(MENAFN-Khaleej Times) Silvestre De Sousa rides winner in TB Nad Al Sheba Trophy; Star Empire comes in second
Cavalryman ridden by Silvestre De Sousa on way to winning the fifth race 1600m at the Meydan Racecourse on Saturday. — KT photo by Leslie Pableo
Cavalryman was ridden by Silvestre De Sousa to track record victory on seasonal reappearance in the 2,810m TB Nad Al Sheba Trophy, the highlight of the six-race-card at Meydan on Saturday. The winner scored in 2:56:49 seconds to lower the 2:57:78 seconds held by stable companion Whispering Gallery since 2011.
“He ran well and he was suited with the pace,” said the winning jockey later. De Sousa placed his mount on the heels of the early speed and made a forward move to lead as the pack turned for home with five hundred metres remaining. At this stage, the eight-year-old son of former champion Halling produced a high speed to cross the line by five lengths and a half ahead of runner up Star Empire who came wide in the concluding stages under Christophe Soumillon. Certerach came with a late run to finish third as the global trotter Semenon finished poor fifth.
Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor was delighted with the great performance despite the six months layoff and said: “Cavalryman will take rest before he comes back to defend his Group-3 Gold Cup title on the Dubai World Cup day later in the month.”
Public favourite Tamarkuz unseated rider Paul Hanagan at the starting stalls and took no part in the second race, a 1400m TB Handicap which was impressively won by top weight Free Wheeling (Saeed bin Suroor/ Silvestre De Sousa).
Early in the afternoon, a great ride by Mickael Barzalona brought outsider Samurai Sword home in the 2000m TB Handicap opening event on the card in spectacular fashion.
Kavanagh, ridden by Christophe Soumillon, raced to an exciting finish against the mount of Pat Dobbs, Dux Scholar to prevail by a head on the line in the 1200m TB Handicap (turf), the third on the card.
“He was a little bit disappointing at the beginning of the season. We have been racing him on the tapeta for extended distance, but he was able to pick up when returned to the six furlong on his best cultivation ground,” the winning jockey said later.
Doug Watson who trains Dux Scholar commented: “He ran well and hopefully he will go one better when he returns to the track in his next campaign.”
Top weight Capital Attraction was ridden patiently by Tadhg O’Shea as Mickael Barzalona showed the way with hot facourite Energizer in the distinguished blue colours of Godolphin. But, O’Shea made a smooth progress to take the lead and sprint home unchallenged to land the 1600m TB Handicap (tapeta). Disa Leader came with a late run under Christophe Soumillon, but he didn’t disturb the winner.
Capital Attraction, according to the South African trainer Ernst Oertel, may return in to the track in a week time for Burj Nahar on the Super Saturday looking for a spot in the Group-2 Godolphin Mile on the Dubai World Cup night.
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