Kinglet crowned Guineas champion

Dubai: Last season teenage French jockey Mickael Barazalona notched the biggest win of his career when he won the $2million UAE Derby (Group 2) in sensational style aboard the Saeed Bin Surour-trained Khawlah.

Now, he has a chance to repeat the feat in next month’s 13th running of the colt’s Classic after capturing the UAE 2000 Guineas (Group 3) at Meydan Racecourse on Thursday night with the exciting Kingmambo colt Kinglet.

Trained for Godolphin by Mahmoud Al Zarouni, Kinglet also provided the Emirati handler a Classic double following his victory in the UAE 1000 Guineas last fortnight with the ultra-progressive filly Gamilati.

Al Zarouni and Barzalona were also winning the 2000 Guineas for the second year in succession after successfully teaming up with Splash Point 12 months ago.

Mickdaam, trained by South Africa’s Mike de Kock, was just beaten a neck while British hope Mehdi, prepared by former International Trainer of the Year Brian Meehan, was three-quarter length back in third.

Al Zarouni was delighted to complete a Classic double and praised his team for the effort that they put in.

“It’s great to win the Guineas, weather it’s the UAE or the UK. But obviously this one is a little more special to me as it has come in my home country,” he said. “All credit to my team who do all the hard work at home. Results like these don’t come easy, you have to work very hard.”

“But I think what really made the difference was Mickael. He’s ridden him before, which was a plus, and he knows how to ride the horse.

“Kinglet also likes the surface and I think he can get further. The plan is to go to the UAE Derby, I’m not terrible sure about the distance because he was tired after the race. But you have to try it’s a race you want to win after the Guineas, don’t you?”

Later in the evening Bin Surour won the second round of the Al Maktoum Challenge (Group 2) for the eighth time with Mendip, who won round one two years ago.

Former British champion jockey was impressed with Mendip’s performance and said: “He did it a lot easier than it looked.

“He’s a very, very good horse, a beautiful horse to ride. I think he’s back to his best. He won with more in hand.”

Bin Surour completed a four time having previously scored with Spring of Fame in the Dubai Casthouse Trophy, Songcraft in the Dubal Potlines Trophy and Sandagiyr in the Group 3 Firebreak Stakes.

“It’s always nice to win here at Meydan, but to win four on the same night, it feels great,” said Bin Surour, who is one of the most successful trainers ever in the UAE.