Dubai: Australian-bred Musir, an impressive winner of the UAE 2000 Guineas at Meydan earlier this month, built on that success with a superlative performance in the $2-million (Dh7.34 million) UAE Derby (Group 2) to win by a length and three quarters from stable-companion Raihana.
For Godolphin it is was somewhat disappointing conclusion to a race they have dominated with six wins in ten running as their Kentucky Derby hopeful could only finish third for jockey Frankie Dettori.
Musir raced into record books when he broke the course record for 1,900 metres stopping the clock at 1:57.44 to improve on the recent performance by World Cup runner Allybar (1:57.5).
Mike De Kock's stable star, who has won four of his five career starts including a Grade 1 victory at Greyville last July, was settled at the back of the 14-strong field by his Belgian-born jockey Christophe Soumillon as Kevin Shea set a blistering pace on Oaks heroine Raihana.
But approaching the final turn Soumillon got to work on Musir, who came up strong on the outside. As Shea and Dettori pushed home on their respective mounts, it was Musir who was doing the best work as Soumillon took him to the rails and kicked for home.
De Kock, who was picking up his fifth success in the race commented: "I was not worried at all during the race. Both of them are such fine horses, one better than the other. But he [Musir] is a class apart and he showed it tonight. He is definitely going to Australia.
Relief
"I'm a lot more than relieved with this result as you've got to get them in the winners' box. It's such a fantastic result for Shaikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum. He bred them.
"I did not give any instructions to the jockey [Soumillon] as he is a professional and a fine one at that, as he showed tonight.
Soumillon added: "You saw him tonight, what more can I say? He knew just what was needed of him and he gave his best." Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Surour said the result was disappointing, but was confident that Mendip can go on to achieve better things.
"We were always looking for a nice race for him," he said. "The result of course is disappointing. There were better horses tonight. It's not that he was not good, it's just that there were better horses.
"I like Mendip. He is improving all the time. He is still a baby, he is still learning. When he ran first time, he was too fresh and he did not know anything.
"He had one race under his belt in England and he came back here. He just needs to settle and relax. When he sees even small things he gets upset.
"But he is a great horse for us and he will be a great Group 1 horse for the future for us certainly."
— With inputs from Duane FonsecaStaff Reporter
