Jay Peg refuses to yield in Duty Free

Jay Peg showed the heart of a lion in the Duty Free (Dubai Racing Club) In his native South Africa, JAY PEG (Camden Park) cultivated a richly deserved reputation as a courageous fighter, who used his tactical speed to get first run on the closers, and often held them off with brutal tenacity. Those endearing qualities had enabled him to win such prestigious contests as the Cape Guineas (SAf-G1) and Cape Derby (SAf-G1), but sadly, they had not been seen to such effect in this winter's Dubai International Racing Carnival. The Herman Brown charge was apparently saving his best effort for last. Looking like the resilient Jay Peg of old, he just hung on to pull a massive upset in Saturday's $5 million Dubai Duty Free (UAE-G1), despite having his saddle slip in deep stretch. Even more remarkably, he did so in course-record time of 1:46.20 for nearly nine furlongs on Nad al Sheba's good turf. Reunited with jockey Anton Marcus for the first time in 11 months, Jay Peg went straight to the early lead. Floral Pegasus (Fusaichi Pegasus) appeared to be slightly overeager in second, with Seachange (Cape Cross [Ire]), Archipenko (Kingmambo) and Vodka (Tanino Gimlet) traveling just off the pace. The Nad al Sheba turf can be unkind to pacesetters, and so it seemed when the field reached the stretch, and Jay Peg was about to be devoured by three rapacious distaffers. Vodka roared up on the outside, Seachange made progress along the rail, and Darjina (Zamindar) suddenly erupted between foes.

For a few strides, Darjina appeared to hold a slim advantage over a

persistent Vodka, but Jay Peg refused to surrender. Gradually, he reasserted

himself, even though Marcus was losing his balance as the saddle shifted

precariously beneath him. As Marcus employed techniques worthy of a circus act

or a rodeo rider to stay aboard, Jay Peg thrust himself a half-length in front

of Darjina to score a memorable victory for South Africa.

"I thought I was going to fall just after the post," an exhilarated Marcus

said. "My saddle slipped 1 1/2 furlongs out, and I nearly was unseated.

"He likes a scrap, and I wasn't worried when other horses went past

him," Marcus revealed. "I'm pleased that we had horses on either side of us.

That really helped at the end. It's a very proud day because my brother Basil

used to train this horse, and my older brother Selwyn owns a share."

"He's kept improving and I think this shows that you've got to train a horse

to peak on Dubai World Cup night and not for the beginning of the Carnival," Brown

said. "It's great for the owners also because if you convert this currency into

our rand, it amounts to an awful lot."

Darjina just denied a fast-finishing Archipenko by a nose to salvage

runner-up honors. Vodka crossed the wire another 1 1/4 lengths back in fourth,

with fellow filly Finsceal Beo (Mr. Greeley) a close fifth. Seachange, Floral

Pegasus, Creachadoir (King's Best), Admire Aura (Agnes Tachyon), Lord Admiral

(El Prado [Ire]), Niconero (Danzero), Literato (Kendor), Bullish Luck (Royal

Academy), Linngari (Indian Ridge), Majestic Roi (Street Cry [Ire]) and Notional

(In Excess [Ire]) completed the order of finish.

Campaigned by E. Braun, M. Shirtliff and P. Loomes along with Selwyn Marcus, Jay Peg has

now amassed a bankroll worth $3,267,945 from his 17-9-3-1 record. In addition to

his two classic victories, the five-year-old bay also boasts scores in the Selangor Cup S. (SAf-G2)

and Cape Classic S. (SAf-G3). Jay Peg's resume includes placings in the KZN

Guineas (SAf-G2), Cape Breeders' S., and most recently, the Jebel Hatta S.

(UAE-G2) at this course and distance.

Jay Peg was bred by High Season Stud in South Africa. Out of the Al Mufti

mare Laptop Lady, he is a half-brother to the stakes-placed Cabernet Kid (Casey Tibbs [Ire]). This family has compiled quite a bit of black type in South

Africa, with its top representatives including Group 2 queen Dash for Gretna (Sportsworld)

and multiple Group 1-placed National Title (National Assembly).