Spring outlasts rivals in Godolphin Mile

Spring at Last earned his first stakes score in Dubai style (Dubai Racing Club/Andrew Watkins)

J. Paul Reddam and WinStar Farm's SPRING AT LAST (Silver Deputy) pressed the

early pace, secured a narrow lead and repelled two stiff challenges to take

Saturday's $1 million Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2), the opening Thoroughbred event on

Dubai World Cup Day at Nad al Sheba. With Garrett Gomez aboard, the Doug O'Neill

charge completed the mile in 1:36 on the fast track.

"He ran a wonderful race today," Gomez said. "A mile is right up his

alley and he showed it. We were really confident going into the race and

the race went absolutely perfectly for him. This victory will hopefully

take him to the Breeders' Cup."

Nelore Pora (Romarin [Brz]) dictated the early pace along the rail, with

Spring at Last hounding him every step of the way. At the top of the stretch,

the eventual winner was one of several fighting to take command. When Spring at

Last put his head in front, he was quickly confronted by Mullins Bay

(Machiavellian) and a boldly rallying Parole Board (Dynaformer). Spring at Last

found renewed energy, and the farther they traveled, the bigger his margin

became, ultimately crossing the line 2 3/4 lengths in front.

Parole Board prevailed over Mullins Bay by 1 1/4 lengths to garner runner-up

honors. Dixie Meister (Holzmeister) closed late for fourth, another 4 1/4

lengths back, followed by Court Masterpiece (Polish Precedent), Fusaichi Richard

(Kurofune), Nelore Pora, Merlerault (Royal Academy), Gold for Sale (Not for

Sale), Gharir (Machiavellian), Singing Poet (Singspiel [Ire]), Vortex

(Danehill), Killybegs (Orpen) and Boston Lodge (Grand Lodge). Impossible Ski

(Ski Champ) and Blatant (Machiavellian) were scratched.