Courageous Cat aims to leap higher in Dubai
He had been well ridden, was strong at the finish and has beaten three previous Grade One winners
Newmarket: Courageous Cat, who is being aimed at the $5 million (Dh18 million) Dubai Duty Free (Gr 1) on Saturday, surprised most experts at last year's Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita.
He had won three of his six previous races, including the Hall of Fame Stakes (Gr 2) over 9 furlongs at Saratoga, but he had also been beaten by two horses when running in a Grade One restricted to three-year-olds four weeks before the Breeders' Cup.
Taking on some of the best milers in the world was a big step up in class.
With this record, the Bill Mott trainee went off at 22-1 as he went for the Breeders' Cup Mile (Gr 1).
There must have been a talent there hidden all along though, for Courageous Cat ran a cracking good race, beating all but the "impossible" French girl Goldikova, who lifted the big prize for a second time was simply much too good, as she swept past them all for another win, but the margin was only half a length back to Courageous Cat as they passed the winning post.
He had been well ridden, sitting just a few lengths off the pace, and he was strong at the finish.
He finished a length in front of the third placed Justenuffhumor (another Duty Free contender) and well known names like Court Vision and Delegator also came home behind him.
All these three, all older horses, were previous Grade One winner. It should not take long before Courageous Cat becomes one too.
He opened his 2010 campaign in the Canadian Turf Stakes (Gr 3) at Gulfstream Park in Florida on February 20, meeting nine rivals over a mile. Courageous Cat was made odds-on favourite and his fans collected.
On paper, it may look as a slightly disappointing performance, as he beat the 25-1 chance Cherokee Artist by no more than a head, but his runner-up had the benefit of two previous runs this winter, Courageous Cat was giving him four pounds, and he won with a bit in hand.
Jet Propulsion, having produced his career best to take the Sunshine Millions Turf three weeks earlier, took third, beaten one and one-half length.
The Dubai Duty Free (Gr 1) will be Courageous Cat's third outing at the highest level.
He went down by three-fourths length when third in last year's Jamaica Handicap at Belmont Park, a race won by Dubai World Cup contender Take the Points.
Based on ratings, Courageous Cat is now a better horse than Take the Points.
