made a plan. I knew there would be plenty of pace in the race, so we wanted to pick up the pieces. Turning for home, Tadgh said, 'We'd just go with one kick.'”

O'Shea, who is on course for a 10th UAE champion jockey title, added, “There was a lot speed on and this horse excels in a truly run race. We were the outsider today and I said to Bhupat, 'Let's ride him accordingly.' There's no point putting him in the race and getting him in a speed duel, so we rode him like we did in the Al Garhoud Sprint [at Meydan on New Year's Day] and if he shows that turn of foot, he'd be competitive. Thankfully, it all worked and he's a horse who grew in confidence as the race went on. They were starting to stop and flounder and he was coming harder on the bridle–so it was fantastic.”

Yuga Kawada, aboard the runner-up in the last two renewals of the Shaheen, Red Le Zele, said “It was a good result. He likes to do his running at the back of the field in a 1200-metre race. That's just his style and he did the same here, and I had a very good feeling about him doing well going into this but there was too much ground to make up in the end. But, it was a good race and I'm happy with the way he went.”

A dual Grade III winner in the U.S. for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen during his sophomore year, Switzerland made a couple of trainer switches since, including a three-race stint with six-time champion trainer Satish Seemar for whom he won last year's G3 Dubawi S. at Meydan before transferring to his assistant and nephew for 2022. Kicking off the season an impressive winner in the Listed Al Garhoud Sprint, he was sixth under Adrie de Vries in his latest start in the G3 Riyadh Dirt Sprint Feb. 26.

“He came back from Saudi Arabia with a dirty scope and he was drawn bad there,” explained O'Shea. “It was a shame I couldn't go and ride him there, but he's come back better than ever–I'd say that's a career best. It's my first Group 1 winner and I'm in the 40 club! I have a good mate Adrian Nicholls who said 'don't give up, it'll come'.”

The gelding also gave his first-term trainer his initial Group 1 victory since taking out his license last fall following his uncle's suspension.

“We'll look to bring him back next year. And you never know, even at eight there could be some more improvement in him,” added Seemar. “It's a fantastic team we have behind us and I need to thank so many people, I'm in a very privileged position.”

Pedigree Notes:
A $170,000 KEENOV weanling and $175,000 KEESEP yearling purchase, Switzerland flourished into a $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic juvenile buy. Bred by Branch Family Trust, he is the third foal out of SW Czechers (Indian Charlie), who also hit the board in a trio of Grade III turf tests in the U.S. The 17-year-old mare is also responsible for an unraced 3-year-old filly by Connect and a juvenile filly by Speightstown. Her most recent live foal, a full-brother to Switzerland, brought $350,000 at last fall's Keeneland November sale. This represents the extended family of GI Travers S. winner Willow Hour (Bold Hour). The victory gives Speightstown his 23 Group 1/Grade I victory.

Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN SPONSORED BY ATLANTIS DUBAI-G1, $2,000,000, Meydan, 3-26, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:11.13, fs.
1–SWITZERLAND, 126, g, 8, by Speightstown
1st Dam: Czechers (MSW & MGSP-US, $298,349),
by Indian Charlie
2nd Dam: Pine Rob, by Pine Bluff
3rd Dam: Cherryrob, by Roberto
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. ($170,000 Wlg '14 KEENOV; $175,000 Ylg
'15 KEESEP; $500,000 2yo '16 FTMMAY). O-RRR Racing;
B-Branch Family Trust (KY); T-Bhupat Seemar; J-Tadhg O'Shea;
$1,160,000. Lifetime Record: MGSW-US, 27-8-3-4, $1,869,052.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: A+.
2–Red Le Zele (Jpn), 126, h, 6, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)–French Noir
(Jpn), by French Deputy. O-Tokyo Horse Racing Co Ltd;
B-Shadai Farm (JPN); T-Takayuki Yasuda. $400,000.
3–Dr. Schivel, 126, c, 4, Violence–Lil Nugget, by Mining For
Money. ($37,000 RNA Ylg '19 KEEJAN). O-Red Baron's Barn
LLC, Rancho Temescal et al; B-William A. Branch & Arnold R.
Hill (KY); T-Mark Glatt. $200,000.
Margins: 1 3/4, HF, HD.
Also Ran: Chain of Love (Jpn), Eastern World (Ire), Strongconstitution, Drain the Clock, Everfast, Manjeer (Ire), Wondrwherecraigis, Al Tariq (Fr), Mobaadel, Good Effort (Ire). Scratched: Meraas (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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More Japanese ‘Pride’ In UAE Derby

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — There is seemingly very little Japanese horses cannot accomplish these days.

Four weeks after scooping four races at a variety of distances and on both surfaces in Saudi Arabia, Crown Pride (Jpn) (Reach the Crown {Jpn}) made it three wins on the Dubai World Cup undercard–with the possibility of even better to come–with a determined defeat of pacesetting Summer Is Tomorrow (Summer Front) in the $1-million G2 UAE Derby as night began to take hold at Meydan Racecourse. Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) struck for Japan at cricket score odds in the G2 Godolphin Mile, while Stay Foolish (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}) won his second straight in the desert in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup at two miles on the turf.

Knocked sideways at the break by America's Gilded Age (Medaglia d'Oro), Crown Pride recovered nicely and raced in about sixth spot and three wide into the first turn as Summer Is Tomorrow was hounded along by G3 Saudi Derby hero Pinehurst (Twirling Candy) through strong early sectionals. Asked for a bit of acceleration 1100 metres out, Crown Pride improved–albeit deep on the track–outside of Saudi Derby second Sekifu (Jpn) (Henny Hughes) as they raced into the final half-mile.

Summer Is Tomorrow took them into the final two furlongs and had a nice kick over a track that was playing kindly to speed, but Australia's Damian Lane asked Crown Pride for his best approaching the eighth pole and the duo wore down the stubborn long-time leader despite racing on his incorrect lead through the line. Island Falcon (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}) ran on for third, while Pinehurst hit a wall 600 metres out and was effectively eased under the wire.

“He stepped out okay, but didn't travel too well thereafter and it just took a little bit to get him in a rhythm and get him going,” said Lane, who has ridden with considerable success in Japan and won a G1 Cox Plate atop Horse of the Year Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) for Yoshito Yahagi. “I got crowded a little early, but as I say he was able to stride through and take up position and it was plain sailing from there, really. I was confident a long way out and although he made hard work of it in the straight, ultimately he was the toughest out there. He's a strong, tough horse and saw the distance out well.”

He added: “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.”

Bhupat Seemar, trainer of the runner-up, indicated that connections could have a look at the GI Kentucky Derby after earning 40 points.

“Why not though?,” said Seemar. “There were some good horses behind him, a couple of Grade 1 horses from America, so now that he's had that run I think we'd have to think about it.”

Pedigree Notes:

Crown Pride is the second stakes winner and second group winner for his sire, a son of Special Week (Jpn) and a himself a winner at Group 2 and Group 3 level. Crown Pride is the first foal from his dam, a nine-time winner at the races at Funabashi and Mombetsu on the National Association of Racing Circuit. Emmy's Pride is the dam of a 2-year-old filly by Pyro that sold for $226,940 at last year's JRHA Select Sales. She was most recently bred to American import Nadal (Blame). Like Stay Foolish, Crown Pride is out of a mare by King Kamehameha (Jpn).

Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
UAE DERBY SPONSORED BY MUBADALA-G2, $1,000,000, Meydan, 3-26, 3yo, 9 1/2f, 1:59.76, fs.
1–CROWN PRIDE (JPN), 121, c, 3, by Reach the Crown (Jpn)
                1st Dam: Emmy's Pride (Jpn), by King Kamehameha (Jpn)
                2nd Dam: Emmy's Smile (Jpn), by Agnes Tachyon (Jpn)
                3rd Dam: Hemisphere (Jpn), by White Muzzle (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. O-Teruya Yoshida;
B-Shadai Farm (JPN); T-Koichi Shintani; J-Damian Lane.
$580,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, $734,569. Werk Nick
Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Summer Is Tomorrow, 121, c, 3, Summer Front–Always
Tomorrow, by Badge of Silver. 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP
BLACK TYPE. ($25,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $14,000 Ylg '20
KEESEP; £120,000 2yo '21 ARQMAY). O-Michael Hilary Burke &
Negar Burke; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Bhupat Seemar.
$200,000.
3–Island Falcon (Ire), 121, c, 3, Iffraaj (GB)–Adoringly (Ire), by
Dubawi (Ire). 1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE.
O/B-Godolphin (GB); T-Saeed bin Suroor. $100,000.
Margins: 2 3/4, 1 1/4, 3/4.
Also Ran: Bendoog, Quality Boone (Arg), Reiwa Homare (Jpn), Kiefer (Brz), Sekifu (Jpn), Azure Coast, Withering (GB), Combustion (Jpn), Arabian Gazelles, Gilded Age, Irwin (Arg), Get Back Goldie, Pinehurst.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

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