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Dubai, UAE, 3 February 2010 – This weekend concludes with the first Friday meeting to be staged at Meydan Racecourse, where the third 2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival meeting will get underway, kindly sponsored by Al Tayer Motors.
Al Tayer Motors, one of the UAE’s premier automobile dealerships, is a long-standing sponsor of the Dubai International Racing Carnival and Frank Gabriel Jr, the Dubai Racing Club’s CEO is pleased to welcome back their valued partner.
“We are delighted to have our friends at Al Tayer Motors sponsor the third instalment of the Carnival. This racing fixture has gone on from strength to strength with each passing year, and this would not have been possible if we did not have the support and loyalty from such sponsors”.
Ashok Khanna, Chief Executive Officer, Al Tayer Motors concluded: “Al Tayer Motors is a long standing supporter of sporting events and has been associated with the Dubai International Racing Carnival (DIRC) for many years. The 2010 edition is a historic occasion as the event moves to its new home at Meydan, which is surely one of the world’s best equestrian sport facilities.
Friday’s racemeeting will see the 1600m Cape Verdi, a Group Three contest run on turf.
Friday’s meeting offers a number of hospitality options available to suit all tastes. Entrance to the public areas of Meydan Racecourse is free of charge and there are also complimentary transfers at the end of the night from Meydan Racecourse to Arabian Ranches (outside the main entrance of the shopping centre), Dubai Marina, Emirates Towers (Boulevard entrance by Cartier), Wafi (outside of Pyramids) and Souk Madinat.
The Dubai Transport Company Operates a taxi service from Meydan with the taxi drop-off and pick up point located outside the Meydan Grandstand.

Owners and trainers worldwide have embraced international horse racing’s iconic new venue; Meydan Racecourse, with Dubai Racing Club announcing record entries for the 2010 Dubai World Cup to be held on March 27.
At the closure of the free entry stage on January 13, a total of 1,951 entries have been received from 23 countries for the revamped eight race programme, highlighted by the 15th running of the US$10 million Dubai World Cup, the first to be held at Meydan Racecourse.
The Dubai World Cup, run for the first time on an all weather surface, Tapeta, attracted the highest number of nominations in its history, dual Eclipse Award winner GIO PONTI and Japanese champion VODKA prominent among the 288 entries received. The latter leads a powerful contingent from Japan which also includes the dual Classic winner and champion three-year-old filly BUENA VISTA, Japan Cup Dirt winner ESPOIR CITY and SUCCESS BROCKEN.
GLORIA DE CAMPEAO also returns for a third Dubai campaign hoping to go one better than his second placing to Well Armed last year while Godolphin’s REGAL RANSOM is among 34 entries from the stable and aiming to become the first horse to win the Dubai World Cup 12 months after a UAE Derby success. Hong Kong Cup first and second VISION D’ETAT and COLLECTION are also among the early entries.
The Dubai World Cup’s 288 entries come from 82 trainers and 15 countries, Saeed bin Suroor (34 entries) with the most number of nominations and one of seven trainers having tasted Dubai World Cup success previously, the others being Kiaran McLaughlin (four entries), Bill Mott (two), Steve Asmussen (one), Bob Baffert (seven), Eoin Harty (one), Sir Michael Stoute (two).
Among this year’s entries for the US$5 million Group 1 Dubai Duty Free are the first three-over-the-line from the 2009 renewal; GLADIATORUS, PRESVIS and ALEXANDROS. The three, along with the highly rated COURAGEOUS CAT are among a massive 400 entries from 19 countries.
The Dubai Duty Free and the US$5 million Group 1 Dubai Sheema Classic traditionally attract a strong level of international entries and this year proves no different. Like the Dubai Duty Free, those prominent in the 2009 Dubai Sheema Classic are again among the entries for this year’s renewal which has attracted 242 nominations from 17 countries. The first seven home in 2009 are all aimed at the race in 2010 as are PRESIOUS PASSION from the USA and Europe’s outstanding filly DAR RE MI.
The Dubai Golden Shaheen has long been the domain of horses from the USA since 2000 including Breeders Cup Sprint winner DANCING IN SILKS. The race has proven popular with the 205 entries coming from 16 countries. Japan’s LAUREL GUERRIERO and Australia’s unbeaten filly BLACK CAVIAR will be attempting to halt American dominance of this race. Richard Mandella, trainer of the 2004 Dubai World Cup winner Pleasantly Perfect also has his eye on this race, with his charge CROWN OF THORNS entered here. For the first time this year, the Dubai Golden Shaheen will be run around a bend.
The addition to the programme of the Group 3 Al Quoz Sprint is proving to be extremely popular, with the race receiving 202 entries from 16 countries. ALL SILENT, BLACK CAVIAR, TURFFONTEIN and GOLD TRAIL are among a powerful group of 15 from Australia while Singapore’s star ROCKET MAN and Hong Kong champion SACRED KINGDOM are also entered. Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint winner CALIFORNIA FLAG, the globetrotting CANNONBALL, Prix de l’Abbaye winner TOTAL GALLERY and the outstanding South African OUR GIANT are also included.
Bob Baffert and owner Mike Pegram have tasted Dubai World Cup success with Captain Steve and their LOOKIN’ AT LUCKY, winner of the Eclipse Award for Champion Two-Year-Old Male of 2009 heads the 173 entries for the US$2 million Group 2 UAE Derby. Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor and South Africa’s Mike de Kock remain the only trainers to have prepared winners of the UAE Derby and unsurprisingly, both are well represented again. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner VALE OF YORK heads Godolphin’s 18 strong entry whilst South Africa’s Champion Two-Year-Old of last season, MUSIR is one of six entries from De Kock.
Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile winner FURTHEST LAND heads a 61-strong USA entry for the US$1 million Group 2 Godolphin Mile, those entries among a total of 370 received from 16 countries. GAYEGO, second in the race last year, and stablemate MIDSHIPMAN are prominent among powerful entries from the UAE.
The US$250,000 Group 1 Dubai Kahayla Classic for the Purebred Arabians has attracted a total of 71 entries, among them the winners of the two previous runnings in MIZZNA and FRYVOLOUS.

The first ever race at Meydan, the Group 1 Maktoum Challenge for Purebred Arabians was win in great style by No Risk Al Maury, owned by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum who also sponsored the race.
The winner was trained by Gill Duffield, while the same owner was also responsible for the runner-up Santhal, as well as the fourth Kandar Du Falgas. The owner’s retained jockey, Richard Hills, was aboard the winner and, coincidentally, partnering his 450th UAE winner in the process.
He was delighted: “Of course it is great to ride the first winner here and extra special now you have told me it was my 450th. This is a nice horse though and one we thought would love this new track.”
The Thoroughbred equivalent was won by Dubai International Racing Carnival regular Gloria De Campeao who battled bravely to land the spoils in the 1600m feature. Never far off the pace, he had to fight off several challenges, and was actually headed turning for home, but fought back to regain the advantage inside the final 100m.
His trainer Pascal Bary said: “This horse loves Dubai and never runs a bad race. We will be aiming him for the World Cup in which he was an excellent second last year.”
The first two Thoroughbred races went the way of the Mike De Kock/Christophe Soumillon/Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum combination with Raihana winning the 1400m UAE 1000 Guineas Trial, before Lizard’s Desire landed the 1950m handicap, from stable companion King of Rome.
De Kock said: “We thought they would all run well and it is obviously a great start to the Carnival. Raihana will go for the Guineas and we will decide what to do with Lizard’s Desire after the handicapper has had a look.”
Luca Cumani and Kieren Fallon then combined with Drunken Sailor who won the 2200m handicap in good style to the delight of the trainer who said: “We were hopeful but nothing more. That is his first start for us.”
Another UK winner followed with Ted Durcan in the saddle on Sir Gerry, trained by John Best. Last turning for home, Durcan’s mount ran on strongly to lead close home and the jockey said: “He has done that nicely and clearly loves the surface.”
A third for the UK was registered in the last, a 1400m handicap, by Ryan Moore on the Jeremy Noseda-trained Leahurst.
Godolphin joined in the party in the 2000m handicap in which Frankie Dettori made all on Whispering Gallery to score a comprehensive success. A delighted jockey said: “This place is fantastic and going to be awesome. It is a big relief to get that first winner on the board.”
The Tapeta track was generally well received and winners on the night came from both high and low draws from off the pace and from those who raced prominently suggesting a fair chance for all.

Dubai, UAE, 20 January 2010 – Meydan yesterday held a trial race night at the world’s largest integrated racing facility; the Meydan Grandstand and Racecourse with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in attendance. The successful and well-received trial is a precursor to the Dubai International Racing Carnival (DIRC), beginning on January 28. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed was on hand to tour the facilities which included the racecourse and associated facilities, including the paddock, grandstand and jockey’s changing rooms.
Consisting of four races commencing at 6 pm, the trial saw 44 horses with a total of 16 jockeys racing over distances between 1200m and 2000m.
Chairman of the Board and CEO of Meydan Mr. Saeed Humaid Al-Tayer said: “We’ve seen some of the world’s finest talents in horseracing take to the tracks this evening, and we’re excited at the responses we’ve had to the conditions and facilities we’ve built. Feedback and suggestions from our partners in the industry is something we’ve always heeded and Meydan is a result of this collaborative effort. We are indeed excited to showcase it to the world when the races begin.”
Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Racing Club Frank G. Gabriel, Jr added, “We’re geared up for the start of the Dubai International Racing Carnival and want to thank all horsemen, staff, and everyone who’s been a partner to us for their support of Meydan and these trial races. We look forward to the opening of the tracks and racing facilities for the first meeting on the 28th of January.”
Champion jockey Frankie Dettori, Ted Durcan, Richard Hills, Pat Smullen, Kevin Shea and Kieren Fallon were amongst the first to ride at Meydan.
Frankie Dettori spoke of his experience between the races: “I’m gob smacked after what I’ve seen, and I just can’t find the words to describe the amazing experience of racing at the Meydan Racecourse, it’s just out of this world. The tracks are great and very even, and the lights are beautiful. I absolutely loved it.”
Kieren Fallon shared his sentiments: “Meydan Racecourse has a beautiful surface which is very well covered even as you’re coming round the bends, and I can’t wait to get on the grass! It was really a joy to ride on this track and I really loved it. Santa Anita has one of my favourite tracks in the world, and this track is probably every bit just as good, if not better. It couldn’t be better. To just get out there on the turf now would be really exciting.”
Ted Durcan added: “The layout of the track is super and the rides all went great. I think it’ll suit all horses and you have to be really enthusiastic about everything, I’m really impressed”.
Thrilled with his experience and looking forward to the start of the 2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival, Richard Hills said: “I think the track rode very well and the saddling area looks in good condition. Full marks on everything!”
World-renowned trainer Mike De Kock also concurred that the trial race night was a resounding success.
De Kock said: “We’ve received really positive feedback from the jockeys that the surface is fantastic. It was very good to have the trials as it was a good experience, especially to get a feel of the long walk from the barns and through the tunnels.”
Champion UAE trainer Doug Watson added: “Everyone was really positive about their experience at the trials. I haven’t been a big synthetic fan but have received very good feedback from the jockeys. All our horses ran and finished nicely, so now we’re just ready to race for the money.”
 

Proudinsky (Ger) scored a repeat victory in the $150,000 San Gabriel Handicap (G2) on Sunday at Santa Anita Park, overhauling seven-time Grade 1 winner Lava Man in the stretch of that foe’s much-anticipated return from a 17-month layoff.

Under Rafael Bejarano, Proudinsky stalked front-running Lava Man and took over from the fading pacesetter in the stretch. The six-year-old Silvano (Ger) horse then held off a late bid from 7-to-5 favorite Loup Breton (Ire) to win by a neck.

“At the top of the stretch, I asked him and he gave me a good turn of foot,” Bejarano said. “I could see [Loup Breton] was really running on the rail, but my horse was running faster and they couldn’t catch him.”

Trained by Humberto Ascanio for owner Johanna Louise Glen-Teven, Proudinsky covered 1 1/8 miles on firm turf in 1:46.91.

Proudinsky defeated Ferneley (Ire) by three-quarters of a length in last year’s edition of the San Gabriel for previous trainer Bobby Frankel, who died on November 16 after a battle with cancer. With Sunday’s win, Proudinsky improved to seven victories, four seconds, and two thirds from 22 starts and boosted his earnings to $1,225,953. A five-time graded stakes winner, Proudinsky is out of the Dashing Blade mare Proudeyes (Ger).

“Good horses do the job. I learned from the Bobby Frankel school,” Ascanio said. “I’m not Bobby Frankel, but I just do his thing.”

Loup Breton was sent off as the favorite in the seven-horse field after winning an allowance race by 1 3/4 lengths on November 19 at Hollywood Park in his U.S. debut. Garrett Gomez reserved Loup Breton in last early and he closed willingly from the inside but could not collar the victor. Loup Breton was 1 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Acclamation.

Lava Man, an eight-year-old Slew City Slew gelding, won three straight editions of the Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G1) in 2005, ’06, and ’07. He was retired after finishing sixth in the Eddie Read Handicap (G1) in July 2008 and was scheduled to be pensioned at Old Friends, a Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Kentucky. The retirement plan was scrapped after Lava Man underwent a successful series of stem-cell procedures to regenerate cartilage in his surgically repaired ankles.

Lava Man looked good early in his return, leading the way through an opening quarter in :24.06, a half-mile in :48.14, and six furlongs in 1:11.81, but he faded in the stretch and finished last. Trainer Doug O’Neill said Lava Man came out of the race with a cut, and jockey Tyler Baze said he thought Lava Man just got tired after 17 months away from competition.

“He had a gash on his hind right tibia when he came back, but I don’t think that caused anything. It looks like he hit the side of the gate leaving there,” O’Neill said. “He just got tired. That’s what Tyler [Baze] commented on. I thought I had him more fit than that, but it’s hard to simulate a mile and an eighth turf race in the mornings.”

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com 

Having some light success in Dubai with a fourth and seventh in the 2008 and 2009 Dubai Duty Free (G1), Vodka landed Japan’s most internationally acclaimed race, the 12 furlong Japan Cup (G1) by the slimmest of margins.  Japan’s super mare was also fifth in the 2009 Jebel Hatta (G2), a local Dubai prep for the Duty Free.  Under Christophe Lemaire, the 5-year-old daughter of Tanino Gimlet led alone in deep stretch but was laboring under the distance and a furious late charge from Oken Bruce Lee fell just short.

“At the post, I thought we had won, but just after the post, I wasn’t so sure.  Those last 100 meters were so long,” Lemaire said after the race.  “I know she has a lot of fans and a lot of support, she is a fantastic horse and deserves to win this race.  I am very happy for all of her fans.  She has courage.”

Conduit, dual winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) was a valid fourth, the best finish of the five international contenders, before he enters stud in Japan.  Marsh Side, fifth home in the 2009 Dubai Sheema Classic (G1), was a lackluster 17th in the 18 horse field.

This entry was written by PatCummings, posted on November 29, 2009 at 12:50 am, filed under Racing News and tagged Breeders’ Cup Turf, Christophe Lemaire, Conduit, Dubai Duty Free, Dubai Sheema Classic, Japan Cup, Marsh Side, Oken Bruce Lee, Vodka. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.

Thirteen proved to be a lucky number for the connections of unbeaten champion older mare Zenyatta.

Fourteen, however, made history.

The five-year-old Street Cry (Ire) mare remained unbeaten with her 14th consecutive victory and became the first female to take down the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), and she did so in front of a raucous crowd of 58,825 on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

And she did it in spectacular fashion in her first career start against males, taking her typical position at the back of the field under Racing Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith and charging down the stretch with authority—her stride lengthening and becoming more powerful with every kick—to inhale the leaders and hit the lfinish ine first, just as she did in each one of the previous 13 starts of her brilliant career.

“There are tears coming to my eyes,” said trainer John Shirreffs, who won the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) last year with Zenyatta and this year’s Ladies’ Classic on Friday with Life Is Sweet, becoming the first trainer to achieve the rare double in the same season. “I can’t believe it.

“She is a great, great filly. She is all heart. The way the crowd took to her was just amazing. They cheered for her; they clapped for her; they love her. What a wonderful relationship.”
 
With her previous start, a 1¼-length victory in the Lady’s Secret Stakes (G1) on October 10 at the Arcadia, California, track, Zenyatta matched the mark of the beloved Personal Ensign, who ended her career with a thrilling victory over Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Winning Colors in the 1988 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1)—her 13th straight victory without a loss.

With her 14th victory, however, Zenyatta took a step toward transcending the sport and becoming a legend. And many who before the Classic had conceded Horse of the Year honors to BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Rachel Alexandra now were going to be forced to make a much more difficult choice.

“You tell me,” Shirreffs said with a wry smile when asked if Zenyatta deserved to be Horse of the Year.
  
The prerace festivities provided nearly as much drama as the race itself as Florida Derby Presented by BlackBerry (G1) winner Quality Road took several minutes to load—bucking and thrashing each time they tried to lead him into the starting gate—and then crashed through the front of the gate before being scratched by the track veterinarians.

“The horse is okay,” trainer Todd Pletcher said of Quality Road. He’s got some scrapes and scratches. “We’re very disappointed, but it’s just one of those things. We’ll have to regroup and try again. It was bad timing. We got the worst luck at the worst time on the biggest day.”

The short delay as the field was unloaded and then loaded back into the gate made little difference to Zenyatta as she broke a bit slowly and then assumed her usual position at the rear of the field.

Super Derby (G2) winner Regal Ransom hustled quickly to the lead, taking the field through an opening quarter in :24.16 and a half-mile in :47.88 as Zenyatta and Smith loped alongside another deep closer, Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Mine That Bird.
 
As many in attendance knew they would, Smith and Zenyatta cranked up their pace midway through the turn, inching up on the bunched up field from the inside as the crowd began to roar its approval.

By the time Smith swung Zenyatta six or seven wide in the stretch, the shouts and screams at the top end of the grandstand seemed to reach a crescendo but only got louder and louder as the pair quickly began dispatching challenger after challenger with every fluid stride.

As Zenyatta overtook multiple Grade 1 winner Gio Ponti in the final sixteenth, and the crowd realized that history indeed was about to be made, the grandstand crackled with an explosion of emotion that too rarely is seen in the sport as patrons cheered and hugged and high-fived and cried.

“I still never got to the bottom of her; that’s the amazing thing,” Smith said. “She still had run left. She is from heaven. She’s God’s horse.

“When we loaded the second time, she just stood there as the gates opened. I needed to help her out of there, but once I got out, she settled into stride very well. She started to get to them in the stretch and the crowd started screaming. Then she started looking at the crowd and I had to get after her a little bit, but she still won within herself.”

The adulation continued as Smith led Zenyatta back to the winner’s circle, tipping his helmet, patting her on the neck, and pointing to the horse every couple of seconds. He waved his arms up and down for even more cheers as the two entered the winner’s enclosure.

The typically warm but stoic Shirreffs could not contain his joy or his pride in the moments after the race or in the interview room.

“Life is Sweet is the princess and Zenyatta is the queen in my book,” he quipped of his storybook weekend.
 
Bred in Kentucky by Maverick Productions Ltd., Zenyatta, who is out of the Kris S. mare Vertigineux, boosted her earnings to $5,474,580 with her 14th victory from as many starts.

Click here for the video:

 http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/utils/flash_pop.aspx?vp=Web&vc=1&vid1=mp4:2009/771/200911071843OAD9_771.f4v

Courtesy: www.thoroughbredtimes.com

Corey Brown rides Shocking past the winning post to take the 149th Emirates Melbourne Cup
Corey Brown has steered the Mark Kavanagh-trained Shocking to victory in the 149th Emirates Melbourne Cup.

It is the first taste of victory in the iconic 3200m race for both jockey and trainer and both were outwardly jubilant after the historic win.

The Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup is one of the world’s most famous and best-regarded thoroughbred races and the riches prize in Australian sport.

Shocking had been sitting fourth on most betting markets behind Bart Cumming’s 2008 champion, Viewed and the Jake Stephens-trained Alcopop.

The $5.65 million Emirates Melbourne Cup is a truly spectacular event and the focal point of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. While most of Australia stops to watch or listen to the race, there’s nothing like being there amongst the 100,000-plus throng to experience this truly unique event.

Sea the Stars, who secured his place among racing’s all-time greats when he powered his way to a thrilling two-length victory over Youmzain in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) Oct. 4, has been retired to stud.

The announcement that the 3-year-old son of Cape Cross   will not go for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) was made just before 1 p.m. in Ireland by trainer John Oxx.

“It has been decided after discussions with Mr. Christopher Tsui (the horse’s owner) that Sea The Stars will not take part in the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita on Nov. 7,” Oxx said. “He’s had a long season and has been in regular fast work from March 3, with his final workout on Oct. 2. He’s been in intensive training for seven months with only a three-week break after the Eclipse Stakes (Eng-I) at the beginning of July.

“We feel it is unfair to keep him going any further given his unprecedented record of achievement in the last six months. He’s come out of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) in his usual good form. He is fit and healthy and has been cantering since the race.

“He is now retiring from racing, but I have no information on stud career details and an announcement will be made at a much later date when plans have been finalized,” he said.

Sea The Stars, the runaway leading candidate for Cartier Horse of the Year honors in Europe, is six-for-six this year, taking the continent’s top prizes. He began the year with a victory in the classic stanjames.com Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) at a mile at Newmarket, then won the 12-furlong Investec Epsom Derby (Eng-I). This summer, he annexed the Coral-Eclipse (Eng-I) at Sandown, the Juddmonte International Stakes (Eng-I) at York, and the Tattersalls Millions Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-I). He completed his career Oct. 4 with an emphatic two-length victory in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) at Longchamp. This season he has earned $6,824,461.

Last year at 2, he won two of three starts, including the Juddmonte Beresford Stakes (Ire-III).

Sea the Stars has been compared to the leading European greats, with some asserting he is the greatest of all time. His thrilling acceleration, his ability to triumph over distances ranging from a mile to 12 furlongs, his equable temperament, his will to win, and his excellent breeding all helped make Sea The Stars the complete package.

Bred by the Tsui family’s Sunderland Holdings in Ireland, Sea The Stars is out of the blue hen mare Urban Sea (by Miswaki), the dam of six other stakes winners and three champions: Urban Ocean, champion 3-year-old male in Ireland in 1999; Galileo, champion 3-year-old male in England in 2001; and Black Sam Bellamy, champion 3-year-old male in Italy in 2002.

Urban Sea, who died this spring after delivering a colt by Invincible Moment, was champion older female in France following her victory in the Arc, and was honored as Broodmare of the Year in England in 2001.

Courtesy: www.bloodhorse.com

The John Oxx-trained confirmed his greatness with a sixth consecutive Group One triumph. Brilliantly ridden by Mick Kinane, who has been at the helm for all nine of Sea The Stars’ racecourse appearances, the remarkable three-year-old emphatically justified 4-6 favouritism.

Youmzain, ridden by Kieren Fallon and trained by Mick Channon, finished second in the Arc for a third consecutive year.

The Frankie Dettori-ridden Cavalryman (12-1) stayed on for third, but was no match for the mercurial two-length winner.

Oxx said: “(My heart) is still beating fairly slow, I think. It’s wonderful that it’s over - it’s just a great relief.

“It’s wonderful that he’s come through it. He was in a nice position and he just had to step up the gears a bit to get out. Mick would not panic because this horse has the gears.

“That’s what any jockey will tell you, if the horse has the speed and the gears he will get himself out of trouble.”

It was the manner of Sea The Stars’ triumph which made his exploits in France all the more impressive.

Having been very keen, which resulted in him losing ground in the early throes of the race, many observers might have been forgiven for fearing the worst.

Even approaching the top of the home turn, Kinane’s partner was engulfed behind a wall of horses - with Set Sail and Grand Ducal ensuring a generous pace from the head of affairs.

Once the gaps appeared, however, the race changed suddenly.

Stacelita went for the jugular inside the final 300 yards but Sea The Stars had all bases covered under his unflappable rider.

Exhibiting a jaw-dropping turn of foot, the Cape Cross colt scampered clear inside the final 200 yards to easily repel the challenge of the game Youmzain.

Kinane said: “I ended up in a position I maybe didn’t want to, but I didn’t want to risk firing him up.

“They were going a nice pace and I knew I would need a bit of luck in the straight, no matter what happened, but I knew I had the pace to go anywhere I wanted. He’s a phenomenal horse.”

Courtesy: http://www.telegraph.co.uk