DUBAI, March 23: American jockey Gary Stevens completed a fine double when rode Grey Memo and Caller on in the Dubai Gold Cup 2002 meeting Saturday at Nad Al Sheba race course.
Stevens first brought home Grey Memo in the US$1million Group Two Godolphin Mile ahead of Skoozi and Curule. Later Stevens on game Caller One repeated last year’s Dubai Golden Shaheen victory by getting better of American compatriot Echo Eddie in a driving finish.
Frankie Dettori rode a superbly judged race as Godolphin’s Essence of Dubai wore down long time leader Total Impact to win the group two UAE Derby.
American jockey Gary Stevens, who landed the Godolphin Mile in the previous race, looked set for a quick double when Total Impact set sail for home 800 metres from home in the 10 furlongs (2km) test.
Stevens’s charge drew two lengths clear but Dettori, who had settled Essence of Dubai at the back of the field, produced a storming late run in the straight to win by half a length. Ibn Al Haitham, ridden by Richard Hills, was two and a quarter lengths further back in third.
Essence of Dubai finished unplaced behind Johannesburg in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at the end of last year before returning to land the UAE Guineas last month.
World Cup reject Nayef slayed a high class field in sensational style to land the group one Dubai Sheema Classic for British trainer Marcus Tregoning.
The four-year-old Gulch colt was pulled out of the $6 million Dubai World Cup earlier this week on the orders of owner Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum.
Nayef, who has never contested a race on dirt, made mincemeat of his 14 rivals under Richard Hills in the turf-based Sheema Classic which is run over two furlongs (400 metres) further than the World Cup.
Last year’s Newmarket Champion Stakes winner was driven clear 300 metres from home and quickly put daylight between himself and the rest to win comfortably from outsider Helene Vitality.
Grey Memo came from last to first to win the $1 million group two Godolphin Mile.
Trained in the United States by Warren Stute, the five-year-old was last at halfway but produced a devastating late burst under Gary Stevens to wear down long-time leader Curule in the final 200 metres to win going away.
Skoozi pipped Curule for second while Frankie Dettori was out of luck on Godolphin’s China Visit. Grey Memo has now won seven of his 34 races and has also been placed on nine occasions.
Caller One repeated last year’s Dubai Golden Shaheen victory by just getting the better of American compatriot Echo Eddie in a driving finish.
Gary Stevens, who was completing a double on the night, had his mount in the firing line from the off in the six furlong (1.2km) sprint.
Favourite Xtra Heat, who finished third, was the first to crack in the final 120 metres as Patrick Valenzuela galvanised Echo Eddie to challenge the leader.
But Caller One demonstrated the qualities that have made him one of America’s top sprinters to win in a photo finish.
France celebrated a winner on Dubai World Cup day as the Eric Libaud-trained Terre A Terre had too many guns for his rivals in the group one Dubai Duty Free.
The five-year-old, third in the Hong Kong Cup in December, burst through on the fence under Christophe Soumillon with 200 metres to go and held off the late thrust of Godolphin’s Noverre, ridden by Frankie Dettori.
Hoeberg, trained in Singapore by Laurie Laxon, finished third. American challengers Val Royal and Del Mar Show, who were expected to mount a strong bid at Nad Al Sheba, faded up the straight while last year’s winner Jim and Tonic also proved a disappointment.
Earlier French bred Nez D’Or powerfully ridden by Wayne Smith grabbed the Dubai Kahayala Classic worth US$250,000.—Reuters
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