African Story posts a debut victory for Godolphin in the Dubai Duty Free Foundation Handicap on 26th January
The five-year-old, African Story, posted his debut victory for the new season on 26th January in the Dubai Duty Free Foundation Handicap at the Meydan that was raced over a distance of seven furlongs.
Saeed bin Suroor’s under charge, African Story, broke from the third stall, but did not fall into an early pace. He kept up with a modest pace before settling in the third position after the first quarter mile of the race.
It took a bit of an effort from the five-year-old’s end to over ride, Barbecue Eddie, when inside the final furlong. African Story eased through the wire by a length’s lead with Frankie Dettori aboard. The pair covered the track distance in a minute
and 23.65 seconds.
Frankie Dettori commented: “African Story has done well to give weight all round against some proven Carnival handicappers. We had a nice draw and I was never worried”.
It seemed to be a rather effortless race for both the horse and the jockey.
The 6 to 4 favourite winner of the race, was very soon joined by Doug Watson trained Barbecue Eddie, with Richard Hills onboard.
Finishing third after the winner was, Silver Ocean, riding with William Buick, and trained by Niels Petersen.
This was the first time that the chestnut gelding of Pivotal out of Blixen raced and won for the Godolphin Racing as African Story used to be under A Fabre’s training until 13th January, 2012.
The five-year-old gelding had raced six times through the 2011 season, where he won once and was placed at four other instances.
African Story won the Prix D’Ailly on 10th March, 2011, at Deauville that was raced over a distance of seven and a half furlongs, which was open for the four-year-old thoroughbreds to participate in. He was sent as a 6 to 4
favourite for the race on a field of eight contestants, winning the race with Maxime Guyon.
Time will tell whether African Story is able to string together victories after a winning start to the new season, or he will do it in patches just like he did in the previous season.
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