After Dubai World Cup night, we are all left in awe of one race specifically. The Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.1) with top class competition. Some of the horses in the race included Breeders Cup Turf (Gr.1) winner who entered with five wins in a row, Rebels Romance. Also in the race was Tenno Sho (Gr.1) winner Equinox who in that race ran down Saudi Cup winner Panthalassa who turned for home over 20 lengths in front. Also in the race was Irish Derby (Gr.1) winner Westover. The rising big horse in this race was Neom Turf Cup (Gr.3) winner Mostahdaf. A second Japanese horse loomed a big threat, Win Marylyn off of a victory in the Hong Kong Vase (Gr.1) in december. Last but not least, last year’s upset winner Shahryar came back for his title defense.
The gates sprang open and Christophe Lemair took the Japanese closer, Equinox, straight to the lead in a shocking display of confidence in his mount. He led early through slow fractions while Mostahdaf sat a stalking second two lengths off of Equinox. It was another three lengths to Win Marylyn on the rail and Westover who was positioned near the rear of Win Marylyn with a groundsaving two path trip onto the backstretch. Right behind him and to the outside was Shahryar and another length behind him was the towering titan, Rebels Romance, who was third last in the early going.
Traveling just under 37mph with five furlongs to run, Equinox began to stride out as Lemaire loosened his reins as Equinox shifted into second gear. Mosthadef made the first run, moving up to just a length and a half of the still loose leader in Equinox as Botanic was still third but now a full length behind Mostadef.
Rebel’s Romance began to roll and now was two lengths off of mostahdaf and sitting a four wide trip on the turn, Westover was right inside of him under patient handling, he hadn’t yet begun his run. Win Marylyn was a neck behind them and down on the rail with Shahryar stalking that trio.
A quarter mile to go and Equinox was guided into the stretch with soft hands from Christophe Lemair. Three lengths behind him was Mostahdaf who was beginning to get tired, Rebel’s Romance was all out but still third and five from the leader, Westover switched outside of him and came under a ride as well. Shahryar was second last and not responding, while Win Marylyn struggled at the back and was getting detached from the pack.
Christophe Lemair shook up Equinox around the eighth pole to see what he had left, and the answer was a lot. Equinox took off and Christophe Lemair took an extended look behind him in the final sixteenth as the pack fell further and further back in Equinox’s wake.
Equinox shattered the track record for the mile and a half and won for fun by a geared down three and a half lengths. Westover got up for second with Zagey getting up for third. Mostahdaf finished fourth, Shahryar fifth, Win Marylyn sixth and Rebel’s Romance seventh in the field of ten. Youth prevailed, with the three youngest horses finishing in the top three spots, as everyone else in the field was five or older while the top three finishers were all four years old.
Disappointing efforts from Rebel’s Romance, Win Marylyn, Shahryar, Mostahdaf were covered up by the outstanding performance of Equinox and the fast-flying Westover to get up for second, over two lengths clear of Zagey who was a shocking third. Expect to see Equinox in some of the biggest turf races this year, like showing up at Ascot, the Arc or the Breeders Cup. Hopefully, all three. I expect Westover to have a lucrative year in Europe off of this good effort behind Equinox and I look forward to seeing Westover run in some of the biggest prizes in Europe for older horses and hopefully Westover can come to America for the Breeders Cup as well.
