Dubai: Longshot Special Fighter lived up to his name to script one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge, the final prep for the $10 million (Dh36.73 million) Dubai World Cup (G1) in three weeks’ time, a race that his trainer believes he can in reality win.
Ridden with confidence by Panamanian jockey Fernando Jara, who in 2007 won the world’s richest race aboard Invasor, Special Fighter made a mockery of the lofty reputations of some of his rivals including the highly regarded Keen Ice, to post a ridiculously effortless 4 1/2 length victory over Singapore’s Gun Pit.
Faulkner, another crowd favourite in Dubai was a spirited third for Pat Dobbs, while last year’s UAE Derby winner and American Triple Crown campaigner, Mubtaahij, brought up the fourth position in the 2000 metre contest.
“This is really special. It’s a big meeting and to win this race beating a high quality field doesn’t happen every day,” said Jara.
“He took off and when I asked him he found more. I wasn’t fighting him, just let him do his thing, and it went perfect today.”
Special Fighter was bouncing back following his 11 ¼ defeat by Godolphin’s Dubai World Cup contender Frosted in the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge over one furlong shorter.
“Last time there were some excuses [Special Fighter lost his shoes], but once we took him home we regrouped and brought him back into training. Musabah has done a great job with him,” added Jara.
“It means so much to ride nice horses, that’s why we’re here. And to have a genuine contender in the Dubai World Cup again after Invasor, is really a big thing for me. Obviously it’s going to be a tough race but hopefully if he runs like he did today then you would have to believe that he must have a chance.”
Ante-post markets
California Chrome and Frosted head the ante-post markets for the March 26 showpiece but Al Muhairi is not afraid of taking them on following Special Fighter’s track-record setting victory.
“We were not surprised at all, the last time he lost his shoes and he obviously could not run the race he’s supposed to. Most people did not know that and just said he ran a bad race, but he didn’t,” the Emirati handler said defending his trainee.
“Tonight we saw what he can do. He found the pace and ran his race. We’ll come back in three weeks time and see what happens. We’re all very exciting about the Dubai World Cup meeting now that we have some nice horses who are genuine challengers.
“Hopefully they’ll all come out of the race well and we can start training them for the big day.”
With American racing fans watching his every step Keen Ice was hard ridden by big race jockey Ryan Moore to secure a position close to the pace, three deep. But once the field flattened for the run to judge Keen Ice, whose trainer Dale Romans was at Meydan, appeared to fade and could only finish seventh.
