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Musir extends winning streak to three in Al Rashidiya
Musir broke sharply for regular rider Christophe Soumillon, who was happy to yield the front-running role to Marcret. Now parked just off his convenient target, Musir had a big tactical advantage over Presvis, the defending Al Rashidiya champion and 2011 Duty Free hero. A notoriously slow starter, Presvis ambled along early near the back of the pack, and was completely unsuited by the way the Al Rashidiya unfolded. Swinging for home, Musir surged past Marcret and left the pacesetter for dead. City Style was the only rival able to prevent a blow-out. Gamely pursuing Musir down the straight, City Style kept the winner's margin to a tight length. But City Style was working much harder. Musir was given an easy time of it, and crossed the wire under wraps. The final time of 1:54 on the good turf testified to the early crawl. "This is my favorite horse as he gave me my first big wins in Dubai," Soumillon said. "There was no pace in the race at all and that has suited him as he has such good acceleration. We think he is better on grass than (the all-weather) and hopefully a genuine Dubai Duty Free contender." De Kock was not on hand to offer comment, for he is in South Africa to saddle Horse of the Year Igugu in Saturday's Group 1 J&B Met. City Style, who was in receipt of three pounds from Musir, was 3 1/2 lengths clear of Marcret. Trois Rois got up for fourth, followed by Presvis, Le Drakkar, Win for Sure and the disappointing Rajsaman. The 129-pound co-highweight with Musir, Rajsaman was in a good stalking spot, only to come up empty in his debut for U.A.E. champion trainer Ali Rashid al Raihe. Musir now boasts a 14-8-3-2 record and $2,337,481 in earnings. The son of Redoute's Choice began his career in South Africa, ranking as that nation's champion two-year-old through a score in the Group 1 Golden Horseshoe in 2009. Musir then topped the charts in Dubai by going three-for-three during the 2010 Carnival, including the Group 3 U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas and the Group 2 U.A.E. Derby. The dual classic winner was honored as the Emirates' top three-year-old from seven to 9 1/2 furlongs. Out of action for more than 10 months, Musir finished second to the track record-setting Skysurfers in the 2011 Firebreak Stakes in his return to Meydan. He again finished second in the Group 2 Maktoum Challenge Round 3, but failed to stay 1 1/4 miles when seventh in the Group 1 Dubai World Cup. Back on turf for the Group 1 Champions Mile at Sha Tin in Hong Kong, Musir was a close third to the outstanding locals Xtension and Lucky Nine. He raced just once in his summer home in England, finishing third to Excelebration in the Group 2 Hungerford, which served as a tune-up for his Turkish heroics.
Dark Matter's resume now reads 10-6-3-0, $343,041. The Stratum colt was a close second to Singaporean champion Mr Big in the Group 2 Golden Horseshoe at Kranji last May. Once considered for Australia's Group 1 Caulfield Guineas last October, he ended up staying home after he turned in a rare flub. Dark Matter has been dependable ever since, finishing in the top two in his ensuing six starts. Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor recorded a Thursday double, beginning with new pupil African Story in an about seven-furlong Tapeta handicap. Making his first start outside of France, the lightly-raced five-year-old reeled in Barbecue Eddie to win going away by a length with Frankie Dettori. Among the also-rans was Sweet Ducky, who checked in seventh in only his second outing since flopping in last year's U.A.E. Derby. African Story was previously trained by Andre Fabre, for whom he captured his only other attempt on synthetic. Last summer, the Pivotal gelding ran well in three straight Group 3s on the French turf. Fourth to Sahpresa in the Prix du Palais Royal, African Story missed by a head to Moonlight Cloud in the Prix de la Porte Maillot, and had not raced since his third in the August 28 Prix Quincey. Bin Suroor also sent out the top two in Thursday's nightcap, with Godolphin's Quick Wit besting stablemate Fallen Idol by 2 1/2 lengths. Ridden for the first time by Silvestre de Sousa, Quick Wit pounced first, took full advantage of his eight-pound weight concession, and stayed on relentlessly in the about 1 1/4-mile turf handicap. Finishing a barnstorming third was Al Shemali, the 2010 Dubai Duty Free upsetter, who is now back in the care of al Raihe. Dettori deprived bin Suroor of a three-win evening by snatching an about 1 3/16-mile Tapeta handicap on a brutal bob of the head. The Mahmood al Zarooni-trained Capponi looked to be well and truly nabbed by bin Suroor's Sarrsar, who had beaten him last time out. But Capponi came again for Dettori to inflict the heartbreaker on Sarrsar. The pair were in a race of their own, 6 1/2 lengths clear of third. As an extra reward for his gallantry, Capponi set a new track record by covering the distance in 1:56.08, bettering the mark of 1:56.90 that Bawadi had just established last Saturday. Dettori celebrated his two victories with his trademark flying dismounts. "It has been a good evening," the popular rider recapped, "and African Story has done well to give weight all round against some proven Carnival handicappers. We had a nice draw and I was never worried. "I probably did not go quick enough on him (Capponi) last time when Sarrsar beat us, so it is nice to get in front of him this time." In the Thursday opener, Krypton Factor ran his rivals off their feet in an about six-furlong dash on the Tapeta. Leading throughout under Kieren Fallon, the four-year-old gelding shot 3 1/2 lengths clear, handing owner Fawzi Abdulla Nass his first victory in Dubai as a trainer. "We have been trying for a while," Nass said, "and endured some near misses over the years, but hoped the drop back to sprinting would help him. We did not want to take on the older horses with him last year, so were patient. I have owned a few winners here in the past, but it is great to finally train one." Krypton Factor was wheeling back on five days' rest. On Saturday, he chased Iguazu Falls in a turf handicap over a metric mile. Purchased out of Sir Mark Prescott's yard for $165,406 at the 2010 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, Krypton Factor was a useful presence at the 2011 Carnival. His highlights were a runner-up effort in the Meydan Classic Trial and a third in the U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas.
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