War Artist foils Gayego in Al Shindagha; Siyaadah swoops late in Guineas

War Artist foils Gayego in Al Shindagha; Siyaadah swoops

late in Guineas

Rupert Plersch's WAR ARTIST (Orpen) stole a march on Godolphin's well-fancied

Gayego (Gilded Time) and rolled to a 2 3/4-length score in Thursday's $200,000

Al Shindagha Sprint (UAE-G3) at Meydan. Otherwise, it was a stellar night for

Godolphin. The royal blue silks had already visited the winner's circle three

times earlier on the program, highlighted by SIYAADAH's (Shamardal) victory in

the $250,000 U.A.E. One Thousand Guineas and American Triple Crown nominee

MENDIP's (Harlan's Holiday) cozy verdict in the opener.

Gayego, winner of the Ancient Title S. (G1) at Santa Anita two back, had not

raced since his near-miss fourth in the November 7 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1).

Settling well off the pace in the about six-furlong Al Shindagha, the Saeed bin

Suroor charge was still looking for room at the top of the stretch before

finding a seam.

War Artist, who improved his record to 18-7-4-3, $643,846, was testing a

synthetic surface for just the second time. In his debut for Eustace in 2008, he

finished runner-up in the Lady Wulfruna S. over the Polytrack at Wolverhampton.

War Artist raced only four more times that season, but proved that he was well

up to European Group 1 standard by placing in both the Golden Jubilee S.

(Eng-G1) and July Cup (Eng-G1), as well as the Duke of York S. (Eng-G2).

Sidelined for one year, War Artist took a couple of starts to reach his peak

last summer, and duly rebounded with victories in the Goldene Peitsche (Ger-G2)

and Prix du Petit Couvert (Fr-G3). The bay went on to finish a close third in

the Prix de l'Abbaye (Fr-G1), followed by a subpar 12th in the Hong Kong Sprint

(HK-G1) last out.

War Artist was bred by S. Kirkham in Australia and originally trained by

Herman Brown in South Africa. He scored his signature victory in the 2007

Mercury Sprint (SAf-G1), and his resume also includes a runner-up effort in the

Byerley Turk S. (SAf-G3) and a narrowly-beaten third in the Golden Horse Sprint

(SAf-G1). Out of the Brocco mare Royal Solitaire, War Artist is a half-brother

to Australian Group 1-placed Sashenka (Orientate). This is the family of

Australian Group 2 victor Sanhedrin's Pride (Sanhedrin).

"She really picked up when I asked her and has passed a lot of rivals in the

straight," said Ajtebi, who was earning his first classic victory. "I thought I

was going to get there from about 200 meters (about one furlong) out."

Ayun Tara (Martaline) edged Berg Bahn (Big Bad Bob) by a neck for runner-up

honors. Another three-quarters of a length adrift came Raihana (Elusive

Quality), who had made a smart move to take command in midstretch before fading

to fourth. Dettori's mount, Ishitaki, retreated to seventh in the 14-filly

field.

Siyaadah was winning for the first time since her debut maiden score at

Redcar last August. Her Guineas coup boosted her bankroll to $168,971 from her

4-2-0-0 line. Bred by Lofts Hall Stud, she is the first foal out of Grade 2

heroine River Belle (GB) (Lahib), who was third in the Queen Elizabeth II

Invitational Challenge Cup (G1). Siyaadah went to her current connections for

$201,501 as a Tattersalls October yearling.

Dettori was on the right Godolphin runner for the team's other two wins on

the card. In the 1ST race, an about seven-furlong conditions event, he guided

the promising Mendip to a professional victory in his sophomore bow. A debut

maiden winner last time out at Kempton, the dark bay stalked the pace here,

smoothly struck the front with a furlong to go, and held off the fast-finishing Uncle Tom (First

American) by a measured half-length. Uncle Tom, a Group 1 winner in his native

Brazil, is a four-year-old.

"He traveled well and quickened nicely," Dettori recapped. "Hopefully he can

improve."

Sheikh Mohammed's wife, Princess Haya, also celebrated a victory on Thursday

when ESCAPE ROUTE (Elusive Quality) got up in time in the 2ND race, an about

seven-furlong handicap.

Trainer Mike de Kock sent out LIZARD'S DESIRE (Lizard Island) to capture the

4TH race, an about 10-furlong handicap, by 2 1/4 lengths from Godolphin's Soy

Libriano (Ride the Rails). Lizard's Desire was racking up his second win of the

Carnival, having stormed home on January 28, opening night at Meydan. In his

native South Africa, he had landed last year's East Cape Derby (SAf-G3).

Interestingly, the top two finishers from the September 3 International

Bosphorus Cup (Tur-G2) at Veliefendi swept the two turf races on the program.

International Bosphorus Cup hero HALICARNASSUS (Cape Cross [Ire]) was all heart

in the 7TH race, an about 1 1/2-mile handicap that featured a few globetrotters.

The Mick Channon veteran set the pace throughout and stayed on gamely from

Mourilyan (Ire) (Desert Prince [Ire]) by a short head, with Quijano (Ger) (Acatenango)

back in third.

The Turkish-bred and -based PAN RIVER (Red Bishop), runner-up to

Halicarnassus in the International Bosphorus Cup, rallied to land the 8TH race.

Wearing down de Kock's Lucky Find (Rich Man's Gold) and Godolphin's Shaweel (Dansili

[GB]) in deep stretch of the about nine-furlong turf test, Pan River drove to a

one-length decision.