Gentildonna proves class at Dubai Sheema Classic

Record-setting run by Japanese horse as jockey Tyan Moore manoeuvres filly around Cirrus Des Aigles to win by one-and-a-half. Race, however, is marred by death of a horse called Mars. Amith Passela reports.

Gentildonna answered when Ryan Moore asked for more in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

DUBAI // Gentildonna produced a record-breaking effort to win the Dubai Sheema Classic in her second attempt at the 2,400-metre distance on the turf.

It was an inelegant race and was marred by the death of the Mike de Kock-trained Mars.

The horse suffered a heart attack on the first bend, ran off the track and crashed into the outside rail. The impact sent jockey Richard Hughes over the rail,but he escaped without serious injury, according to track officials.

The death of Mars was the second Dubai World Cup on-track fatality since 2012, when Goldolphin’s Fox Hunt broke down in the Dubai Gold Cup. That race was halted and run again at the end of the evening.

In the 2012 re-running of the Dubai Gold Cup, Bronze Cannon and Godolphin’s Grand Vent failed to finish and were euthanised.

In Saturday night’s race, Denim And Ruby, Japan’s second entry, set the early pace with Festive Cheer, in the second colours of trainer Aiden O’Brien, hot on her heels.

The order did not change until they approached the final bend.

Ryan Moore had Gentildonna tucked behind the leaders in sixth place, and she came up against a wall of horses when she went to make her run as Christophe Soumillon took Cirrus Des Aigles from last to first down the outside. Moore had to buffet his way out of a pocket and then restrain the daughter of Deep Impact over the heels of Cirrus Des Aigles to get into the clear before making his challenge.

The two-time Japan Cup winner found plenty when she got clear and powered to a one-and-a-half length win over Cirrus Des Aigles, the 2012 winner of the race.

“It is hard to say just how good she is because when she gets there, she doesn’t do a lot,” Moore said. “She’s a very tough horse. It’s hard to get to the bottom of her.”

Sei Ishizaka, her trainer, has earmarked the mare to attempt a third win in the Japan Cup.

“She’s getting even better and now a third attempt at the Japan Cup would be her next target,” he said. “This was her second time in Dubai and she’s really getting used to being here. I thought she would make it when Ryan shifted her to the outside. I am impressed with her gutsy performance. It was a tough race.”

Soumillon said he thought they had the race won when Cirrus Des Aigles got to the front.

“I thought that he was going to win even when I saw Gentildonna. I thought it would be difficult to catch us,” he said. “When my horse quickened, he did it really well, but Gentildonna is an outstanding champion and she beat us easily. I am happy for Cirrus that he is once again on top of his game.”

Ambivalent was a half-length back in third, ahead of German raider Empoli, Dominant and Magician in a race that proved the most competitive on the Dubai World Cup card.

The winner established a course record of two minutes, 27.25 seconds to erase St Nicholas Abbey’s time of 2:27.70.

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