Defending G2 Dubai Gold Cup hero Vazirabad (Fr) (Manduro {Ger}) justified his position as pre-race favourite by claiming his second victory in the race, but not without first giving his connections and supporters some agonising moments of concern. Calm and relaxed as he strolled around the pre-parade ring, the 5-year-old became fractious in the gates as he waited for his rivals to load, rearing several times before fluffing the start and jumping slowly into stride. Though this was not plan A for jockey Christophe Soumillon, his mount's antics ultimately worked in his favour as horses who sat behind the strong early pace set by customary front-runner Big Orange (GB) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) started to drop away at the business end of the race. From those in the vanguard early on, Godolphin's Beautiful Romance (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) saw out the marathon contest best of all, and for much of the straight looked to have the race at her mercy as Soumillon allowed his mount gradually to pick up the pace. Stalking his prey ever more menacingly as the line approached, Vazirabad's potent finishing kick eventually proved too much for the mare, who capitulated only by a neck, with the Sheikhzayedroad (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) running on past the tiring Big Orange to claim third.
“Today he was a bit nervous in the gates. He was sitting down when then gates opened and we were slowly away but I didn't want to force him,” said Soumillon. “In the back straight he was really off the bridle and I didn't know at that stage whether he was alright or if he had hurt himself in the gates. But when I came on the last turn and we went on the outside and passed the two horses he came on the bit very easily and then when we got into the straight he changed legs. He added, “Unfortunately with him it's good to come late but he also needs to have a target in front and as the filly was in the middle of the track I had to shift him a little bit to make him feel like the filly was still in front and make him react. Fortunately the filly just started to shorten her stride and my horse kept going. I'm very happy as it was an important race for us and today is a big day. He's not easy any time, and we learn from him every day.”
Saturday, Meydan, Dubai
DUBAI GOLD CUP (SPONSORED BY AL TAYER MOTORS)-G2, $1,000,000, MEY, 3-25, NH4yo/up & SH3yo/up, 3200mT, 3:22.52, yl.
1–VAZIRABAD (FR), 127, g, 5, by Manduro (Ger)
1st Dam: Visorama (Ire) (GSW & G1SP-Fr, $181,397), by Linamix (Fr)
2nd Dam: Visor, by Mr. Prospector
3rd Dam: Look, by Spectacular Bid
O-H H The Aga Khan; B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (FR);
T-Alain de Royer-Dupre; J-Christophe Soumillon. $600,000.
Lifetime Record: Hwt. 3yo-Fr at 14f+, MG1SW-Fr, 15-10-3-0,
$2,086,076. *1/2 to Visoriyna (Fr) (Dansili {GB}), SW & MGSP-
Fr, $139,138. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Beautiful Romance (GB), 122, m, 5, New Approach (Ire)—
Mazuna (Ire), by Cape Cross (Ire). O-Godolphin; B-Rabbah
Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Saeed bin Suroor. $200,000.
3–Sheikhzayedroad (GB), 127, g, 8, Dubawi (Ire)–Royal Secrets
(Ire), by Highest Honor (Fr). O-Mohammed Jaber Abdulla;
B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-David Simcock. $100,000.
Margins: NK, 1 1/4, HF.
Also Ran: Big Orange (GB), Zamaam (GB), Wall of Fire (Ire), Rembrandt Van Rijn (Ire), Basateen (Ire), Quest for More (Ire), Famous Kid, Heartbreak City (Fr), Quechua (Arg), Trip to Paris (Ire), Kingfisher (Ire).
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
It's clear that Vazirabad is a quirky character but fortunately, in Soumillon and Alain de Royer Dupre, he has fallen into the hands of two master horsemen who are happy to work with his little foibles rather than to try to bully him into submission.
“He's a special horse,” admitted Vazirabad's trainer, who so deftly managed the career of the highly-strung Classic winner Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). “Before he was gelded he was impossible to train. The first race he ran at Longchamp he did nothing, the second race he started to do more. We know that he has a strong turn of foot–it's his best quality.”
De Royer-Dupre was full of praise for his jockey, adding, “I think they should play the film of the race in the jockeys' school to show them how to wait in a big race. Christophe didn't go outside, he came inside and managed to avoid all the traffic.”
Referring to Vazirabad's antics at the start, he continued, “Before the race he was very relaxed but then he had a problem in the stalls. That is him–he's a little crazy. We never go against him. When he says no we don't try to force him. He doesn't try at all when he's training, it's difficult even for him to beat his lead horse.”
The trainer nominated the newly-promoted G1 Qatar Goodwood Cup as a big-race target back in Europe for Vazirabad, who may also head to Royal Ascot. He said, “I'm thinking of the Ascot Gold Cup, but I won't run him if it's too hot and the ground is too firm. If you want to keep a good horse like this it's important to protect him.”
Pedigree Notes…
One of six Group 1 winners for his French-based sire, the former Horse of the Year Manduro (Ger), Vazirabad is another great advertisement for the sound decision of the Aga Khan to buy en masse the stock of Jean-Luc Lagardere, who bred and raced his Group 3-wining dam, Visorama (Fr), a daughter of the late breeder's top-class sire Linamix (Fr). A half-sister to the G1 Prix de la Foret winner Varenar (Fr) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) and G2 Prix Greffulhe winner Visindar (Fr) (Sinndar {Ire}), Visorama has herself produced the listed winner Visoriyna (Fr) (Dansili {GB}) and provincial maiden winner Visomiya in addition to Vazirabad, who can now be considered to be the best stayer in Europe.
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