Dubai: On Monday, Krypton Factor's work rider Hamad Mohammad Ali was unseated during morning workout and the assistant to Bahraini trainer Fawzi Nass said it was a good sign and predicted a surprise.
Last night the four-year-old bay gelding did just that when he caught the defending champion Rocket Man with about 100 metres to go and then sped away to win the Gulf News-sponsored Dubai Golden Shaheen (Group 1) contest over six furlongs. It was Bahrain's first win on the big night.
Kieren Fallon, who had served notice when he drove Krypton Factor to a superb win in the Mahab Al Shimaal (G3) on Super Saturday, the prep race for the Shaheen, once again came up with a finely-judged race.
Rocket Man, an impressive winner in this race 12 months ago, and in last night's sprint on the Tapeta, forged ahead at the second bend as they turned for home.
Impressive surge
At that stage Krypton Factor was fifth, but Fallon, who has scored two wins at Meydan on the winner during this Carnival, soon brought the Kyllachy into the fight to challenge the favourite and defending champion.
They battled together, but inside the final furlong it was Krypton Factor who had that extra speed and the favourite was well beaten.
Lucky Nine and Hitchens finished third and fourth, with the American pair of Giant Ryan and The Factor following behind them in that order. Nass said: "He's done it quite easily out there. I think we just don't know quite how good he is still. I thought he'd give us some fun but not this much fun to be honest.
"Obviously it worked out that he's a great horse. He doesn't do much at home even if I want him to. He's very laid back but he takes his races very well. He's very tough. I wasn't worried about running him three times in such a short spell but he did well. If anyone knows him best it would be Kieren [Fallon]. We'll probably take him to Singapore and see what happens and take it from there." It was a proud moment for the Bahraini owner-trainer as Bahraini Prince Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa joined him for the prize distribution and he received the trophy from Abdul Hamid Ahmad, Executive Director Publications of Al Nisr Publishing and Editor-In-Chief of Gulf News. Shaikh Nasser said: "All credit goes to Fawzi Nass. He is the owner and the trainer and with this first win of a horse from Bahrain on World Cup night, he has made an entire country so proud."
Winning jockey Fallon said: "He keeps on improving with each race that he runs. What more can I say of him? And tonight was the biggest stage for him. I would love to see him at Royal Ascot this year."
— With additional inputs from Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter, and Ashley Hammond, Staff Reporter
