Dubai Kahayla Classic (Group 1): Seraphin Du Paon

Seraphin Du Paon, owned by the President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, fought his way through to register a brilliant win in the $250,000 Dubai Kahayla Classic (Group 1) and got the Dubai World Cup meeting off to a rousing start.

The Philippe Barbe-trained five-year-old son of Akbar was caught in the traffic with about two furlongs to go, but from seventh place jockey Olivier Peslier negotiated his way through and once he got his chestnut runner to the outside, the French-bred champion did the rest.

Seraphin Du Paon was, in fact, at the tail of the 14-strong field, which comprised 11 Group 1 winners after Rabah De Carrere and Dynamite led for most of the race.

The battle began as they turned for home. It was No Risk Al Maury under Richard Hills, second last year in this race, who was the first to forge ahead but recent Group 1 Maktoum Challenge (Round three) winner Nieshan joined the battle. All the while Peslier kept Seraphin Du Paon looking for the gap and with less than 300 metres to go the pair got going.

Unleashing some great acceleration, Seraphin soon caught up with just half a furlong left and there was no doubt who the winner was and soon Peslier, who won this race for Shaikh Khalifa in 2001, clenched his fists and celebrated his second Kahayla win.

Wishing for a miracle

Seraphin Du Paon's half brother Nieshan finished second with No Risk Al Maury in third place.

It was a great double for the winner as Seraphin Du Paon won the UAE's richest Purebred Arabian race — the Dh1 million President's Cup (Group 1) last month.

"I saw him coming back on the outside and was wishing for a miracle in the last half furlong," said an elated Barbe. "I'm very happy because I won the President's Cup (on turf) and the Kahayla Classic (on Tapeta) and this is very unusual," he said.

"I was specific with my instructions to the jockey [Olivier Peslier]. I told him not to rush the horse, but just keep him somewhere close to the top and he would eventually go on to prove what he is capable of.

"He is such a great horse and I always had this confidence in him. He went in as the favourite and today he showed why so many people believed in him. He has left no doubt about himself with this victory. I am so happy for him," said the Al Asayl-based trainer.

Frenchman Peslier said his horse's speed made the difference.

"He liked the race and was doing well with the draw. I did not want to fight and come too early and felt it was better to take it like a quiet race at first with progression.

"I didn't really have a good place after the last turn but I know the horse has a good turn of foot and after that I saw the horse just in front of me and I knew he'd catch him," said the winning jockey.
 

RESULTS

 
- With inputs from Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter and Ashley Hammond,Staff Reporter