Dubai: Just hours after being unceremoniously unseated during an early morning blow-out at Meydan yesterday, work rider Hamad Mohammad Ali, was predicting that Krypton Factor can be the surprise package in Saturday's $2 million (Dh7.3 million) Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1).
Ali, who is also the assistant trainer to Bahrain-based Fawzi Nass, was thrown from his horse as he was completing a fast piece of work in tandem with stable-companion Royal Destination.
Neither he nor Krypton Factor were hurt in the incident, which provided a stroke of drama to the otherwise routine drills.
"I really don't know if he was spooked, but he veered very sharply to the right causing me to lose control," said the Bahraini. "It was nothing serious, just one of those things that happen on the track. He was checked by the ERA Dr. Simon Abbott, who said that everything was okay."
Commenting on Krypton Factor's work-out, Ali said: "He had done his real piece of work in the earlier lap, and he gave me a very good feel. He's in top condition and ready to run a big race. There are some very fast horses in the race but I think he can be the surprise element. I wouldn't be surprised if he does win the race. He's got a good engine inside him and Kieren Fallon is also confident that the horse is peaking at the right time for the Golden Shaheen.
"He's an extraordinary horse, very genuine and game. His record speaks for itself, he's had 17 starts, won seven and finished runner-up on five occasions. He likes the track at Meydan and goes very well under Fallon. Together they are dynamite."
Krypton Factor has won twice during the Dubai World Cup Carnival while providing Nass, who also owns the horse, with his first Dubai success in over five years.
After powering home to win a competitive handicap in January, he upped the stakes for sprinting on the Tapeta with a professional performance under Fallon to land the Mahab Al Shimaal (G3) on Super Saturday.
Nass trains about 60 horses in Bahrain and is a regular visitor to Dubai. He also owns several horses in Britain who are split between trainers Bryan Smart, Marcus Tregoning and Brian Meehan.
Other notable runners in the Golden Shaheen are defending champion Rocket Man from Singapore and Sepoy, a winner of 10 of his 12 races in Australia.
