Shea Shea smashes his record in Al oz Sprint
Mar 30, 2013 12:03:43 GMT -5
Post by racinggal on Mar 30, 2013 12:03:43 GMT -5
I was on the phone with Evelyn - Jon asked for me to post.
Shea Shea smashes his own course record in Al Quoz Sprint
M.C. Berzack and B. Joffe's Shea Shea, who trounced his opponents in the March 9 Meydan Sprint in course-record time, followed up with another course record-setting success in Saturday's Group 1, $1 million Al Quoz Sprint. Confidently handled by Christophe Soumillon, the 4-5 favorite picked up stylishly in deep stretch to catch the Hong Kong duo of Joy and Fun and Eagle Regiment, blazing about five furlongs on the Meydan turf in :56.41.
Shea Shea had been tipped by trainer Mike de Kock as his best chance on World Cup night. After stablemate Soft Falling Rain got the ball rolling in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile earlier on the card, the South African speedster looked ready to hand the yard another big success, and he did not disappoint.
As Ganas and Varsity flashed early speed at the head of the pack, Shea Shea was always within striking distance of the leaders. The nine-year-old Joy and Fun was also close up, and forged ahead in an attempt to close out his glittering career with one last hurrah. His compatriot Eagle Regiment, who was fortunate to make the race after enduring hoof trouble this week, gained along the inside, but not enough to overtake Joy and Fun.
Shea Shea, on the other hand, had his measure. Making nonchalant progress in the final yards, the gelded son of National Emblem rolled past Joy and Fun to win going away by three-quarters of a length.
Joy and Fun garnered runner-up honors by the same margin from Eagle Regiment, rounding out an Al Quoz resume that includes a victory in the 2010 edition and a third last year. In the process, Joy and Fun might have prolonged his career. Trainer Tony Cruz indicated that this might not have been his swan song after all.
Sole Power, runner-up a year ago, settled for fourth this time. Next came Mr Big, Varsity, Dux Scholar, Spirit Quartz, Medicean Man, Invincible Ash, Great Attack, Monsieur Joe, Russian Rock, Starspangledbanner, Russian Soul and Ganas.
Shea Shea's scorecard now stands at 19-10-2-3, $921,933. Formerly trained by Geoff Woodruff in his homeland, he beat older horses in the Group 1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint in 2011, in addition to capturing the Group 3 Man o'War Sprint and placing in the Group 1 Computaform Sprint and Group 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes. Shea Shea was in superb form when winning both starts in 2012, a prep run at Vaal and a 2 1/4-length conquest of the April 28 Computaform Sprint.
Shelved thereafter while making the roundabout trek to Dubai, Shea Shea was a ring-rusty seventh in his first start for de Kock here on January 31. He shaped with promise that day, though, under 132 pounds. He made plenty of progress ahead of the Meydan Sprint, and was pitch-perfect once more on Saturday
Shea Shea smashes his own course record in Al Quoz Sprint
M.C. Berzack and B. Joffe's Shea Shea, who trounced his opponents in the March 9 Meydan Sprint in course-record time, followed up with another course record-setting success in Saturday's Group 1, $1 million Al Quoz Sprint. Confidently handled by Christophe Soumillon, the 4-5 favorite picked up stylishly in deep stretch to catch the Hong Kong duo of Joy and Fun and Eagle Regiment, blazing about five furlongs on the Meydan turf in :56.41.
Shea Shea had been tipped by trainer Mike de Kock as his best chance on World Cup night. After stablemate Soft Falling Rain got the ball rolling in the Group 2 Godolphin Mile earlier on the card, the South African speedster looked ready to hand the yard another big success, and he did not disappoint.
As Ganas and Varsity flashed early speed at the head of the pack, Shea Shea was always within striking distance of the leaders. The nine-year-old Joy and Fun was also close up, and forged ahead in an attempt to close out his glittering career with one last hurrah. His compatriot Eagle Regiment, who was fortunate to make the race after enduring hoof trouble this week, gained along the inside, but not enough to overtake Joy and Fun.
Shea Shea, on the other hand, had his measure. Making nonchalant progress in the final yards, the gelded son of National Emblem rolled past Joy and Fun to win going away by three-quarters of a length.
Joy and Fun garnered runner-up honors by the same margin from Eagle Regiment, rounding out an Al Quoz resume that includes a victory in the 2010 edition and a third last year. In the process, Joy and Fun might have prolonged his career. Trainer Tony Cruz indicated that this might not have been his swan song after all.
Sole Power, runner-up a year ago, settled for fourth this time. Next came Mr Big, Varsity, Dux Scholar, Spirit Quartz, Medicean Man, Invincible Ash, Great Attack, Monsieur Joe, Russian Rock, Starspangledbanner, Russian Soul and Ganas.
Shea Shea's scorecard now stands at 19-10-2-3, $921,933. Formerly trained by Geoff Woodruff in his homeland, he beat older horses in the Group 1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint in 2011, in addition to capturing the Group 3 Man o'War Sprint and placing in the Group 1 Computaform Sprint and Group 3 Tony Ruffel Stakes. Shea Shea was in superb form when winning both starts in 2012, a prep run at Vaal and a 2 1/4-length conquest of the April 28 Computaform Sprint.
Shelved thereafter while making the roundabout trek to Dubai, Shea Shea was a ring-rusty seventh in his first start for de Kock here on January 31. He shaped with promise that day, though, under 132 pounds. He made plenty of progress ahead of the Meydan Sprint, and was pitch-perfect once more on Saturday