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A star is born China Visit emerges in U.A.E. Derby
Posted: Saturday March 25, 2000 03:43 PM
DUBAI (Reuters) -- Dubai's all-conquering Godolphin stable unveiled a shining new classic star when China Visit trounced his stable companion Bachir by four lengths Saturday to win the U.A.E Derby. It was a highly impressive display first time out for a 3-year-old and a clearly delighted Sheik Mohammed told reporters after he won the $300,000 prize: "He might go to the Kentucky Derby. He might go to the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket. The door is open." The victory was achieved with consummate ease by jockey Richard Hills who last year was the victor in the Dubai World Cup aboard Godolphins' Almutawakel. China Visit had won on his only race as a 2-year-old when trained in France by David Loder. Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford, clearly amazed by the ease of Saturday's victory, said "He's a horse with immense potential. He was not fully wound up and he's out of a five furlong mare. His family is all speed." China Visit gave the Godolphin stable a tremendous start to their Millennium season and his odds for the 2,000 Guineas were quickly cut to 9-2. But Crisford was quick to stress that the stable, which won 18 group one races around the world last year, would be studying the videos long and hard and talking to all the jockeys before deciding which big race to opt for. The Kentucky Derby and the 2,000 Guineas are run on the same day in May. Sheikh Mohammed, whose Dubai Millennium was odds on favorite to win the Dubai World Cup later on Saturday night's spectacular card, has made no secret of his ambition to win the Kentucky Derby. The opening thoroughbred race showed how truly international the sport has become when the Godolphin Mile was won by Conflict, ridden by 27-year-old Irishman Ted Durcan who is currently the leading jockey in Dubai. The horse is owned by Sheikh Marwan Al Makthoum and trained by the newly arrived South African Nick Robb. "To ride that horse at the biggest race meeting in the world is unbelievable," Durcan said after landing the $150,000 first prize.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
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