Phoenix rises to classic heights
Phoenix Reach has the world as his oyster as he booked his place on a global tour with victory in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Nad Al Sheba today.
The five-year-old, already a winner in Britain, Canada and Hong Kong, came from the rear to lead in the final 150 yards in the hands of Martin Dwyer to give his young trainer Andrew Balding a famous success.
The winner, whose next target is the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin in Hong Kong next month, was returned at 5-1 by British bookmakers.
Razkalla (20-1), Godolphin’s second string, held off another British hope, Alan Swinbank’s Collier Hill (40-1), for second place.
However, other European raiders fared less well.
Kieren Fallon’s international debut for the Aidan O’Brien yard got off to a disappointing start when Powerscourt suffered interference before finishing fifth.
Sir Michael Stoute’s Maraahel finished eighth, and the two remaining Godolphin runners – Cherry Mix and Fight Your Corner – trailed home in the final two placings of the 11-runner contest.
Kerrin McEvoy, bidding to follow up his UAE Derby win on Blues And Royals, was first out of the gate on Razkalla before surrendering the lead to the free-running Omikron.
Razkalla was back in front at the two-furlong marker and looked like springing a 20-1 surprise, but as the gaps opened up Phoenix Reach weaved his way through the pack to snatch the lead and quickly go clear close home for a two-length victory.
Balding said: “He’s better than ever and has been working really well. We were quietly confident, but you never know, what with taking the blinkers off and a bad draw. I am really pleased.
“He’s a really talented horse. If it wasn’t for the beginning of last summer when he was wrong, he’s only run two bad races in his life. He’s an underrated horse, but he’s pretty decent.
“We will hopefully take him to Hong Kong for the QEII and see what happens. It’s certainly going to be an international programme but these days, with shuttle stallions travelling around the world, we want to put him in the shop window as a potential stallion in as many places as possible.”
If all goes to plan, Phoenix Reach will then return to Britain for a tilt at something like Sandown’s Coral-Eclipse Stakes, before going back on his travels for races such as the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in Australia or even the Breeders’ Cup meeting at Belmont Park in the United States.
Such ambitious targets only reflect the manner in which Phoenix Reach has improved his form in the past six months.
Even Dwyer seemed surprised by the manner of his mount’s success.
“I was pretty lucky to get the gaps on the rail, but I had to take a chance. I had walked the course before the race with Andrew and we agreed that we were never going to win by going too wide,” he said.
“He might have been a bit fortunate that everything opened at the right time, but you can only ride a horse like that if he has enough acceleration.
“I took a chance and dropped across from a wide draw, but I was following the horses I wanted to be following.
“He picked up well – he’s a very good horse. Perhaps in the past he hasn’t had the credit that he has deserved but maybe that was because he hadn’t beaten top-class horses before.
“Tonight I think he was the real thing. It’s been an amazing experience.”
Of the other jockeys, Dean McKeown was understandably thrilled with the performance of Collier Hill, who picked up £145,000 for finishing third.
“It could hardly have gone better,” he said. “Last time the ground was too fast, and he was staying on on this better ground.
“If there had been any more give then he would definitely have been second. He was a bit outpaced three out but he really battled for me. It was a brilliant run.”
Fallon reported that Powerscourt had been “tightened on the turn” but felt that he still “ran okay”.
But there was disappointment etched on the face of Cherry Mix’s rider Frankie Dettori.
“He was beaten before the turn and that is not his form – I think he just ran flat,” said the Italian.
South Africa had struck first on the Dubai World Cup card when Grand Emporium took the opening Godolphin Mile in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed’s son, Sheikh Rashid.
The 11-4 favourite, trained by the remarkable Mike de Kock, led over a furlong out in the hands of Weichong Marwing and ran on too strongly for his rivals to score by a length and a quarter.
Qais, representing Godolphin and ridden by Dettori, stayed on dourly for second place, with long-time leader Tsigane third.
De Kock, saddling his fifth winner at the meeting, said: “Unfortunately he’s not going to be coming back with me to South Africa.
“He was bought yesterday by Sheikh Rashid. It wasn’t a big surprise as I believe they have been interested in the horse for a while.
“I don’t know what the plan is for the horse now, but I gather he is going to join Mazin Al Kurdi and then go to Europe.
“He acts very well on turf so I think he will do well there.
“I know you might imagine that I would be upset about losing him, but that’s racing – his owner has got a good amount of money for the horse and now he can re-invest and we’ll be back next year to try and win it again.”
Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford, who was also delighted with the performance of the runner-up Qais, said that no decision had been taken over the future of Grand Emporium.
“It will be up to Sheikh Rashid what happens next,” he said.
However with UAE Derby third Parole Board officially joining Godolphin from Al Kurdi’s stable this weekend, it would be no surprise to see the winner racing in Britain this season in blue silks.
