Ruler of Dubai to be tested on 1 1/16 miles after a couple of successful sprints in the Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita Park
Trained by George Papaprodromou for owner Harout Keshishian, the 2-year-old gelding, Ruler of Dubai will be looking to extend his winning streak in the Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita Park on 1 October, 2011, for 2-year-old juvenile runners.
The Norfolk Stakes is run over a distance of 1 1/16 miles, and Ruler of Dubai who is already coming off 2 wins in as many starts will be tested for class and endurance at 1 1/16 miles, but jockey Mike Smith gives the colt a speedster’s chance.
Mike Smith have been aboard Ruler of Dubai only once, and that too in his last start at Del Mar where he guided the 2-year-old to his second win in a row in the I’m Smokin Stakes at 6 furlongs.
It will be for the first time in 5 starts that Ruler of Dubai will run over a distance of 1 1/16 miles, his average range in his last and only 5 starts is from 4 ½ furlongs to 6 furlongs tops.
The son of Tribal Rule, out of O K Topless by Old Topper, Ruler of Dubai had a very good race last time out winning the six furlong I’m Smokin Stakes on 5 September, as he downed the lineup and the runner up Champions Gate by 3 ¼ lengths.
Increasing the distance only means that his connections are trying to test him out, as he has done well in his last two sprints, it’s only fair to give the juvenile gelding a chance to show his mettle on a longer stretch, and if things don’t work out as
planned, they can always cut him back in distance.
The Grade 1 Norfolk Stakes have attracted 6 juvenile runners including M. Polanco trained Super Candy, Loukas, Creative Cause, Drill, Ruler of Dubai and Basmati.
Prior to the I’m Smokin Stakes, Ruler of Dubai kicked off his Del Mar meet in the Graduation Stakes, where he ran over a distance of 5 ½ furlongs under Garrett Gomez and topped the distance in 1 minute and 4.48 seconds on 3 August.
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