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Russian Soul delights at Meydan

Jamesie and Godolphin duo Complicate and Bello beaten; Speedy Long Johnes triumphs

Russian Soul, ridden by Shane Foley, wins the fifth race at the Meydan. — KT photo by Shihab

Russian Soul moved one better to claim the 1200m Al Shindagha Sprint Group-3 (tapeta) ahead of Jamesie and Godolphin duo Complicate and Bello at Meydan on Thursday. “He was narrowly beaten by United Color last time out after having missed the break,” said a delighted trainer Michael Halford. “Russian Soul will back on the Super Saturday for the Mahab Al Shimaal Group-3 en route to the Dubai Golden Shaheen Group-1 on the big night,” he added.

Speedy Long Johnes, ridden by Mickael Barzalona, landed the UAE 2000 Guineas Group-3 in great style. The Southern Hemisphere well-bred son of former champion Street Cry came full of running to lead in the home turn and kicked away from the pack to touch the line more than four lengths clear ahead of runner up Emirates Flyer.

“He relished the tapeta and he ran a big race,” said Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford. “He’s a turf horse in Australia who has won five of his eight starts. Obviously, the UAE Derby Group-2 is a possible target, before heading for UK in summer,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Mike DE Kock had a great start to the night after the South African trainer saddled Sanshaawes to land the 2000m TB Handicap (tapeta) under Belgium jockey Christophe Soumillon.The four-year-old Ashaawes colt is raced by Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum to win his first start on the All-Weather track. The partnership of Kock-Soumillon completed a quick double in the third race, an 1800m TB Handicap (turf) with UAE debutant Vercingetorix. The four-year-old son of Silvano is unbeaten in his four start back in South Africa, including a Maiden, Conditions, Group-2 and Group-1 contests. Code Of Honor, ridden by Silvestre De Sousa for trainer Saeed bin Suroor came with a late run and just missed as FForjat was a nose back in third place.

DE Kock admitted that his horse was a little bit tired close home, but he was able to hold on and win convincingly. The fourth race, the 1600m Firebreak Stakes Group-3 (tapeta) was impressively won by the South African Horse Of The Year, Variety Club who has virtually made all to lead from start to finish in the hands of Anton Marcus.

The five-year-old son of Varli did nothing wrong and went immediately to the lead as the starter said go, and picked up nicely bfore he stormed home unchallenged in the concluding stages of the trip.

“It’s his first time out on the tapeta, but he handled the surface very nicely,” said the winning jockey later.” However, Variety Club has clocked 1:35:67 seconds which is faster than the track record which is 0.10 seconds faster than the track record set by Skysurfers for this distance, but it was a (hand time) will not be taken as a new record.