Golden Shaheen: Mental aims for rare sprint triumph

Dubai: The Gulf News-sponsored Dubai Golden Shaheen (Group 1) sprint has been the most elusive for the all-conquering Godolphin but they will certainly be pleased to see the Mahmoud Al Zarouni-trained Mental installed as the pre-race favourite this year.

However, to win this six-furlong contest on the all-weather Tapeta, Mental will have to overcome last year’s winner Krypton Factor, a pair of American sprinters in Trinniberg and Private Zone, Irish raider Gordon Lord Byron and Satish Seemar’s Reynaldothewizard among others.

The Fawzi Nass-trained Krypton Factor last year denied back-to-back victories to Rocket Man and comes in with a light campaign since then to defend the title in a race which is also the third leg of Global Sprint Challenge-GSC (GSC comprises 10 Group 1 races offering a $1 million bonus).

Despite Mental’s smart win in the six-furlong Group Three Al Shindagha Sprint at the Carnival, when Krypton Factor finished third behind Kavanagh, Al Zarouni has decided to use blinkers to get more out of his four-year-old gelding.

“I think we have a good chance on Saturday. Last time we didn’t declare him with blinkers and that is why he came very late. This time, he will wear blinkers like he used to do in Australia. That should make him a bit sharper from the stalls and in the race. I think the stall 10 draw is fine — the way he won last time shows he is a very good horse,” the Godolphin trainer said.

Since this sprint was shifted from dirt to the Tapeta, the American sprinters have not had it their way — though Trinniberg will try to set that record straight tonight.

Willie Martinez, who has ridden Trinniberg in his last eight starts and has won four of those, including the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) said: “He feels really good.”

The other US sprinter is Doug O’Neill’s Private Zone. Leandro Mora, O’Neill’s assistant said: “He’s done his work already so now we just have to sit and wait.”

All eyes will also be on Gordon Lord Byron, who was bought for €2,000 (Dh9.42 million) as a foal and then went on to give Irish trainer Tom Hogan his first Group 1 win.

A runner up in the Group 1 Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock, the four-year-old son of Byron was supplemented for the Prix De La Foret which he won.

Now, Hogan aims for another Group 1 win here and has garnered a lot of support with Gordon Lord Byron being placed as second favourite to Mental at 5-1.

Satish Seemar’s Reynaldothewizard could provide the upset and Richard Mullen, who will be in the saddle tonight, said: “Obviously this is his stiffest task to date but he won well on Super Saturday and has been a revelation in the blinkers.”

Selections

1. Mental

2. Krypton Factor

3. Gordon Lord Byron