Just a Way obliterates course record in Duty Free

Just a Way sizzled about nine furlongs in 1:45.52… (Neville Hopwood/Dubai Racing Club)

Akatsuki Yamatoya’s Just a Way extended his winning streak to three with a
superb display in Saturday’s Group 1, $5 million Dubai Duty Free at Meydan.
Inhaling hitherto unbeaten Vercingetorix in the stretch, the Japanese star
bolted up by 6 1/4 lengths and left the course record in shambles. Sajjhaa had
eset the standard of 1:47.93 in the 2013 Duty Free, but Just a Way obliterated
it by finishing about nine furlongs on good turf in 1:45.52.

Trained by Naosuke Sugai and confidently handled by Yuichi Fukunaga, the 3-1
second choice was following in the hoofsteps of his sire. He is by Heart’s Cry,
who shipped from Japan to run away with the Dubai Sheema Classic at old Nad al
Sheba in 2006.

Just a Way’s breakthrough came in the October 27 Tenno Sho Autumn at Tokyo,
where he comprehensively defeated Gentildonna by four lengths. He followed up in
his 2014 premiere in the Nakayama Kinen, pulling 3 1/2 lengths clear, and
continued his ascent in this first international assignment.

As expected, fellow Japanese hope Tokei Halo set up shop on the front end,
and Hong Kong’s Blazing Speed tracked him. The Fugue, the 5-2 favorite, was
within striking range early before fading out of contention.

Just a Way was content to bide his time near the back of the pack, and
followed Vercingetorix as they both improved their positions into the stretch.
Taking aim on Vercingetorix down the lane, Just a Way simply burst clear and
widened his advantage all the way to the line.

… and kicked off a double for Japan (Randi Sokoloff/Dubai Racing Club)

Christophe Soumillon thought that he was sitting pretty aboard Vercingetorix,
but found himself swamped.

“I thought I’d win when we turned for home, and I was speechless when the
Japanese came flying past me,” Soumillon said.

Vercingetorix was a clear second by 1 3/4 lengths from Eclipse Award winner
Dank. Making her first start since her Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf victory,
Dank closed well for third, but rider Ryan Moore felt that she should have been
second with a clean trip.

“The winner was alongside me for the first half of the race,” Moore said. “I
was caught in traffic and felt she (Dank) was the second-best horse in the race.
She ran a great race after her five-month absence (from the track).”

Mshawish was along for fourth, and Anaerobio,
Logotype, Tokei Halo, Hunter’s Light, Tasaday, Blazing Speed, The Fugue, Trade
Storm and Educate concluded the order under the wire.

“I’m speechless,” jockey William Buick said of The Fugue’s non-effort. “I
can’t explain it. I’ve never known her like that. She ran very flat. We’ll just
put a line through it. She just wasn’t at the races today.”