Dark Matter strikes his first victory of the season by winning the UAE 2,000 Guineas Trial sponsored by Etisalat at Meydan
The $50,000 UAE 2,000 Guineas Trial, sponsored by Etisalat, was held on 12th January at the Meydan, and was won by Dark Matter, who is under S. Burridge's training.
This was the second victory for the four-year-old colt, son of Stratum out of Loving New, out of the four times that he has raced since 11th September, 2011.
The race on 12th January had a lineup of fourteen.
After breaking from the third stall, Rassam, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, very soon burst into speed, but was tracked down by Kinglet in the final two furlongs.
Meanwhile, Dark Matter was tracking both the leaders, and did not take long to over ride them, and take command of the track in the final furlong.
Riding with Ted Durcan, Dark Matter ran on well in order to finish the race first.
He was soon followed by Kinglet, who was being ridden by Mickael Barzalona. The jockey and his horse performed impeccably well through the final two furlongs, and ended up finishing nearest to the winner.
Third in line after the winner was the 8 to 11 favourite of the race, Rassam, who was initially leading, but was ridden over by the two horses that were storming ahead from right behind him.
The preparation for the race, which on the part of both the trainers meant not racing their horses for nearly a year, went futile as none could win.
The favourite of the race, Rassam was driven down to finish third.
The race had two entries from De Kock, and another two from A Al Raihe, but none could finish anywhere near the first three positions.
Dark Matter won the Class 3 Handicap at Kranji on 16th October, 2011.
On 11th December, 2011, he won the Kranji Stakes at Kranji, and his next career win was the UAE 2,000 Guineas Trial on 12th January.
He was sent as the 6 to 5 favourite in two races, while as a 2 to 5 favourite in one.
He enjoyed his first victory with jockey Joao Moreira, and the second one with Ted Durcan.
The beginning of the year could not have been better for the four-year-old colt as he posted a victory in his very first race of the season, and that also in one of the most significant races of the year, under the flagship of the Dubai World Cup Carnival
2012.
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