Joy And Fun Triumphs

DUBAI - Joy And Fun lived up to his name to earn Hong Kong its first win of the Dubai World Cup night in the 1200m dash turf Al Qouz Sprint Group-3, the second race of the day. The New Zealand-bred brilliant sprinter also set a new track record for the distance at 1, 09, 80 seconds.

By Hisham Al Gizouli

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Published: Mon 29 Mar 2010, 1:01 AM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 5:26 AM

California Flag showed the way under Joseph Talamo and he looked like a winner, but Joy And Fun was hard ridden and raced honestly at the centre of the track to touch the line with just enough three quarters of a length. California Flag lost second close post to fast finishing Fravashi under the UAE jockey Ahmed Ajtebi.

“That was great,” said Brett Doyle. “The horse deserved it as he’s bumped into Scared Kingdom a number of times. There’s no straight six furlongs and that’s what he needs. The trainer chose the right race, he stays 1400 metres and he outstayed the American horse,” he added.

Trainer Derek Cruz said he hasn’t got the words to express it hardly. “I feel really proud, he pinged out of the gates and was more prominent than I thought he would be and Brett kept him there all the way and with a great ride and I guess at home he is more than a 1400 metre horse. His stamina for this straight told in the end,” he concluded.

This was the first win for the owners Mr. and Mrs. Wong Chung Nam and trainer Derek Cruz in Dubai World Cup night, but the second for Brett Doyle. Joy And Fun is the second Hong Kong invader to win the Dubai World Cup night.

The son of Cullen stalked the pace set by the US representative Calfornia Flag and overtook that rival inside the final 200 metres.

Ahmed Ajtebi, jockey, Fravashi who finished second, said, “I drove him to get there but he was never quite quick enough, he is a sort of one action horse who lacked the pace of the winner but it was a great effort.”

California Flag’s jockey said, “He broke well and he relaxed, he just got outrun in the end. They just out quickened him in the last 16th.”

hisham@khaleejtimes.com


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