Main Sequence will bid to extend his winning run to six on Dubai World Cup night after the dual US Eclipse Award winner displayed a lightning turn of foot to win on his comeback at Gulfstream Park in Florida on Saturday.
Main Sequence had not run since winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf in November, but had far too much for old rival Twilight Eclipse to win the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida by three-quarters of a length.
Trainer Graham Motion, who won the Dubai World Cup with Animal Kingdom in 2013, said after the 2,200-mere contest that Main Sequence will next line-up in the $US6 million (Dh22m) Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan Racecourse on March 28.
Main Sequence was formerly trained by David Lanigan in England before he transferred to Motion. He was previously a tricky customer but has calmed down at Motion’s base.
“I think every time this horse has run, he’s improved,” Motion said in the Daily Racing Form. “His behaviour has improved. He was as good as gold in the paddock, which really impressed me. I really think he kind of won for fun, to be honest.”
According to the Trakus data, the six-year-old son of Aldebaran covered the final three furlongs (600 metres) under regular jockey Rajiv Maragh in 34.2 seconds.
His trademark turn of foot will be needed if he is to match the speed of Japan’s Harp Star in the Sheema Classic.
Hong Kong’s Designs On Rome, trained by John Moore, is also a likely rival after his victory in the Centenary Vase two weeks ago at Sha Tin and will have his final warm-up race in the Hong Kong Gold Cup on March 1.
In Switzerland yesterday Swedish runner Al Janoob scooped the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship race on the frozen lake of St Moritz.
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