Sarrsar strikes the first victory for Godolphin in the Dubai World Cup Carnival 2012 at Meydan on 5th January
Godolphin has already started bagging victories at the Dubai World Cup Carnival 2012, in the Masters International Jockeys’ Challenge at the Meydan Racecourse. Godolphin after all has the two most outstanding trainers for its horses, Mahmood Al Zarooni
and Saeed Bin Suroor.
On 5th January, the Longines Conquest Collection raced for 1 mile and 1 ½ furlong was contested by seven contestants.
Three of the participants represented Godolphin, Modern History and Capponi, under Mahmood Al Zarooni's training, and Sarrsar, under Saeed Bin Suroor.
The five-year-old bay gelding was ridden by jockey Mickael Barzalona. The 9 to 2 entry, Sarrsar, was racing on the left hand side of the track, but showed remarkable progress for the next 2 ½ furlongs.
He then took a right for the final furlong, and landed in a position that allowed him to lead the remaining 110 yards.
The runner up of the race, Capponi, was being ridden by Frankie Dettori.
Sarrsar held onto the lead in the final 110 yards, with Capponi right behind, but could not go through the wire before the winner.
It was, however, a decent performance by both, in an extremely close race.
Third in line behind the winner was Doug Watson’s trainee, Marching Time, who had Richard Hills onboard.
Mahmood Al Zarooni’s other entry, Modern History, finished fourth in the race, ridden by Ahmed Ajtebi.
The 5 to 2 favourite of the race, Kal Barg, who is trained by D Selvaratnam, was the last horse to leave the field. He was ridden by the St Leger winning jockey, William Buick.
Sarrsar has fourteen career starts out of which he has won five races.
After winning the maiden stakes on 5th June, 2010, at Lingfield, he won the Grade 3 Felbridge Handicap at Lingfield on 3rd September, 2010.
On 1st October, at Newmarket, Sarrsar won the Grade 2 Standard For Success Handicap where he was sent as the 7 to 2 favourite.
His last victory came in the Grade 2 LES Ambassadeurs Casino Shergar Cup Mile on 6th August, 2011, at Ascot.
Two out of five wins for Sarrsar came with Frankie Dettori holding his reigns.
This is the very first time that he has won a race with Mickael Barzalona onboard.
Three out of seven entries being Godolphin’s, already secured the Arab racing machine's chances of victory to some extent.
How Godolphin strategises throughout the Carnival, is yet to be seen.
Tags: