Coal Front's dream debut at Meydan

Dubai - For a long time, it seemed Heavy Metal was destined to defend his title only to be stunned by the astonishing pace of the five-year-old American horse in the back end of the race.

Despite having to start from a wide position, Coal Front came up with a strong finish to silence Heavy Metal on the home stretch to win the $1.5 million Godolphin Mile over 1,600 metres at Meydan on Saturday.
For a long time, it seemed Heavy Metal was destined to defend his title only to be stunned by the astonishing pace of the five-year-old American horse in the back end of the race.
There was drama even before the start as African Ride was withdrawn from what was the second race of the day.
But what followed next was the stuff of dreams for racing fans as Jose Ortiz, the 25-year-old American jockey, expertly guided the son of Stay Thirsty from the outside before allowing the horse to show his ferocious speed on the dirt.
The stunning finish by Coal Front in his first Dubai World Cup start gave trainer America trainer Todd Pletcher his maiden Dubai winner. 
And Ortiz couldn't stop smiling having just won a dramatic race on his Meydan debut.
"I am missing my family right now," said Ortiz when asked what this victory meant to him.
"I love them and thank them for all the support."
Despite getting a difficult draw, Ortiz knew his horse could still pull off a win.
"I knew we had a good shot. My horse has speed. And I knew he was going to put me in a good position in the back end and he did," he said.
Coal Front has been in red hot form and Saturday's win at Meydan came on the back of successive victories over 1,700 metres and 1,400 metres on the dirt.
"It's a great pleasure to ride this amazing horse," said Ortiz.
"It was not easy today. Having to come from outside, it was difficult. But the horse stayed strong and I was able to make the turn right next to six horses and then we managed to pull off the win."
Heavy Metal, ridden by French jockey Mickael Barzalona, just couldn't hold on to his lead in the end.
The defending champion, which came into Saturday's race with no wins in his last three starts, was in control for large parts of the race.
The nine-year-old son of Exceed and Excel kept the dangerous Muntazah, the last year's runner-up that won his last two races this year, in second place until Coal Front appeared from the outside to win his first race in Dubai in dramatic fashion.
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com