Benny the Bull wins Golden Shaheen

Dubai: American sprinters have won seven of the last eight runnings of the Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr 1) and Benny The Bull extended their domination of the $2 million sprint when he produced a blistering late run to win by a length and a half from Idiot Proof.

The winner was supplying US trainer Rick Dutrow Jr, best known for his training exploits with Breeders' Cup Classic winner Saint Liam, and legendary jockey Edgar Prado, with a quick double.

Locally trained Star Crowned did not have the luck in running, when forced wide by Idiot Proof, but ran on gamely to take third.

Top Irish jockey Mick Kinane, who was aboard the Rashed Bouresly-trained Star Crowned, raised an objection with the Stewards against David Flores, the rider of the runner-up, for interference, but it was dismissed.

Prado and Dutrow, who was watching the race in Florida, had teamed up earlier with Diamond Stripes to win the Godolphin Mile.

Prado was delighted after winning his second race on his first ever night at Nad Al Sheba racecourse and said: "He is a very nice horse with phenomenal speed.

"He has proven he can run against the best in the world. Every time I asked something from him he responded — he is all business."

Benny The Bull, a Grade 1 winner in America and fourth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (Gr 1), was sent off a 7/4 favourite and he did not disappoint backers.

Stranglehold

Prado opted to sit off the pace before he delivered the five-year-old, who was sold for a modest $2,000 (Dh7,500) last season, inside the final furlong to rein in Idiot Proof and win by a length-and-three-quarters. His time of 1min 08.7secs for the straight six furlongs was just outside the track record set by American speedball Big Jag in 2000.

Eight of the last nine Golden Shaheen races have gone to American-trained horses. Only Dubai-trained State City managed to break their stranglehold on the race when he won in 2003 for trainer Paddy Rudkin.

David Flores, rider of Idiot Proof, said: "I had to ask him for a bit more. We nearly ran a new track record so I am very happy."

Mick Kinane, who partnered Star Crowned to third place, said: "I think we ran about six-and-a-half furlongs.

"They brought me from the stands rail to the far rail. I felt if we could have run straight up I would have finished second. Overall it was a good run."

The big disappointment of the race was second favourite Diabolical who finished seventh of 15 under Frankie Dettori.

Barren streak

A multiple dirt winner in America, Diabolical had warmed up for the Golden Shaheen with a smart performance in the Group 3 Mahab al Shimaal on Super Thursday. But Dettori, looking to end Godolphin's barren streak in the race since 1996, did not have much of an engine under him and trailed in midfield.

A dejected Dettori said: "He tracked good and travelled well in the race but was disappointing in the second half. But even so he might be looking for further."

New Freedom, trained in Dubai by Adi Selvaratnam, ran the race of his life to take third place in a race that was strongly contested.

Tadhg O'Shea commented: "He broke well and ran a good race. I was hard at work half way but he kept going and ran on well to be fifth."