Vivlos blitzes field to land Dubai Turf

Robbed this week of last year's winner Real Steel, Japan still had reason to celebrate when, for the second successive year, they imprinted their name on the trophy at the Meydan Racecourse

Joao Moreira produced probably the race of his life. Trailing way behind the pack, the Hong Kong-based jockey strode his four-year-old filly Vivlos past the big boys on Saturday night to capture the Group 1 $6 million Dubai Turf.
Robbed this week of last year's winner Real Steel, Japan still had reason to celebrate when, for the second successive year, they imprinted their name on the trophy at the Meydan Racecourse.
A proud Moreira, speaking after the race, said: "When you have such a lot of rain like we had in the last 24 hours we would be muddy but I don't mind because this is what I love to do -- just be part of the party really. And when you ride a winner it becomes even more special. This shows that the Japanese horses with good form can travel across the world and win big races."
Godolphin's strongest chance this year was Ribchester, who was trained in England by Richard Fahey with William Buick in the saddle.
William Buick and Richard Fahey's charge won both the 1400m Jersey Stakes, at Royal Ascot and the 1600m Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois, in Deauville, last summer and were firm favourites, but Moreira seemed to have reserved his best for last as he pushed Vivlos to the limit and his horse produced a superb sprint to leave Ribchester in third, while Heshem came a close second.
"I raised the arms -- terrible error, but look he's run a tremendous race, said jockey Gregory Benoist of Heshem.
"We thought soft ground wasn't his bag but maybe it's a different kind of soft ground in Dubai. The trainer (Christophe Ferland) said he wasn't fit and hard for his last run. I didn't think that was good enough to warrant coming here but he was right. Everyone's very happy."
Ribchester's main opposition Zarak, trained in France by Alain de Royer-Dupre and already a course winner this season having landed the 2000m Dubai Millennium Stakes on his local debut five weeks ago, finished a poor fourth.
Vivlos floated down to the rail to settle in mid-division. Ribchester was a bit keen, as he has been in the past - and in contrast to the winner, William Buick was unable to find that cover. He still did pretty well to come third
clareto@kjhaleejtimes.com