The gospel according to Barry
March 2, 2011Meezah keeps going well
March 6, 2011REEM, a surprise package in Dubai this season, outclassed her male rivals in Thursday evening’s Listed Al Bastikiya over 1900m on the All Weather, skating home by over five lengths in the hands of Kevin Shea.
With two wins and two good seconds from four starts the daughter of Galileo has brought much pleasure to the stable and owner Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and Mike commented: “She deserved her win, she’s been a class act all season. Her field was perhaps substandard, the form of the fillies have been better than colts, but she won well, we are very pleased with her.”
Shea, who has once again held his own in Dubai from limited chances, said: “Reem has surprised us. She was our third choice when she stepped out with Mahbooba and Empire Rose first time out and look how she’s progressed. She’s small, but all heart and I’m looking forward to World Cup night.”
Musir took second place to Twice Over in the Al Maktoum Challenge over 2000m and Mike said: “He ran a cracking race. Twice Over is a multiple Group 1 winner, rated 125, so Musir probably ran above his rating. Perhaps the 2000m is just 100m too far for him too, we’ll keep our options open going into World Cup night.”
Photos by Andrew Watkins.
*Solid Choice (Shea) and Frosty Secret (Bernard Fayd’Herbe), will be racing in the Dubai Millennium Handicap over 1600m on the All Weather on Saturday. Solid Choice is considered to have a winning chance.
2 Comments
Agree – personally not think Musir quite stayed trip IN THAT CLASS
as I said after race
as opposed to those who stated ‘just not good enough’
I would like to think that Musir has suffered the “second run after rest syndrome” although he was fit enough, I do think we can rely on the syndrome considering it was his second run after almost a year and in a Group 2. I do think also that Musir is at least 10 pounds (10 points) better than Mendip (who won a Group 2 on the night). No doubt in my mind that he will see the Dubai World Cup trip perfectly and that we can rest assure that master trainer Mike de Kock will bring him to his fittest on D-Day. Irish Flame despite being very wide ran a good race and I believe that the reigning SA Horse of the Year can win on the tapeta if he gets a chance to have another run before the end of the carnival.
How can we not mention the creditable performance of Mr Brock in the Dubai City Of Gold (Group 2)? He was a gallant third in my opinion considering he is more of an all weather surface horse now. So securing a third place on the turf and at that level proves that he always give the best of himself everytime. He can land an handicap on the all weather between 1900-2000m if given the opportunity to race again.