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Tragedy Mars Dubai Golden Shaheen

Triumph turned almost immediately to tragedy in Saturday's G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen as the lightly regarded Zenden (Fed Biz) outbroke the field from gate 14, set a wicked pace and had a space on his rivals at the wire, only to take a bad step just a few strides later, dislodging jockey Antonio Fresu while suffering a catastrophic injury.

Better than 50-1 on the international tote, the Florida-based sprinter shot straight into stride from the widest barrier and set off at a breakneck pace while outfooting the fleet-footed Matera Sky (Speightstown), runner-up in the 2019 Shaheen, and Good Effort (Ire) (Shamardal), who set a searching gallop in the G3 Mahab al Shimaal Mar. 6 before being tagged on the line by Canvassed (Ire) (Shamardal). Slipped some rein entering the stretch, always traveling like a winner, Zenden quickly opened up and the result was never in doubt as he stopped the timer in a time that was 1.16 seconds faster than the previous fastest in the six renewals of the Shaheen since it returned to a conventional dirt surface in 2015. Red le Zele (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) closed well from the back field for second ahead of Canvassed in third. Of the other American raiders, Wildman Jack (Goldencents) weakened to fourth, while Yaupon (Uncle Mo), drawn two, was slowly away and never factored, finishing eighth. Fresu walked away from the incident unscathed.

A stakes winner at two for trainer Victor Barboza, Jr., Zenden was a Gulfstream Park West optional claimer winner and was second in the 2020 GIII Fred W. Hooper S. in four runs for the Todd Pletcher barn. Turned over to former Jason Servis assistant Carlos David late last year, the chestnut missed by a head in a Jan. 15 optional tagger at Tampa and most recently annexed that track's Pelican S. Feb. 13.

Pedigree Notes:

The ill-fated Zenden is the first top-level winner and second graded/group for his sire, who was recently relocated from WinStar Farm to Highfield Stock Farm in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. His dam is a half-sister to three-time Grade I winner Sweet Reason (Street Sense), whose 4-year-old son Diastima (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) was Group 3-placed at three in Japan and was an easy allowance winner over two miles on turf last month at Hanshin. You Laughin, a half-sister to GSW & GISP Don't Forget Lil (Kafwain), SW Battle Girl (Midshipman) and GSP My Sixth Sense (Street Sense), was first sold for $2,000 at Keeneland November in 2018 in foal to Commissioner and again for $55,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton February Sale before producing a filly in May 2019. Not covered that season, she is the dam of an Audible colt foaled Mar. 8.

Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
DUBAI GOLDEN SHAHEEN SPONSORED BY GULF NEWS-G1, $1,500,000, Meydan, 3-27, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:09.01, fs.
1–ZENDEN, 126, h, 5, by Fed Biz
1st Dam: You Laughin, by Sharp Humor
2nd Dam: Livermore Leslie, by Mt. Livermore
3rd Dam: Whitesburg Express, by Whitesburg
1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. ($7,500 Ylg '17 KEESEP;
$47,000 2yo '18 OBSOPN). O-LLP Performance Horse, LLC;
B-Brent & Beth Harris (KY); T-Carlos A. David; J-Antonio Fresu.
$870,000. Lifetime Record: MSW & MGSP-US, 15-6-3-0,
$1,131,760. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for
the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Red Le Zele (Jpn), 126, h, 5, Lord Kanaloa (Jpn)–French Noir
(Jpn), by French Deputy. O-Tokyo Horse Racing Co Ltd;
B-Shadai Farm (JPN); T-Takayuki Yasuda. $300,000.
3–Canvassed (Ire), 126, g, 6, Shamardal–Painter's Pride (Fr), by
Dansili (GB). (350,000gns Ylg '16 TATOCT). O-Sheikh
Mohammed Obaid al Maktoum; B-Dayton Investments
(Breeding) Ltd; T-Doug Watson. $150,000.
Margins: 3 1/4, 2 3/4, 2HF.
Also Ran: Wildman Jack, Copano Kicking, Al Tariq (Fr), Switzerland, Yaupon, Premier Star, Jalen Journey, Justin (Jpn), Matera Sky, Good Effort (Ire). Scratched: Important Mission.
Click for the Racing Post chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video.

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Rebel’s Romance Romps In UAE Derby

Any discussion of the world's leading turf sires must include Darley in Europe's Dubawi (Ire), but for all the success he has had with his runners on the grass, his strike rate on the dirt–particularly in Dubai–is nothing short of stunning. The sire of World Cup winner Prince Bishop (Ire) (and Monterosso {GB} on the Tapeta), Dubawi has also accounted for such horses as Hunter's Light (Ire), Benbatl (GB) and Mubtaahij (Ire). The latter took out the 2015 UAE Derby, and as the sun began to set Saturday at Meydan, Rebel's Romance (Ire) put pay to an international field to punch a possible ticket to the GI Kentucky Derby May 1 at Churchill Downs.

Let go at overlaid odds coming off a first career defeat when fourth to Pink Kamehameha (Jpn) (Leontes {Jpn}) in the Saudi Derby in Riyadh Feb. 20, Rebel's Romance was beaten for speed from gate 11 and had just a couple of rivals behind him as the previously unbeaten Panadol (Flatter) led them under the line the first time with New Treasure (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) also prominent. In the clear down the backstretch, Rebel's Romance was allowed to improve into a midfield position through the middle stages, then was tucked in for a bit of cover on the back of Pink Kamehameha entering the turn. Felt for fully 650 metres out, Rebel's Romance warmed nicely to the task, was three wide into the lane, raced past Panadol while finally switching his leads a furlong from home and came away to an easy score while covering 16 metres (about 5 1/2 lengths) more ground than Panadol in a strong staying performance.

It was a ninth UAE Derby for Godolphin, but a first for trainer Charlie Appleby, and was worth 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Seven of the last eight winners of the race made their next appearance beneath the Twin Spires. If that is to be the case with Rebel Romance, Appleby was not admitting to it just yet.

“He is still very much a work in progress and he looked much better tonight than he did in Saudi Arabia,” he said. “I think the biggest attribute to him today is that he was going to stay. We were always confident he as going to stay. Stepping up in trip was going to be his forte.

“It's great for the team,” he continued. “Most importantly, it's good for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, who has a lovely horse win on Dubai World Cup night. I'm just delighted we've managed to put one into the back of the net.”

Rebel's Romance was perfect in a pair of all-weather starts at two, winning his maiden at first asking at Newcastle ahead of a four-length success at Kempton Nov. 18. He rallied from mid-division to best Mouheeb (Flatter) by a head in the Jan. 14 UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Jan. 14 ahead of his Saudi Derby effort.

Pedigree Notes:

Rebel's Romance became the 199th worldwide black-type winner and 129th group/graded winner for Dubawi and first since Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) scored in 2017 before following up with back-to-back wins in the World Cup. He is out of a stakes-placed daughter of MGSW & MG1SP Short Skirt (GB), the dam of Volcanic Sky (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}), winner of this year's G3 Nad al Sheba Trophy over a mile and six furlongs on the turf. Fittingly enough, Rebel Romance's third dam produced English highweight Whitewater Affair (GB) (Machiavellian), whose son Victoire Pisa (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}) posted a poignant victory for his tsunami-affected nation in the 2011 World Cup. After failing to produce a foal in 2019, Minidress dropped a colt by Frankel (GB) in February 2020.

Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
UAE DERBY SPONSORED BY EMIRATES NBD-G2, $750,000, Meydan, 3-27, 3yo, 9 1/2f, 1:56.28, fs.
1–REBEL'S ROMANCE (IRE), 121, g, 3, by Dubawi (Ire)
1st Dam: Minidress (GB) (SP-Eng), by Street Cry (Ire)
2nd Dam: Short Skirt (GB), by Diktat (GB)
3rd Dam: Much Too Risky (GB), by Bustino (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. O/B-Godolphin (IRE);
T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. $435,000. Lifetime Record:
5-4-0-0, $474,879. *1/2 to Petticoat (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), SP-
Ire. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: A.
2–Panadol, 121, c, 3, Flatter–Arradoul, by Dixieland Band.
($180,000 2yo '20 OBSJUN). O-Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed
Al Maktoum; B-Chester Broman & Mary R. Broman (NY);
T-Salem bin Ghadayer. $150,000.
3–New Treasure (Ire), 121, g, 3, New Approach (Ire)–
Maoineach, by Congaree. (90,000gns HRA '20 TATAUT).
O-Prince Faisal bin Khaled; B-J S Bolger (IRE); T-John Gosden.
$75,000.
Margins: 5HF, 1 3/4, HD.
Also Ran: Takeru Pegasus (Jpn), Mouheeb, France Go De Ina, Speight'spercomete, El Patriota (Uru), Mnasek, Pink Kamehameha (Jpn), Ambivalent, Lugamo, Fire Group, Soft Whisper (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video.

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Secret Ambition Wires Godolphin Mile

Evergreen 8-year-old Secret Ambition (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) was hustled from the barriers by Tadhg O'Shea in Saturday's G2 Godolphin Mile and never looked back, lengthening in the lane to post a sparkling six length score over the Doug Watson-trained Golden Goal (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), with American shipper Avant Garde (Tonalist) grabbing third.

The first horse bought by Libyan owner Nasir Askar when plucked out of the 2016 Racing In Dubai Sale for AED150,000 (£29,612/€34,537) having formerly raced for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Secret Ambition plied his trade successfully in the Meydan handicap ranks over the next two seasons, picking up three wins over seven furlongs to a mile for trainer Satish Seemar before finishing second in the G3 Burj Nahaar of 2018. He picked up his first black-type win the following season in the G3 Jebel Ali Mile and took the 2019 Listed Dubai Creek Mile before placing in the G2 Al Maktoum Challenge R2, G3 Firebreak S., G3 Burj Nahaar and the latest edition of the Dubai Creek Mile in December. Secret Ambition was second in the Jebel Ali Mile on Jan. 22 prior to a 3 3/4 front-running score in the Firebreak, and he was returning to his favoured trip on Saturday after checking in fifth when trying 2000 metres in the G1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 on Super Saturday.

Driven to the lead by O'Shea from gate two, Secret Ambition had the Saudi-trained Urban Icon (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) and Salem bin Ghadayer's Chiefdom (The Factor) to keep him company on the outside down the backstretch while the favoured Midnight Sands (Speightstown) raced down the middle of the track in the second flight of runners. Turning into the straight, Secret Ambition promptly put away Urban Icon while Golden Goal battled away in behind, and while a wall of horses made late headway to fight out the minor placings there was only ever going to be one winner, with Secret Ambition sprinting clear to win with ease. The winning time of 1:35.36 was a swift one over the course.

“All week I've been saying that in this race there was no more experienced horse for this distance,” said Seemar. “At the post position draw, he was prominent in every race they would show him in the videos. He's the most deserving horse in this field and most experienced and it's perfect. With us they improve as they get older and this has worked out well. As planned, Tadhg did it by the book. This is what we live for here in our jobs. Nothing better than having a winner on this night.”

Doug Watson, trainer of the second-placed Golden Goal and the disappointing Midnight Sands, said, “Fantastic for Golden Goal and his owner. I thought he deserved to be here and obviously we're disappointed with the way Midnight Sands ran.

“It's great for [owner] Dale Brennan. Maybe just a bit quick back for Midnight Sands. We usually give them four to five weeks in between; we couldn't do that this year. He looked a little bit flat turning in. You could tell on the turn [Pat Dobbs] was after him and normally he's cantering. So I would have to guess that, it was coming back in three weeks. He did great at home and he has been fantastic but he's one of those horses you'd have to get four or five weeks in between races. We have next year hopefully.”

Pedigree Notes

Out of the placed Singspiel (Ire) mare Inner Secret, Secret Ambition is a half-brother to G1 Jean-Luc Lagardere victor Royal Marine (Ire) (Raven's Pass), who was seventh in the next race on the card, the G2 Dubai Gold Cup. The mare has also produced Crystal River (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), a listed winner in France. Inner Secret is a half-sister to the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois and G1 Prix du Moulin victor and sire Librettist (Danzig), as well as the globetrotting group-race winner Secret Number (GB) (Raven's Pass) and the G1 Queen Anne S. winner and sire Dubai Destination (Kingmambo). The dual Group 1-winning sprinter Agnes World (Danzig) appears under the third dam.

Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
GODOLPHIN MILE SPONSORED BY MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM CITY – DISTRICT ONE-G2, $750,000, Meydan, 3-27, 3yo/up, 8f, 1:35.36, fs.
1–SECRET AMBITION (GB), 126, h, 8, by Exceed and Excel (Aus)
                1st Dam: Inner Secret, by Singspiel (Ire)
                2nd Dam: Mysterial, by Alleged
                3rd Dam: Mysteries, by Seattle Slew
(AED150,000 HRA '16 ERAAPR) O-Nasir Askar; B-Darley (GB);
T-Satish Seemar; J-Tadhg O'Shea. $435,000. Lifetime Record:
42-11-11-2, $1,172,393. *1/2 to Crystal River (GB) (Dubawi
{Ire}), SW-Fr; and Royal Marine (Ire) (Raven's Pass), G1SW-Fr.
Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Golden Goal (Ire), 126, g, 7, Dark Angel (Ire)–Golden Rosie
(Ire), by Exceed and Excel (Aus). (£240,000 Ylg '15 DBSPRM).
O-Dale Brennan; B-Yeomanstown Stud (IRE); T-Doug Watson.
$150,000.
3–Avant Garde, 126, g, 4, Tonalist–Dancing Afleet, by Afleet
Alex. ($7,500 Ylg '18 EASOCT). O-Gelfenstein Farm; B-Jar
Stables (KY); T-Gustavo Delgado. $75,000.
Margins: 6, NK, SHD.
Also Ran: Snapper Sinclair, Urban Icon (GB), Parsimony, Chiefdom, Midnight Sands, Roman Rosso (Arg), Tuz, Ambassadorial, Blown By Wind (GB), Dieu du Vin (Jpn), Dubai Mirage (Ire), Rodaini.
Click for the Racing Post result. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.

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Al Quoz Goes To America’s Extravagant Kid

Extravagant Kid (Kiss the Kid) broke his group duck and became the first American-trained winner of the $1-million G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on Saturday.

As soon as the gates flew, the field split into two groups–one in the centre of the course and one against the far rail–as favoured Space Blues (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) got squeezed out of the back of the latter bunch. Under Ryan Moore, Extravagant Kid enjoyed clear sailing and shifted back toward the centre of the course with several rivals to make it three separate clusters across the track with a half-mile remaining. True Valour (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) showed the most early dash and cut out fractions while closest to the grandstand.

He still held a narrow advantage as the centre group merged with the grandstand brigade at the 300-metre pole, but Godolphin runners Man Of Promise (Into Mishchief) to his right flank and Royal Crusade (GB) (Shamardal) on his other side both appeared poised to rally, as did a surging Acklam Express (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) on the other side of the course. Extravagant Kid, meanwhile, was also coming with his run, as was another Godolphin pair in Space Blues and Final Song (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) to the eventual winner's immediate left.

Seizing command with 100 metres to travel, Extravagant Kid just held off the closing Final Song by a half-length, while Acklam Express was a neck back in third, 1 1/4 lengths to the good of Equilateral (GB) (Equiano {Fr}).

“What an unbelievable race,” said his owner David A Ross. “His trainer Brendan Walsh had a good feeling about him, he came into the race well, Brendan had him prepped well. He really liked the venue here and we thought we would take advantage. As an 8-year-old, what about that?”

“No credit must go to me, I just put the saddle on,” said Brendan Walsh, who was winning his second Dubai World Cup night feature after Plus Que Parfait (Point of Entry)'s victory in the 2019 G2 UAE Derby. “My lad here looked after him and he was very pleased with him.”

“It was a very messy race,” said pilot Ryan Moore, who was winning his first G1 Al Quoz Sprint. “The speed looked like it was going to be stands' side but we had to make a decision. Space Blues and Khaadem were going, they were the best horses and gave me a bit of toe. The horse ran a super race at Keeneland [in the Breeders' Cup]. He is a very talented horse. You'll have to watch out for Brendan when he comes back here.”

In action for seven seasons and still going strong, Extravagant Kid hadn't visited the winner's circle since an allowance win at Churchill Downs in May of 2020, but in his ensuing seven starts, he'd only been off the board twice. Fifth in the GII Shakertown S. at Keeneland in July, the gelding was only a neck behind Diamond Oops (Lookin At Lucky) in the GII Twin Spires Turf Sprint S. back in Louisville on Sept. 4 and was second yet again in the GII Woodford S. warming up for a run in the Breeders' Cup. Not disgraced after a wide journey, he made up some late ground to take fourth in Glass Slippers (GB) (Dream Ahead)'s GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint back at Keeneland on Nov. 7.

He kicked off 2021 with a neck second in the Listed Janus S. at Gulfstream Park on New Year's Day, the same spot he'd filled in 2018 and won outright in 2019. Another second, this time in the state-bred Sunshine Sprint S. on Jan. 16 on the dirt followed, and he was five lengths in arrears in the washed out Colonel Power S. at the Fair Grounds on Feb. 13.

Pedigree Notes

Extravagant Kid is the only black-type winner, and first group and Group 1 winner from limited opportunity for his sire, who won the GIII Cliff Hanger S. and GIII Appleton S., and was third in the 2008 GI Donn H.

Despite only making three starts, Pretty Extravagant reported home a winner at two and Extravagant Kid is her first foal. Her Treasure Beach (GB) 4-year-old filly Extravagant Rosie is a winner, as is her Itsmyluckyday 3-year-old gelding Uncle Pip. Her filly of 2019, Prettykeen (Keen Ice), is unraced and her most recent produce is a weanling colt by Bernardini foaled on Mar. 2.

Although Extravagant Kid is the only stakes winner under the first four dams, his fourth dam, Pretty Fresh (Forli {Arg}), is a full-sister to 1975 GI Hollywood Derby and 1976 GI United Nations H. victor Intrepid Hero (Forli {Arg}).

Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
AL QUOZ SPRINT SPONSORED BY AZIZI DEVELOPMENTS-G1, $1,000,000, Meydan, 3-27, 3yo/up, 6fT, 1:09.26, gd.
1–EXTRAVAGANT KID, 131, g, 8, by Kiss the Kid
1st Dam: Pretty Extravagant, by With Distinction
2nd Dam: Dancing Dawn, by Seattle Dancer
3rd Dam: Kathy W., by Grey Dawn II (Fr)
1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN. O-DARRS, Inc.; B-Vicino
Racing Stable (FL); T-Brendan P. Walsh; J-Ryan Moore.
$580,000. Lifetime Record: MSW & MGSP-US, GISP-Can,
50-15-16-6, $1,581,610. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Final Song (Ire), 127, f, 4, Dark Angel (Ire)–Rahiyah, by Rahy.
O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Saeed bin Suroor. $200,000.
3–Acklam Express (Ire), 122, g, 3, Mehmas (Ire)–York Express
(GB), by Vale of York (Ire). (€26,000 Ylg '19 GOFSPT; 55,000gns
RNA HRA '20 TAAUT). O-MPS Racing and M B Spence; B-Mr R
Ryan (IRE); T-Nigel Tinkler. $100,000
Margins: HF, NK, 1 1/4.
Also Ran: Equilateral (GB), Motafaawit (Ire), True Valour (Ire), Royal Crusade (GB), Man of Promise, Space Blues (Ire), Cowan, Speak In Colours (GB), Moss Gill (Ire), Khaadem (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post chart or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video.

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