Memorable night for Heart's Cry

Dubai: Heart's Cry made it a memorable night for the Japanese by winning the biggest purse for a turf race. He outclassed his rivals to win the $5,000,000 (Group 1) Dubai Sheema Classic yesterday to enter the record books yesterday.

Trainer Kojiro Hashiguchi couldn't conceal his excitement after a quick double on the big night. Earlier, he had won the Godolphin Mile on dirt with Utopia earlier in the evening.

The Dubai Sheema Classic, sponsored by Nakheel, saw an increase in prize money of $3 million for a total purse of $5 million. This, along with the Dubai Duty Free, rank as the richest turf races in the history of the sport.

Alayan hit the front at the start of the 2,400-metre race, but, after a short period, jockey Christophe Lemaire forged ahead on Heart's Cry.

The five-year-old bay son of Sunday Silence, bred at the Shadal Farm in Japan, regained the form that helped him score over the unbeaten Deep Impact in his last start in December.

Heart's Cry was in such terrific form that Lemaire was on the bridle up to the final furlongs, before he pressed the button.

By then the $3 million prize money for winning was already in the bag and Heart's Cry crossed the line in style, 4.25 lengths in front.

"Now he can go and run anywhere in the world. He responded very well when I asked him to go and I really enjoy riding him," said Lemaire. The Alan Swinbank-trained Collier Hill did well to run into second place, while South African Mike De Kock's Falstaff was third.

"The horse seemed to be very relaxed and in good condition. It has been over three months since he last ran but Heart's Cry seems to be getting stronger," said Lemaire, who has been on the Japanese horse for the third time in a row, winning twice and finishing second once.

"I am really excited. I brought him to Dubai because Heart's Cry is a very good horse. If I did not have the confidence I would not have brought him," said trainer Hashiguchi, enjoying every bit of his double success.

"In last year's Arima Kinen (Group 1), which is one of the biggest races in Japan, he was very strong.

"Now he is stronger than that. We will now be seriously looking at the King George VI and the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes next," said the winning trainer.