3/29/09
Last updated: 3/29/09 2:36 PM
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Well Armed, whose life was imperiled by injuries in 2006, dominated the world’s richest race
(Dubai Racing Club) |
Making sure that Nad al Sheba went out not with a whimper, but a bang,
WinStar Farm’s homebred WELL ARMED (Tiznow) romped to a record-shattering
14-length triumph in Saturday’s $6 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1). The Eoin
Harty charge was a fitting winner of the final race ever staged at Nad al Sheba,
for he first garnered attention here as a sophomore in 2006; he finished third
to Curlin in last year’s World Cup; and he has always thrived in the Dubai
atmosphere.
With regular rider Aaron Gryder aboard, Well Armed broke like a shot, secured
the early lead, and was never headed. As the bay gelding traveled well within
himself through splits of :25 1/5, :48 3/5 and 1:12 2/5, he was chased by a rail-skimming Gloria de Campeao (Impression).
Albertus Maximus (Albert the Great), who was initially reserved farther
off the pace, soon moved up into a close stalking position on the
outside. Godolphin’s hope My Indy (Indygo Shiner) likewise crept up to keep watch on the
pacesetter. In contrast, Paris
Perfect (Muhtafal) was close up early, but he faded from contention. Asiatic Boy (Not for Sale) was uncharacteristically far back and came under
pressure before the field left the backstretch.
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After clocking one mile in 1:36 1/5, Well Armed left Gloria de Campeao and My Indy for dead turning for home.
Rapidly storming clear, he seemed to gain strength the farther he went, and
Curlin’s record 7 3/4-length margin of victory was suddenly in jeopardy. With
only the lingering memory of Curlin as a phantom opponent, Well Armed continued
his relentless march into history. As Gryder gave him a few congratulatory pats
on the neck, he obliterated the old mark and ended the tale of Nad al Sheba on a
crescendo.
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A jubilant Aaron Gryder heads to the winner’s circle
(Dubai Racing Club) |
“Here we go boys, the last race at Nad al Sheba and we won it!” Gryder
exclaimed when he weighed in. “I was able to control the race which I couldn’t
do last year. He’s such a good horse, I can drop the reins and he wastes no
energy. He showed his class this year.”
By finishing the about 1 1/4 miles in 2:01 on the fast track, Well Armed kept
the World Cup trophy in the United States. American-based horses have now won
three straight World Cups, and eight of its 14 runnings overall.
“It’s the biggest win of (my) career,” Harty said. “I owe a lot to His
Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, who got me started and plucked me
from relative obscurity.”
Harty, a former assistant to Bob Baffert, was hired away by the Godolphin
operation to develop its juveniles. Among his early pupils was Street Cry (Ire),
who went on to glory in the 2002 World Cup for Saeed bin Suroor.
Harty went on to talk about how much Well Armed has overcome during his life.
“This horse chipped a bone in the (2006) U.A.E. Derby ([UAE-G2] when
trained by Clive Brittain), and then he
fractured his pelvis and the vets wanted to put him down. Two years on he’s won
the richest race in the world,” Harty marveled.
Gloria de Campeao garnered runner-up honors by 4 1/2 lengths from a resurgent
Paris Perfect. Muller (El Compinche) checked in a clear fourth. My Indy,
Albertus Maximus, Snaafy (Kingmambo), Casino Drive (Mineshaft), Happy Boy (Ski
Champ), Muhannak (Ire) (Chester House), Arson Squad (Brahms), Asiatic Boy, Joe
Louis (Lode) and Anak Nakal (Victory Gallop) brought down the curtain.
“(My Indy) ran a super race for me,” Frankie Dettori said. “The extra furlong
was always the fear, and so it proved.”
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“(Albertus Maximus) was fighting me and looking out,” Alan Garcia commented. “I can’t really explain it right now. Last time I rode him in the Donn (G1) he was a totally different horse.”
“(Casino Drive) didn’t like the kickback, but when I put him on the rail he
settled and tripped well,” Katsumi Ando said. “He didn’t answer me at all
turning for home.”
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Well Armed struck another blow on the world stage for his sire Tiznow, who twice thwarted international stars in the Breeders’ Cup Classic
(Dubai Racing Club) |
“I had a pretty rough trip,” Edgar Prado recapped about Arson Squad. “He was
getting bumped left and right. Casino Drive came out on me and it was just lucky
my horse didn’t get hurt. I am very happy about that.”
“(Asiatic Boy) is a horse who needs to get organized early on and we got shuffled back,”
Johnny Murtagh said. “After that we were flat to the
boards and always struggling.”
Well Armed has now amassed $5,179,805 in earnings from a 23-7-4-1 line. He
was scoring his first victory since the Goodwood S. (G1) last September, having
finished ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, a troubled fourth in the San
Pasqual H. (G2) and runner-up in the San Antonio H. (G2) in his subsequent
starts. His resume also includes scores in last year’s San Antonio and San Diego
H. (G2), the latter in track-record time at Del Mar, as well as runner-up efforts in the 2008 Pacific Classic (G1) and San Pasqual.
Well Armed was highly regarded by his first trainer, Brittain, and stamped
himself as a leading contender for the Dubai classics, only to have his
sophomore campaign go awry and suffer his aforementioned injuries.
The Kentucky-bred was produced by the stakes-winning Well Dressed (Notebook),
making him a half-brother to the Grade 1-placed Helsinki (Distorted Humor),
smart debut maiden-winning sophomore Witty (Distorted Humor) and a yearling
filly by Speightstown. He also has a juvenile full sister named Life Well Lived.
This is the family of two-time Japanese Horse of the Year Symboli Kris S (Kris
S.).
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