By Alan Carasso
The locally trained American-bred Commissioner King (Commissioner) engaged in a race-long battle with favored US shipper Havnameltdown (Uncaptured) in Saturday's G3 Saudi Derby Cup and proved narrowly best in a war of attrition to scoop the winner's share of the $1.5-million pot.
Unraced since defeating Almurtajiz (Good Magic) by four lengths in the Ministry of the National Guard Cup over this course and 1600-meter distance Dec. 16, the $9,000 Keeneland January graduate would not allow Frankie Dettori to steal away on Havnameltdown, last-out winner of the GII San Vicente S., who was sent off favoured in hthe World Pool in spite of question marks surrounding his ability to handle the trip. As early as 600 metres out, it was clear that the Derby would be a two-horse affair, as nothing was making any sort of progress from behind while the pacesetters continued to eyeball each other on the sharp end. Still shoulder to shoulder as they entered the final furlong, Havnameltdown battled on with good courage down inside, but Commissioner King proved the better stayer, if only just, to post a first Saudi success in the Derby. Japan's Derma Sotogake (Jpn) (Mind Your Biscuits) was third.
“The plan was to be close to Havnameltdown and try to test him in the straight,” said Abdulaziz Alyousef, representing the winning owners. “We felt he would run well but we weren't optimistic enough to think he would win. It is just amazing.”
Added winning jockey Luis Morales: “What a tough horse. It was an honour to ride in a race like that and to come out on top is just the best. He was so tough, he kept wanting it and we got there at the line.”
Dettori was always cognizant of the fact that furlong number eight Saturday was uncharted territory, and so it proved.
“After speaking to Bob, I tried to nurse his speed–he has tonnes of speed,” said the Italian. “I tried to save as much as I could, we got into a duel, but unfortunately in the last 50 yards, it ran out. He was absolutely knackered, he put on a great show and he was very brave. It's a shame it wasn't seven-eighths, but this is life.”
Pedigree Notes:
Commissioner King is a 10th black-type winner and fourth group/graded winner for his sire, who just failed to give A.P. Indy a poignant Classic winner when falling just short in the 2014 GI Belmont S. Commissioner's North American graded winners include Boardroom, the late Con Lima and Island Commish.
Commissioner stood for his owners WinStar Farm in Kentucky before a deal was brokered by Andrew Cary in June 2020 to send the stallion to Saudi Arabia to continue his career.
Ek Hassena is the dam of a 2-year-old colt by Always Dreaming and is due to Jimmy Creed for 2023.
Saturday, King Abdulaziz (Riyadh), Saudi Arabia
SAUDI DERBY PRESENTED BY BOUTIQUE GROUP-G3, $1,500,000, King Abdulaziz, 2-25, NH/SH3yo, 1600m, 1:38.82, ft.
1–COMMISSIONER KING, 121, c, 3, by Commissioner
1st Dam: Ek Haseena (MSP, $150,590), by Songandaprayer
2nd Dam: Deed, by Exploit
3rd Dam: Flirty Frosty, by Pleasant Colony
1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. ($9,000 Ylg '21 KEEJAN). O-Faisal Mohammed A Aljadheei; B-Paul Tackett Revocable Trust, Phil Tackett Estate et al (KY); T-Sabah Alshammri; J-; $900,000. Lifetime Record: . Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
2–Havnameltdown, 121, c, 3, Uncaptured–Ashley's Babe, by Put It Back. ($16,000 Ylg '21 OBSOCT; $200,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR). O-Michael E Pegram, Karl Watson & Paul Weitman; B-Katherine S Devall (FL); T-Bob Baffert; J-Frankie Dettori; $300,000.
3–Derma Sotogake (Jpn), 121, c, 3, Mind Your Biscuits–Amour Poesis (Jpn), by Neo Universe (Jpn). (¥18,000,000 Ylg '21 JPNJUL). O-Hiroyuki Asanuma; B-Shadai Farm; T-Hidetaka Otonashi; J-Fuma Matsuwaka; $150,000.
Margins: HD, 1 3/4, NK. Odds: 12-1, 6-5, 7-2.
Also Ran: Es-Unico (Brz), Continuar (Jpn), Almurtajiz, Atta Alghali, My Map, From Dusk, Almulhem, Baalb (Ire), Ecoro Ares, Loreley (Brz).
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