Sport | Horse Racing
Archipenko sets out his stall at Nad Al Sheba
Archipenko announced his arrival as a contender for the upcoming Dubai Duty Free race after winning the Al Fahidi Fort race at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday night.
- By Leslie Wilson Jr, Sports Editor
- Published: 13:13 February 22, 2008
- Image Credit: Tracy Brand/Gulf News
- Kevin Shea (blue hat) riding Archipenko trained by Mike De Kock beats the favourite Langari to win the 1600m feature race.
Dubai: Dubai World Cup day maybe almost five weeks away, but already it's principal support race, the $5 million Dubai Duty Free (Gr 1), is shaping into a race worthy of the occasion.
At the Dubai International Racing Carnival on Thursday another strong contender for the 1,777 metre event on turf was unveiled when Archipenko ran out a compelling winner of the Al Fahidi Fort (Gr 2)
Formerly trained in Ireland by Aidan O'Brien, but a member of leading South African trainer Mike de Kock's Dubai string, Archipenko came with a late, but inspired run to deny Irish hope Royal Oath by two lengths. Recent Al Rashidiya Stakes (Gr 3) winner Lord Admiral was four and a half lengths back in third.
The big disappointment of the race was Linngari, winner of the last two runnings of the Al Fahidi, who failed to produce his best and trailed in fourth, almost 10 lengths behind the winner.
Big victories
De Kock, who was again landing the feature race at the Carnival following big victories by Asiatic Boy and Honour Devil, was delighted with the improvement shown by Archipenko, who was 10th of 12 on his Dubai debut for the trainer.
"He's made significant improvement on his first run. Johnny (Murtagh) rode him last time and suggested the blinkers and tongue tie and it worked out. He was really well in himself tonight," said the trainer.
"Kevin (Shea) has given him a great ride and he gets the trip. "I still think there is a bit of improvement in this horse, he's still a little bit soft. We might run him again in the Carnival but the Duty Free is his target."
Archipenko joins a cracking field that is assembling for the race including Ramonti, Godolphin's standard bearer in 2007 and a winner of four Group 1s, Youmzain, runner-up to Dylan Thomas in last year's King George and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, champion New Zealand mare Seachange and Princess Zahra Aga Khan's Darjina, who won the Prix du Moulin.
Earlier in the evening Godolphin's $9.7 million purchase Jalil recorded his second Carnival win when taking the Zawaj Handicap.
Ali Rashid Al Raihe's Prince Tamino won the CBD Mortgage Handicap under Royston Ffrench, who commented: "He is a nice horse and I was always happy."
Mick Kinane rode Mourilyan to win the concluding Mustaqbali Handicap for John Oxx.
Update: Top UAE trainers target Godolphin Mile
Two of the UAE's leading trainers, Doug Watson and Erwan Charpy, have their eyes on the Godolphin Mile (Gr 2) after seeing their horses score impressive victories at Nad Al Sheba on Thursday.
Watson, whose Boston Lodge finished last in the race last year, is pinning his hopes on Green Coast. "We may try him in the Burj Nahaar on Super Thursday and he certainly seems to handle this dirt surface," said the trainer.
Charpy, who fared slightly better than his compatriot in the Mile 12 months ago when Gharir and Singing Poet finished 10th and 11th of 14 runners, was delighted with Rosberg's victory in the competitive Visa Infinite Handicap.
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