Americans seek 10th score in Dubai Golden Shaheen
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The $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) going 1200 meters has attracted a full field of 14 and the dirt sprint promises be a real speed duel. American challengers tended to dominate the race when contested on dirt at Nad Al Sheba and it would be no surprise if the U.S. raiders were to celebrate a 10th victory in the race. Bob Baffert saddles Secret Circle (Eddington), who may not have won since November 2013 but that was in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1). The bay ran well last season, including a close second when trying to defend his Breeders' Cup crown, and was not beaten by much in his sole start this year in the Palos Verdes S. (G2) on January 31, which should have put him spot on for Saturday's test. Stall 7 looks a good draw and should allow Secret Circle to stalk the early speed, his preferred style of running. Assistant trainer Dana Barnes has been riding him out this week.
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"He is just a monster of a horse and a proper sprinter," she said. "He has
been full of himself since he arrived and seems at the top of his game."
Fellow Grade 1 winner Big Macher (Beau Genius) looks well berthed in 6, one
higher than compatriot Salutos Amigos (Salute the Sarge), a Grade 3 scorer in
both of his most recent outings.
"We have schooled him at the gates as he has always been bad at the stalls,
which probably cost him any chance (when ninth) in last year's Breeders' Cup
Sprint," trainer Richard Baltas said of Big Macher. "He is in good shape and,
hopefully, will break on terms on Saturday."
"He's sharp and I expect him to be on or just off the pace," trainer David
Jacobson said of Salutos Amigos in post 5. "He'll be in striking distance, but
that I really leave up to (jockey) Cornelio (Velasquez) because you don't know
how the race is going to fall. I hate to give him instructions to put him on the
lead and then they break slow and the jock feels obligated to put him on the
lead. That's counterproductive."
Krypton Factor (Kyllachy) won the 2012 Shaheen for Bahrain and owner/trainer
Fawzi Nass, was third in 2013, but well beaten last year when finishing 10th.
The dark bay gelding seeks to emulate Caller One (2001-2002), the only previous
dual winner of the race.
"He is probably not as good as he was," Nass acknowledged. "That said, he has
a decent draw and ran very well first time this season and a slow start did not
help him last time on Super Saturday."
Krypton Factor will trot and swim over the final two days after working on
the dirt track on Monday morning.
"He completed his work earlier in the week and will not do anything serious
again -- his work is done," Nass said.
That course-and-distance Super Saturday contest, the Mahab Al Shimaal
(UAE-G3), provided a surprise winner in the form of Shaishee (Indian Charlie).
The five-year-old gelding is trained by Musabah Al Muhairi for Sheikh Hamdan bin
Rashid Al Maktoum, as is Muarrab (Oasis Dream), winner of the listed Jebel Ali
Sprint the day before Shaishee's Meydan success.
The owner's first retained jockey, Paul Hanagan, rides Muarrab with Dane
O'Neill, also in the employ of the owner, aboard Shaishee.
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