Beware American racing fans, NISAN ONE SAKASI arrives in the United States on
Friday and is expected to have a big impact. Already recognized as by far the
greatest Thoroughbred ever produced in Turkey, he’s been labeled the Asian Phar
Lap and is lovingly called “Direk” in his native land, which translates to pole
in English, because the Turkish superstar wins every start by at least a pole.
Owner of all the major racing prizes at home as well as numerous track records,
the five-year-old is expected to go after some of the biggest U.S. races on the
2005 calendar.
Previously based at Valsalva Racecourse near Istanbul, Nisan One Sakasi isn’t
coming to America alone. His famous connections, jockey Bulent Yanal and trainer
Fehmi Seyhan, will be on hand for all of his starts.
Yanal is more than his nation’s top jockey. He’s a popular motion picture and
T.V. star who released his first album, which includes a ballad about Nisan One
Sakasi’s exploits, earlier this year. Seyhan is a legendary horseman in the
Eurasian region. He made a name for himself leading an equine brigade during the
Miltberle War in the 1960s and has trained nine of the last 14 Horse of the Year
winners in Turkey, including Nisan One Sakasi the past three seasons.
Owner Serhat Penbe has refused invitations from Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore,
Dubai and other countries, instead choosing to try his superstar against the
best in America. His rationale is that Nisan One Sakasi’s natural speed is
better suited for dirt (he’s terrific on both surfaces), and he has a unique
plan for deciding upon where to run at first.
Once Nisan One Sakasi clears quarantine, Penbe will ship him to the major
tracks in New York, California and Kentucky. A former world-class equestrian
rider himself, Penbe will then gallop Nisan One Sakasi over each oval to
determine what surface is most favorable for his runner. He’ll keep detailed
notes and will even ship back for another test gallop if weather conditions
result in a drastic change to a certain track. If his innovative track testing
scheme pays off, Penbe could become known as “The Mad Genius from Turkey.”