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.